algae

[hannadock]

I opened up my pool memorial day weekend and finally got a clear pool a week later, BUT yesterday I noticed some algae starting to form on the wall. I brushed and vaccum on waste. It has been in the 90's here for a week and a half. My numbers are within spec based on this website recommendations.

How long should I run my pump?
How often vaccum the pool?
How long should I run my kreepy krawly?, I don't use it much at all.
Do you chlorine tablets hurt? I bought some on sale last year at a good price at Lowes.
I have a inground vinyl pool 20 X 40 around 36000 gal.
I had the same problem last year with the algae and my numbers were always in range.
Sorry for all the questions

[jimk0512]

I run my pump 12 hours per day, when I'm not fighting algae. Since you have algae, leave the pump on all the time. And get the FC level up to shock level.

I vacuum my pool when I see something that needs picked up. Which usually works out to once per week. I brush more often than that.

Since I don't have a kreepy krawly, I'll pass on this question.

Chlorine tablets come in different kinds. The tri-chlor ones with stabilizer will increase your CYA and decrease your pH. Once your CYA gets to 50, I think you should stop using the ones that contain stabilizer. I have seen other tables that contain cal-hypo, and do not contain stabilizer. Those will increase your CH (calicium hardness). I forget what the upper limit is for CH is a vinyl pool, I think it can lead to cloudy water if you go past the upper limit.

You should post your numbers so that the pool experts here can give you better advice.

[Watermom]

You should post your numbers so that the pool experts here can give you better advice.

Yep. We need to look at numbers to be able to offer advice. Repost with current water testing results from a drops-based kit (not teststrips) and somebody here can help you get your pool cleared.

[hannadock]

ph 7.3
alk 170
cya 45
tc 4.0

the tablet I bought are by Dupont sanitizer 3" chlorinating tablets
99% trichloro-s-trizainetrione with available chlorine 90% and 1% other which it doesn't say what it is

[aylad]

ph 7.3
alk 170
cya 45
tc 4.0

the tablet I bought are by Dupont sanitizer 3" chlorinating tablets
99% trichloro-s-trizainetrione with available chlorine 90% and 1% other which it doesn't say what it is

The tabs you have are trichlor, which are raising your CYA as we speak. Your CYA is at a point where you already need to keep a minimum of 3 ppm chlorine, and preferably closer to 6. I would definitely stop using them now and switch to bleach as your chlorine source. To clear up your algae, you need to add chlorine to the pool til you get to 15 ppm and keep it there, with your pump running 24/7, until the pool goes to cloudy blue. You'll need to test and add more bleach 2-3 times daily until this happens. When the algae is gone and the water is cloudy blue, then keep your filter running but you can let your chlorine drop back down to the 3-6 ppm range, but NO LOWER than 3.

Brushing your pool daily during this process will speed it up, and running the vacuum certainly won't hurt.

Janet

[hannadock]

thanks I will let you know what happens