another black algea problem

[kingcoota]

My chlorine has been high for three days now between shock and bleach, lots of it too.
I can see the black spots getting lighter and they are not as slippery when i step on them.
I've been brushing every day and my neighbor was nice enough to donate a bottle of
HTH Super Algea Guard to the fight, which i just put some in today. I cant tell how high the chlorine is but when I test the water it is orange instead of yellow so I guess it's pretty high but here are the numbers ph 7.8 ta 120 cya 40 tc high calcium 310


Well i think i got my problem on the ropes, but my ph is getting a little high like 7.8 or 7.9 should i lower the ph to 7.2 or 7.3 or leave it high until the black algea is gone. Also should I use some black algea killer or just stick with the bleach and free bottle of hth super algea guard.

[aylad]

I've not had to deal with black algae, but I would go ahead and lower the pH to the 7.2-7.4 range and stick with bleach. What is the active ingredient in the algae guard?

Janet

[CarlD]

Unless the ingredient is "Poly....<something really long>..." 60% or 30%, (which we call PolyQuat) then do NOT USE the algaecide. PolyQuat is the only good one and it's better for prevention than cure.

[kingcoota]

Here are the active ingredients of Super algea guard

Active Ingredients
Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, 30%
Alkyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, 30%
The remaining parts are inert ingredients, 40%

[kingcoota]

I've been looking for some poly but it's hard to find here, i'm going to have to the city to get some.

[Watermom]

Nope. Don't use it.

The only algaecide we recommend is Polyquat 60% --- ingredients will say: poly [oxyethylene (dimethyliminio) ethylene (dimethyliminio) ethylene dichloride]

[aylad]

I agree with the others, absolutely don't use it!! It's quite likely to cause some foaming issues in your pool, and we don't even want to talk about the chlorine demand that ammonia can cause!! (In addition to the fact that it probably won't help with the problem.)

Janet

[CarlD]

The Polyquat MIGHT help, but it might not. At worst, it won't hurt.

You are better off with bleach/liquid chlorine.

[kingcoota]

well after shocking the whole weekend i got most of it out ,but i cant get it all out of the bottom of the pool. I need a new plaster job and it's rooted in good in the bottom. i brushed all weekend. it's all gone on the side of the pool and in the tile grout around the top. I got it lightened up alot but cant get it to disappear on the bottom, I'm getting desperate cant keep dumping in bleach everyday might have to drain, wash, then repaint. any ideas?

my numbers are still good
cya 40
ta 120
ph lowered to 7.3
calcium h 320
chlorine is really high been dumping in 6 big bottels of chlorox ultra a day for three days also had some 1lb hypochlorite packs that i used the first day to get the chlorine up.

[PoleSlinger]

Kingcoota, In the past, I've had terrible black algae problems in pools with less than perfect surfaces. The black algae seems to "root", hide in pits, pockets and crevices. Brushing removes the black algae head but doesn't seem to destroy the "root". After brushing vigorously, try broadcasting trichlor granules over affected areas. It's worked for me.