CYA/crystal clear green water

[purplegirl]

Thanks again Pool Doc, you've shed a lot of light on the situation. We are thinking about draining and then asking a neighbor, who has a crystal clear pool, if we could pay to use their water. My only concern with that is when I need to top the pool off after swimming and such. Do you think the amount of water over the course of the summer will turn the water green?

[PoolDoc]

Might. Probably won't. Can't tell for sure.

PoolDoc


PS:
There were some comments about the safety of draining a vinyl pool. IG (inground) vinyl pools can almost never be safely drained -- you'll often loose your liner if you do. AG (above ground) pools can be drained safely, depending on size and liner type. Little ones almost always can be drained. Large ones, may not be able to be drained.

But Intex type pools can always be drained.

[CarlD]

Especially the donuts--you have to drain them every season.

[purplegirl]

I drained my pool and started refilling it using a different water source (my neighbor's hose, whith permission of course ) the pool is not quite filled 1/4 of the way and already we are have tinted green water. The liner is a checkered blue print. i have no idea what could be causing this discoloration. could it be metals even though i haven't introduced chlorine into the pool yet. i am almost positive it isn't algea. please help!

[PoolDoc]

Every single time I've seen water that was immediately green on fill, it was iron from corroded pipes or tanks. It's easy to remove with time, chlorine and good filters.

Not so easy on Intex type AGs. It will probably be converted into red Iron(II) oxide and form an orange (rust colored) dust sitting on the bottom of the pool each morning.

Now, if it's taken you several days to fill . . . it still could be algae. But, on a vinyl pool algae is almost always accompanied (usually, preceded) by a slimy feel to the vinyl surface (biofilm).

PoolDoc