I am about ready to poke holes in this pool...

[beaming90]

I have not tested the water yet, so..But here is my problem - I have algae, we went straight from summer to winter last year in Kansas and so the cover never got on. Fine, it will clear up quickly. Got it started over Memorial Day, ran it for a week it was getting better, and had a hose break on 06-07 (my birthday even). It is just me and my 80 year old mom taking care of it and neither of us have the strength to put the hoses on tight, so had to wait on someone else to do that. He came out on June 18 and put the new hose on. Once I got it started up again I noticed it was very very green. It is getting better with using about a gallon of bleach daily. But here is my question. We had to put the railings back up around it last year (got in trouble from the city) pool is AG 18 foot round. With the railings up, how do others put bleach in their pools? Or any other chemicals? I stand on the deck usually, but am wondering if that only puts bleach in that one section? Sorry for the long long drawn out question. And I am confused on what exactly borax and baking soda do? Neither of them kill algae right? Thank you!!

Edited to say - this should be the last time we open the pool...Next spring we are planning on moving to a smaller place with a community pool and by golly, they better not expect me to anything to it!! Just kidding...kinda!

[aylad]

Usually, the bleach is poured slowly into a return stream and that helps disperse it. Or you can pour around the perimeter and use your pole to stir it up. You can also pour it into the skimmer IF you aren't using a chlorinator. Borax raises pH and baking soda raises TA, neither does algae. If you can run a set of tests on your waterand post them, i'm sure we can help you!!

Janet

[beaming90]

A chlorinator would be one of those automatic chlorine things right?? We have one but couldn't afford the cartridges. So it would be ok to pour bleach directly in the skimmer? That is what I wanted to do, but it seems like I remember the pool dealer telling us to never pour anything in the skimmer as it would freeze up the sand.. Thanks for answering!

[dmanb2b]

Yup...as long as there are no Chlorine tabs in your chlorinator, you can do so...although folks generally prefer adding it in front of the return. Adding it to your skimmer will likely not harm things (certainly not freeze your sand) as long as you keep your pump running for 15 mins after adding the chlorine.

[aylad]

Yes, the chlorinator is the automatic thing. I don't think I'd ever go back to that pool dealer, as I don't know anything short of an ice storm that will "freeze up the sand", but you certainly can add the bleach (and borax, baking soda, and stabilizer, if you should need any of those) through the skimmer.

Janet

[beaming90]

Thank you! When we bought the pool they had us go to pool school and that is what they told us, if you add stuff to the skimmer the sand will freeze up or turn into cement. So we have been very careful. Of course it is the same place that gave us a free chlorinator that took 45 dollar cartridges twice a month...Oh well.

[aylad]

If you'd like for us to take a look at your numbers, we'll be happy to--just run a set with a drop--based kit (if you don't have one, the pool store will usually test it free for you--just take the printout with the numbers and politely decline the long list of stuff they'll try to sell you) and post them here.

Happy swimming!!

Janet

[beaming90]

The problem with the pool store, is they are open till 5, about 20 minutes from home (farther from work) and I get off at 4:30... So, it will be this weekend before I get out there. But thanks!

[Watermom]

That is one of the reasons we suggest, if you are able, buying your own good test kit. That way you know your results are right and you test at your own convenience.