It sounds like you are getting your advice from other sources than PoolForum. We NEVER recommend turning off your filter while fighting algae. You are wise to be suspicious!
You will find that really the only chemical you need to fight algae is chlorine, best delivered in liquid form as bleach or "Liquid Chlorine", which is either just bleach when it's 6% or just a higher concentration when it's 12.5%.
We'll need a full set of test measurements to be able to give you detailed recommendations. In the meantime, do NOT, I repeat DO NOT add anything other than chlorine to your pool. No algaecides, no clarifiers, no flocculants, no phosphate removers, nothing, or you will just make the problem worse. Meanwhile you'll need to run your pump 24/7, brush your pool everyday to knock the algae loose from the walls and floor, and vacuum everyday to waste if you see debris on the bottom.
Here's what we need to know:
Your pool size, preferably in gallons.
What kind of pump and filter you use.
A recent a set of the following tests. If your pool store is doing the testing, don't buy anything just yet, just get the results. We'll want to see:
FC (Free Chlorine)
CC (Combined Chloramines)
TC (Total Chlorine--which ALWAYS is: TC = FC + CC)
pH
CYA (Cyanuric Acid, also called Stabilizer, Conditioner, Balancer...very important as it changes our chlorine level suggestions)
TA (Total Alkalinity)
CH (Calcium Hardness)
Any metal tests, particularly iron and copper. If they don't run them, that's OK.
Also, have you added anything other than chlorine, and if so, what? As I said above, pretty much everything they give you to add will be useless at best, and destructive at worst.
Do NOT add either calcium or baking soda with the idea either will help your situation.
Here's what we will most likely have you do:
1) Adjust pH if needed.
2) Kill the algae with lots and lots and lots of chlorine, over several days maybe longer depending on the situation.
3) Run the pump, brush and vacuum.
4) Add LOTS of P.O.P.P., which is Pool Owner Patience and Persistence!
It's pretty simple and in direct contradiction to what pool stores and pool services recommend. All we have to support our methods are the thousands of pool owners now running clean, sanitary pools whom nobody else could help.
(actually, there are a couple of other forums advocating our methods, particularly our "signature" B-B-B method).
Meantime, to help understand the best and simplest methods, check out our sister site, PoolSolutions.com. In about an hour you'll have gotten pretty much all you need to know to clean up your pool effectively, simply, safely and cheaply.
Additionally, you should have your own high-quality test kit. We recommend the Taylor K-2006 and K-2006C kits, and, no, we have NO connection to Taylor. If you use the links on our founder's sig, PoolDoc, or the other moderators, Watermom, or aylad, it will send you to Amazon. If the dealer is Amato, it sends a small amount to the forum to help keep it running.
Carl
Bookmarks