adding cya

[CarlD]

1) Are you testing your chlorine and adding bleach as needed 3 times a day? If not, you need to do that.
2) Can you boost the FC up to 15ppm and keep it there? You dilute another time if you don't have the test kit.
3) Floaters filled with Tri-Chlor isn't a bad thing--they will dump in CYA and chlorine constantly, which is good. But watch your pH--it will drive them down.
4) Are you running your filter 24/7? You should be

You should be on the right track, but kicking everything up a notch may get you over the top. A real clue that you are struggling still with algae is the FC dropping all the time.

Still, it's not unheard of for a full-blown war on algae to take 2 weeks.

Also, ordering a Taylor K2006 or Leslies FAS-DPD Chlorine Service Test kit will make the testing much easier and more accurate, and will allow you to track your CYA level.

[chem geek]

If you want to increase your CYA and chlorine levels simultaneously you can use Dichlor where for every 1 ppm FC you add, you also add 0.9 ppm CYA. It dissolves quickly (unlike CYA and Trichlor tabs) and is not as acidic as Trichlor (though it's still acidic after chlorine gets used up). Just be sure to not add too much as you want SOME CYA, but not too much (even 10 ppm will help, but keep it under 30 ppm total). Getting some CYA in your pool will help keep the FC level consistent during the day, but as Carl says you need to shock consistently in order to get ahead of the algae growth.

In your situation, it sounds like the lack of CYA prevents you from maintaining chlorine levels so the algae is growing faster than the chlorine can kill it off. Essentially, it's as if you are battling two creatures simultaneously -- algae and sunlight. By getting some CYA in your pool, you can prevent sunlight from interfering with your battle against the algae.

Richard

[tara15]

ok, so i got a product called instant pool water conditioner made by natural chemistry. Richard recommended it to me over at troublefreepool.com. If i add the jug since i have a 10000 gallon pool it will give me 32 ppm of cya.
My only question is that since i have an algea bloom and i vacuum to waste, wouldnt i be taking out the cya then also? I would then have to redose in the future once the algea was gone. Should i just vacuum through the filter and backwash as needed then?

as far as the filter i am running it 24/7 and adding bleach 2x per day, once in the am and once in the pm.

thanks

[chem geek]

True, but you should have SOME CYA in the pool or else you'll lose far more chlorine from sunlight than the relatively small amount of CYA you will lose from your vacuum to waste.

[tara15]

ok so after adding the gallon of stabalizer here are my numbers
cya 35
alk 100
ph 7.2
fc 10

I will bump up my fc to at least 15, brush and vacuum daily so no i guess its just playing the waiting game.

Thanks
Tara

[tara15]

ok just an update. The pool is a greenish blue and clear. Im running the pump 24/7 and keeping my fc at least 20ppm. I know its a little high for a cya of 35 but ive been fighting this for over a week and i want this cleared up for the 4th. Is it safe to swim at these levels, since i have to go in and vacuum or should i try and vacuum from the outside?

also, how are your feelings of polyquat once the algea is gone? do you use it regularly for maintanance and does it work?

thanks again for all your help

Tara

[CarlD]

Polyquat's good stuff as a preventative. Add a couple of ounces a week. Expect FC to drop within 24-48 hours from it.

[jhm]

A real clue that you are struggling still with algae is the FC dropping all the time.

I didn't know that. I've been battling mustard algae lately. I don't seen any now, but I go through a gallon of chlorine (10%) a day (25k gallon pool). My CYA is at 40. I thought the loss was due to sunlight (so. cal) but maybe I haven't won the battle after all.

What do you think?

Thanks!

[chem geek]

jhm,

See if the chlorine drops overnight. If it does, you've got algae or something consuming your chlorine. If not, then the losses are due mostly to sunlight.

Richard