I've been having trouble this summer keeping the algae under control. It's been very hot and humid here on Long Island this summer and wonder if others are having trouble as well.
I have been monitoring my CYA levels, which seem to keep creeping upwards. I have lowered the pool levels to the bottom edge of the skimmers and refilled 2x times now. I've adjusted the FC levels to an appropriate shock level relative to the CYA levels, which is now at about 60. The water is clear, but I keep getting a coating of green algae on the bottom and walls even at these shock levels. It seems I've had my pool at shock levels for the better part of the summer, which I know is not good for the liner. After lowering the pool level and adding new "acidic" water from my well, I had to adjust my alkalinity levels, which are now at about 80.
Just recently, a friend of mine told me about someone who had a similar problem with her pool and it was determined to be a problem with high levels of nitrate. I have a simple water quality testing kit that said my nitrate levels were at about 20 ppm (prior to my latest draining and refilling effort). The kit is not very sensitive to nitrate, so my levels might actually be higher than 20 ppm. I also understand that the only way to reduce the nitrate levels is to drain the pool and refill it with new water.
My question to the forum is, at what levels do nitrates become a problem with regard to algal growth? It feels like my problem this summer is a moving target.
I have been monitoring my CYA levels, which seem to keep creeping upwards. I have lowered the pool levels to the bottom edge of the skimmers and refilled 2x times now. I've adjusted the FC levels to an appropriate shock level relative to the CYA levels, which is now at about 60. The water is clear, but I keep getting a coating of green algae on the bottom and walls even at these shock levels. It seems I've had my pool at shock levels for the better part of the summer, which I know is not good for the liner. After lowering the pool level and adding new "acidic" water from my well, I had to adjust my alkalinity levels, which are now at about 80.
Just recently, a friend of mine told me about someone who had a similar problem with her pool and it was determined to be a problem with high levels of nitrate. I have a simple water quality testing kit that said my nitrate levels were at about 20 ppm (prior to my latest draining and refilling effort). The kit is not very sensitive to nitrate, so my levels might actually be higher than 20 ppm. I also understand that the only way to reduce the nitrate levels is to drain the pool and refill it with new water.
My question to the forum is, at what levels do nitrates become a problem with regard to algal growth? It feels like my problem this summer is a moving target.