I turned my pool yellow!

[leigh]

....a greenish yellow. Yesterday, the pool was a bit cloudy. We cleaned well (had algae when we opened, so lots of algae on bottom), then I tested and added chemicals. I think I added too many things at a time. I added baking soda to raise alkalinity, stabilizer, algaecide and super chlorinator shock treatment (yes, I realize shock is something you do, not something you buy). This morning my numbers are:

FC 6.5
CC 6.5
pH 7.3
T/A 80
CYA 10

The pool is clear, in that I can see the bottom clearly, it's just an odd color yellow. Sorry, can't take pix right now.

Any advice (besides adding one chemical at a time )?

TIA!

 

[Guest]

two questions....did the algaecide contain copper and have you tested your fill water for iron? In any case i suspect some sequesterant will take care of the problem.
Water that turns colors but stays clear after you shock is usually a good indicator of metals in the water.

 

[leigh]

First, a disclaimer. The pool is jointly owned by my parents and my husband and I. I tried BBB last year and got an algae bloom that I wasn't able to lick until the end of summer. I finally realized I had mustard algae and wasn't using enough chlorine, but mom got disgusted with the whole idea and would rather let the pool store sell her chemicals. I have had to resign myself to using them and shutting up about it since she's the one buying.

That all being said....

I'm using algicide by POOL Breeze. The active ingredients are listed as: dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride 49.8%, methyl benzyl ammonium chloride .2%, inert ingredients 50%.

And I have NO idea how to test for iron, so...no, I haven't tested. And, what is sequesterant? I have some POOL breeze granular metal removing agent (phosphourous adcid, Bis-Tetrasoduim salt)....will that work?

 

[duraleigh]

Leigh,

It will be almost impossible to clear your pool when you get advice here and your Mom get's advice at the pool store. Believe me, they will be quite different sets of advice.

I would say one or the other of you needs to be in charge and look to one source for guidance.

 

[Guest]

I second that.

 

[Casey]

I couldn't agree more with duraleigh. It's like cooking a pot of soup. The more people you have in the kitchen tending that pot, the worse it's gonna be because someone will think it needs a bit of this and some of that and before you know it, it taste and/or looks like _____. KWIM?

I think your first step would be to determine who will be caring for the pool this summer. Once you figure out who that will be, come back and see us if it is you. <I hope you win out though. There's nothing worse than blowing money on junk.>

 

[budster]

While I agree with the opinion that only one source of pool care should be used, I've just got to say the following, (after all, I'm in the industry):

Using 100 pool stores as a number that I've had as customers in the past 22 years, I'd say probably 40 have no idea what they are doing, are poorly trained, and will prescribe chemicals solely based upon the computer test results. These are, indeed, geared to sell product, since the tester has zero knoledge, and will probably get successful results to the homeowner in about half the cases. That is not good enough.

Of the remaining 60, I'll guess that 20 of those are looking for the sale only, suggesting and selling with full knowledge that they are overselling to the customers. I think that's shameful.

Of the remaining 40, I find that they have well-trained water specialist-type employees, and they really care about keeping their customers long term. That involves never selling what is not needed, and trying to get the best results possible for the customer! Finally of those 40, only 30 are up to speed on SWG, borax, metals, sequesterants, etc. with all the new products out there.

In summary, I can't call these guys evil, but I can say that the odds of the average Joe pool owner finding the right 30% are pretty low! I also think that most pool owners are capable of using the incredible talent and resources on these forums to do it themselves for less money and with better results!

(Thanks, I needed that)

 

[duraleigh]

Interesting numbers....I would've guessed the competent number to be closer to 50 or so.

Kinda' depressing that the industry has gone down that path.

 

[frustratedpoolmom]

I'm 0 for 4 with the pool stores 'round here... the one fellow I thought was more competant than the others...turns out, well, he weren't.

I'd be lost without TFP.

 

[leigh]

Good news, it was metal and my pool is clear and beautiful. Big shocker, the chlorine caplets or whatever they are don't keep the chlorine levels high enough, so I'll be supplementing with bleach when she's not paying attention. I'm doing all my own testing and hope to keep the pool store bought chems to a minimum. Hope y'all don't desert me....