Hi all. I've ready many threads here about organic algae/leaf stains, but would like to solicit some thoughts about my approach to solving my issue.
-Mainly, with CYA low, i'm leaving my cover on and running the pump 24/7 to deal with this staining to protect chlorine from the sun. don't know if the sun is a vital component in fighting algae in addition to chlorine... as the stains aren't fading much despite running a week of higher chlorine (for current CYA level) with pump 24/7.
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I did a bad thing last year, when closing the pool. I had recurring bouts of what I thought was mustard algae, so closed the pool with a bit of that on the pool walls, and didn't bother bringing it up to shock level as I figured I'd open and have to SLAM it anyway in the spring. Come spring time (with an early warm up, then few weeks of freeze, and then now finally consistently warm weather), I've opened up the pool to a massive algae bloom! I've pulled out bags and bags of algae slime and seaweed?!
It's been about a week now of running the filter 24/7 at shock level and the stains are still there. I had drained the pool last year to bring down my CYA level, and ironically, I opened up the pool to a CYA of probably less than 15 (no good way to tell). As such, I've kept my loop loc dark mesh cover on and brought my chem levels up and have kept it on, whilst running the pool filter and my tiger shark vacuum underneath the cover again and again.
I'm bringing up CYA levels using dichlor and keeping a shock level of about 12ppm. My pool is rather large, at 48,000 gallons so chemical costs are pretty costly. My regular supply of chlorine comes from 12.5% bleach (they sell 4 gallon packs at BJs wholesale). The pool is otherwise balanced:
CH: 250
FAC: 12
CYA : 15? (trying to raise)
TA: 110
pH: 7.2
No metals
As an aside, I left a trichlor puck directly on the stains for about an hour and the stains bleached off, so they're definitely organic (and most probably from my algae bloom). It's been a week though at shock level and the stains aren't really fading.
The wife is furious that we couldn't swim in the pool for Memorial Day... "Just hire someone" she says... and boy, do I NOT want to do that! Help!!
-Mainly, with CYA low, i'm leaving my cover on and running the pump 24/7 to deal with this staining to protect chlorine from the sun. don't know if the sun is a vital component in fighting algae in addition to chlorine... as the stains aren't fading much despite running a week of higher chlorine (for current CYA level) with pump 24/7.
~*~*~*~*
I did a bad thing last year, when closing the pool. I had recurring bouts of what I thought was mustard algae, so closed the pool with a bit of that on the pool walls, and didn't bother bringing it up to shock level as I figured I'd open and have to SLAM it anyway in the spring. Come spring time (with an early warm up, then few weeks of freeze, and then now finally consistently warm weather), I've opened up the pool to a massive algae bloom! I've pulled out bags and bags of algae slime and seaweed?!
It's been about a week now of running the filter 24/7 at shock level and the stains are still there. I had drained the pool last year to bring down my CYA level, and ironically, I opened up the pool to a CYA of probably less than 15 (no good way to tell). As such, I've kept my loop loc dark mesh cover on and brought my chem levels up and have kept it on, whilst running the pool filter and my tiger shark vacuum underneath the cover again and again.
I'm bringing up CYA levels using dichlor and keeping a shock level of about 12ppm. My pool is rather large, at 48,000 gallons so chemical costs are pretty costly. My regular supply of chlorine comes from 12.5% bleach (they sell 4 gallon packs at BJs wholesale). The pool is otherwise balanced:
CH: 250
FAC: 12
CYA : 15? (trying to raise)
TA: 110
pH: 7.2
No metals
As an aside, I left a trichlor puck directly on the stains for about an hour and the stains bleached off, so they're definitely organic (and most probably from my algae bloom). It's been a week though at shock level and the stains aren't really fading.
The wife is furious that we couldn't swim in the pool for Memorial Day... "Just hire someone" she says... and boy, do I NOT want to do that! Help!!