First test with the Taylor FAS-DPD K-2006.
A little background first:
- I’ve been reading as much as I can from TFP for less than 2 weeks now – plus most of the Pool School and the entire instruction manual that came with the test kit. I have a Civil Engineering background and I took a lot of physics, chemistry and calculus in college – a long long time ago in a galaxy far far away. That just means I can read. I still remember those dang lab reports … ACK !! … waxing nostalgic here … but I digress … back on topic …
- I began the Algae War 5 days ago – sorry – I don’t have a “before†pic but it looked a lot like RaysFan’s (new guy) – nasty rich green swamp.
- I’ve been using a “soon to expire†paper test strip since the war began – with surprisingly similar results as the K-2006. I’m impressed. Still couldn’t get a consistent pH number.
- I’m much more impressed with the FAS-DPD K-2006 test kit! (My wife keeps telling me that I’m “ate up†... whatever…).
OK – Test results as follows:
FC 8.0
pH 7.4
TA 85-90 Too close to call
CH 230
CYA 33
Water Temp 78F (1930 hrs CDT)
Actions taken:
- Since we’re experiencing unsettled weather here in the FL panhandle – it’s been very windy and we’re expecting rain – I expect additional contaminants – leaves, sticks, dirt, sand, etc. to find its way into the pool tonight. Thus – the suspended organic matter most likely will increase and feed the algae monster. So – I added an additional 1.3± gal. of 10% chlorine in order to raise the shock level to 15. Yes – I used the Pool Calculator! This was done after sundown. I was trying to maintain at least a 10 ppm shock level with the paper test strips – that was the test strip's limit - but I admit I was intentionally over chlorinating. After all – the article on killing algae said “Hit it Hard†– well – I did … and I’m continuing to do so. Shock and Awe !!
- I just started using the 10% chlorine since the 6% Wal-Mart bleach in 1.4 gal. jugs cost $2.55± ($1.82/gal) but the Ace Hardware has 10% for $1.90/gal. – better deal in my mind.
- The pump has been running 24/7 for 10 days now.
- I’ve been backwashing and brushing every day this week – twice a day last weekend when I was home (I hate it when work gets in the way of my pool!).
- I had a Trichlor puck floating about, but I didn’t know what the CYA was, so I pulled it out for a few days so as not to unduly increase it. Apparently it didn’t. I’ve returned it to the pool.
- Water has gone from the nice pretty green to an opaque aqua – very nice ! Still not crystal clear. I suspect there’s a lot of dead algae floating around.
- Additional info – filter sand needs to be cleaned and/or replaced in a bad way. The pressure is up around 50 PSI … that’s the way I found it when I moved in six months ago. That’s the next project on the list. I’ve been backwashing every week religiously.
I’ve probably left something out of this babble – and my twisted logic has surely pointed me in some odd direction which will lead me back to the swamp (Go Gators! Oops – wrong forum). I suspect you-all will point out whatever I missed or didn’t take into consideration. After all – this is my third pool but the first one where I’ve had to DIY (see my intro post for my whine).
I was at a loss trying to figure out how to make the green water go away. Thanks to Richard, Ted, Jason, et al and everyone else who’ve created and contribute to this wonderful community – I now know how!!! Thanks !!
Mike
A little background first:
- I’ve been reading as much as I can from TFP for less than 2 weeks now – plus most of the Pool School and the entire instruction manual that came with the test kit. I have a Civil Engineering background and I took a lot of physics, chemistry and calculus in college – a long long time ago in a galaxy far far away. That just means I can read. I still remember those dang lab reports … ACK !! … waxing nostalgic here … but I digress … back on topic …
- I began the Algae War 5 days ago – sorry – I don’t have a “before†pic but it looked a lot like RaysFan’s (new guy) – nasty rich green swamp.
- I’ve been using a “soon to expire†paper test strip since the war began – with surprisingly similar results as the K-2006. I’m impressed. Still couldn’t get a consistent pH number.
- I’m much more impressed with the FAS-DPD K-2006 test kit! (My wife keeps telling me that I’m “ate up†... whatever…).
OK – Test results as follows:
FC 8.0
pH 7.4
TA 85-90 Too close to call
CH 230
CYA 33
Water Temp 78F (1930 hrs CDT)
Actions taken:
- Since we’re experiencing unsettled weather here in the FL panhandle – it’s been very windy and we’re expecting rain – I expect additional contaminants – leaves, sticks, dirt, sand, etc. to find its way into the pool tonight. Thus – the suspended organic matter most likely will increase and feed the algae monster. So – I added an additional 1.3± gal. of 10% chlorine in order to raise the shock level to 15. Yes – I used the Pool Calculator! This was done after sundown. I was trying to maintain at least a 10 ppm shock level with the paper test strips – that was the test strip's limit - but I admit I was intentionally over chlorinating. After all – the article on killing algae said “Hit it Hard†– well – I did … and I’m continuing to do so. Shock and Awe !!
- I just started using the 10% chlorine since the 6% Wal-Mart bleach in 1.4 gal. jugs cost $2.55± ($1.82/gal) but the Ace Hardware has 10% for $1.90/gal. – better deal in my mind.
- The pump has been running 24/7 for 10 days now.
- I’ve been backwashing and brushing every day this week – twice a day last weekend when I was home (I hate it when work gets in the way of my pool!).
- I had a Trichlor puck floating about, but I didn’t know what the CYA was, so I pulled it out for a few days so as not to unduly increase it. Apparently it didn’t. I’ve returned it to the pool.
- Water has gone from the nice pretty green to an opaque aqua – very nice ! Still not crystal clear. I suspect there’s a lot of dead algae floating around.
- Additional info – filter sand needs to be cleaned and/or replaced in a bad way. The pressure is up around 50 PSI … that’s the way I found it when I moved in six months ago. That’s the next project on the list. I’ve been backwashing every week religiously.
I’ve probably left something out of this babble – and my twisted logic has surely pointed me in some odd direction which will lead me back to the swamp (Go Gators! Oops – wrong forum). I suspect you-all will point out whatever I missed or didn’t take into consideration. After all – this is my third pool but the first one where I’ve had to DIY (see my intro post for my whine).
I was at a loss trying to figure out how to make the green water go away. Thanks to Richard, Ted, Jason, et al and everyone else who’ve created and contribute to this wonderful community – I now know how!!! Thanks !!
Mike
