Am I Being "Pool Stored"? Using copper to kill algae

Jump to latest Follow Reply
J

jmcologgi

0
Jun 28, 2013
19
Broken Arrow, Ok
I'm new to the site and definitely not a pro when it comes to pool upkeep. We've been fighting algae for a while now. We just let our pool guy go after the algae just keeps getting worse and worse and the bill higher and higher. I've ordered one of the recommended test kits T100 maybe, but until then I'm having to rely on the pool store. They have recommended adding copper to get rid of the algae after yellow out did not work. (We can't get our PH high enough) Is this ever a good idea????

Gunnite pool
28,000 gallons

Today's test results.

TC 0.9
FC 0.4
PH 7.0
TA 130
Stabilizer 68

We've shocked it every day the past few days and it's not holding any chlorine. Any help is appreciated!!!
 
Welcome to TFP.

Adding copper isn't a good idea. You need to perform the shock process correctly to get rid of the algae. To do that you need a good test kit. Luckily you have one on the way. Just try to maintain until the kit gets there and while you're waiting, read through Pool School especially the part about properly shocking your pool.
 
Welcome to the forum :wave:

Good on you for ordering the fave kit, TF100 :goodjob:

You need to follow the Shock Process in Pool School. pool-school/shocking_your_pool

If you have been using a stabilized source for shocking/chlorinating, your CYA # is probably even higher by now.

I suggest you drain/refill enough to get the CYA to about 50. Then, first correct the pH to low 7's, and then start the Shock Process. You will be using bleach/liquid chlorine for this process.

Your pH was most likely being lowered by an acidic source, like trichlor :wink:

btw, copper can cause almost-impossible-to-remove stains and is what turns hair green .


ETA: goodness, you guys are so fast! :mrgreen: sorry for any duplicate info
 
Wow! Thanks for all the fast replies! I didn't have a good feeling about adding copper so I'm glad I asked.

We actually just drained our pool to half depth and refilled it. This was advised by our now gone pool guy. He added the conditioner which I think has raised the level too high now. So in saying all that we'd like to not drain the pool anymore unless absolutely necessary. Will it hurt things to leave it as is and see what happens?
 
We will know more when we get trusted CYA results from your TF-100 kit, if it really is around 68, this is high enough to be a concern in a manually chlorinated pool, but possibly manageable if water replacement is not an option (you live in an area with water rationing, etc.)
 
Welcome to TFP! Listen to these guys and you will have a sparkling pool in no time and save a ton of money in the process. I have been a member since I built my pool last year and I have spent less than $160 in nine months. I have never had to perform the shock process. I read this site every single day and I have learned a lot! I actually have it set as my homepage on my Ipad and computer. If they gave an award for being logged on the most, I would probably win! Good luck and welcome.
 
POOL SCHOOL!!! It's where it's at!

Read up before your test kit gets here and you will be prepared and do what your pool boy couldn't! :whip:
 
Must not have ordered from Dave :whip:

Do you have the yellow OTO test? You can dilute and get a rough idea of the high FClevel required. That would be better than going to the store.
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
jmcologgi said:
Another question: When I enter my numbers into the pool calculator it tells me I need to add 9 jugs of 6% bleach to raise my pool to shock level. Is this what I'm adding every hour as stated in the shocking section? Holy Cow, that's a lot of bleach and money.
Click to expand...

...and yet people spend a fortune and toss in to their pools mass quantities of inappropriate chemicals that the pool store recommends -go figure?
Bleach is cheap in the sense that you're buying an easily obtained product that does one thing exceedingly well and yet doesn't cause or introduce other problems, unlike what the pool stores sell which do!
 
jmcologgi said:
Another question: When I enter my numbers into the pool calculator it tells me I need to add 9 jugs of 6% bleach to raise my pool to shock level. Is this what I'm adding every hour as stated in the shocking section? Holy Cow, that's a lot of bleach and money.
Click to expand...
That isn't what you add every hour. It's what you add to raise the FC to the shock target level. How much you add after that depends on how much algae you have. If you had no algae, then you might lose half the FC to sunlight so figure that's a daily minimum, but with algae it will be more. You test more frequently at first (yes every hour or so if you can and if the FC is dropping that fast) and you add more chlorine to keep the FC up. As the algae is killed and cleared, you'll lose less and overnight with no sun will lose <= 1 ppm which is one of three indicators that you are done shocking.
 
Welcome jmcologgi
I'm a newbie pool owner also
I had no clue what to with a pool
At the end of April I had a green pool and I found this web site
I listened to what the experts said and my pool went from green to Sparkling Clear in less than 2 weeks
I spent about 150 to 200 dollars at most and half the cost was a test kit(best thing I bought for the pool)
Don't try to mix what you read here and what the pool store says it wont work
Trust these guys and your pool will be Sparkling Clear soon
It worked for me
 
YippeeSkippy said:
jmcologgi said:
Another question: When I enter my numbers into the pool calculator it tells me I need to add 9 jugs of 6% bleach to raise my pool to shock level. Is this what I'm adding every hour as stated in the shocking section? Holy Cow, that's a lot of bleach and money.
Click to expand...

...and yet people spend a fortune and toss in to their pools mass quantities of inappropriate chemicals that the pool store recommends -go figure?
Bleach is cheap in the sense that you're buying an easily obtained product that does one thing exceedingly well and yet doesn't cause or introduce other problems, unlike what the pool stores sell which do!
Click to expand...

Well anything seems like a lot of money when you've already drained the pool halfway and added several hundreds of dollars in chemicals. I'm so glad I found this site when I did or I'd have copper in my pool and who knows what else!
 
So per advice yesterday we drained a third of the pool and now my CYA is close to the 40-50 range. I've added the amount of bleach suggested and an hour later about half is still there. This is a big improvement from before so I am making headway! I'm dying to get my test kit in to see more accurate test results but until then I'll do the best I can.

In everyone's experience, how accurate is it to get the FC level tested at the pool store? Can they measure levels higher than shown on the yellow OXO test??
 
Pool stores often do the tests inaccurately. They usually have temporary help during the summer, they are not well trained, and they don't always use the best test equipment. For FC, they often use a DPD test and it bleaches out at higher chlorine levels above 5 or 10 ppm depending on brand. So no, I would not rely on the pool store for testing. Get yourself either the TFTestkits TF-100 or the Taylor K-2006 where the former has more volume of reagents you use the most (see Test Kits Compared). I wasn't clear if you had ordered it yet. If you ordered it from TFTestkits, you will get the test amazingly fast.
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply