I have 26 round, above ground, 15000 gallons, 150sq ft cart filter. About 1.5 weeks ago i had some green algae spots. Never green-green water just spots. still gross. i went and got test kit wal-mart vacuumed and brushed pool. After 2 bags hth shock, 4 gallons of bleach and 1.5 box borax(ph was low) the green-spots still came back(not as bad). as of today 7-14-14 ph 7.2 chlorine 9(it was really high 25 for about 3-4 days and no green spots) and cya 55-60. I don't put the cover on at all even if rain is coming cause thats when all this started. How do i get rid of this and prevent it from coming back? also, i live in michigan and have to use well water to add water to the pool. I love my pool and want it to look beautiful. The water looks nice and clear except for these spots once and while. Can you help me???
algae I think??
- Thread starter cdingess
- Start date
Welcome to TFP !
You've come to the right place and yes we can help you. One thing I'm going to ask of you is to help us a little and take sometime and read these couple of articles from pool school.
ABC'S Of Pool Water Chemistry
How To Chlorinate Your Pool.
How are you chlorinating your pool now ? These articles will help you get some understanding of your water chemistry.
Next read the SLAM Process. This is the process your going to have to follow to get rid of the algae. Read it a few times as it has to followed to the T for it to work.
To preform the SLAM process your going to need one of these Test Kits. I prefer the TF-100 as it is the one I use along with many other members and is the best value. Order the XL- option along with it for the SLAM process and the SpeedStir is a handy thing to have with it. Your Walmart kit isn't up to the task of SLAMing your pool.
Any other questions you have don't hesitate to ask. ?
You've come to the right place and yes we can help you. One thing I'm going to ask of you is to help us a little and take sometime and read these couple of articles from pool school.
ABC'S Of Pool Water Chemistry
How To Chlorinate Your Pool.
How are you chlorinating your pool now ? These articles will help you get some understanding of your water chemistry.
Next read the SLAM Process. This is the process your going to have to follow to get rid of the algae. Read it a few times as it has to followed to the T for it to work.
To preform the SLAM process your going to need one of these Test Kits. I prefer the TF-100 as it is the one I use along with many other members and is the best value. Order the XL- option along with it for the SLAM process and the SpeedStir is a handy thing to have with it. Your Walmart kit isn't up to the task of SLAMing your pool.
Any other questions you have don't hesitate to ask. ?
- May 22, 2013
- 2,796
- Pool Size
- 12000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Welcome to the forum 
Can we help, we live to help. If you have questions ....
You might want to add your pool info to your signature as outlined here --> http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/165-getting-started
I have well water too. There are hose end filters if the water has a lot of minerals or metals that make pool chemistry a nightmare --> http://www.amazon.com/Pre-Fresh-Gar...5398140&sr=8-4&keywords=water+filter+for+hose
I use them for my hot tub as the water always wants to go a bronze color without filtering. You should check around for price.
If your algae keeps coming back it's because you haven't killed it all. Once you read and understand SLAM it will make sense. It's not just a matter of tossing in shock or bleach and seeing it's gone it's actually knowing from test results that you've killed it off and then it's just a matter of maintaining it.
You will need a better kit to properly test and adjust your waters chemistry but you can get it now or when you realize it would be easier with it. The Walmart ones just don't do what you need. In the end you will need and WANT one of these.
The TF-100 http://tftestkits.net/splash-page.html
The K-2006 http://www.amazon.com/TAYLOR-TECHNO...?ie=UTF8&qid=1405398484&sr=8-1&keywords=k2006
The TF-100 is a little more expensive but it will do more tests. They do the same tests it's just that the TF-100 has more chems for more tests so it's the better value.
Can we help, we live to help. If you have questions ....
You might want to add your pool info to your signature as outlined here --> http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/165-getting-started
I have well water too. There are hose end filters if the water has a lot of minerals or metals that make pool chemistry a nightmare --> http://www.amazon.com/Pre-Fresh-Gar...5398140&sr=8-4&keywords=water+filter+for+hose
I use them for my hot tub as the water always wants to go a bronze color without filtering. You should check around for price.
If your algae keeps coming back it's because you haven't killed it all. Once you read and understand SLAM it will make sense. It's not just a matter of tossing in shock or bleach and seeing it's gone it's actually knowing from test results that you've killed it off and then it's just a matter of maintaining it.
You will need a better kit to properly test and adjust your waters chemistry but you can get it now or when you realize it would be easier with it. The Walmart ones just don't do what you need. In the end you will need and WANT one of these.
The TF-100 http://tftestkits.net/splash-page.html
The K-2006 http://www.amazon.com/TAYLOR-TECHNO...?ie=UTF8&qid=1405398484&sr=8-1&keywords=k2006
The TF-100 is a little more expensive but it will do more tests. They do the same tests it's just that the TF-100 has more chems for more tests so it's the better value.
Here is a little more info while I'm understanding slam. It's vinyl and put in last July. I have a Clearwater cartridge filter and mostly use slow speed 24-7. I don't know if this will help but I took water to pool place here are there numbers cya 82 free chlorine 7.5 alk tot 53 ph 7.8 and phosphate were good.TDS 500 tot hardness 163 and no to green black or mustard algae. I'll get on getting that other test kit.
- May 22, 2013
- 2,796
- Pool Size
- 12000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
You can add your pool info to your signature as outlined here --> http://www.troublefreepool.com/conte...etting-started As the thread gets longer it's just easier having the info in front of us as we try to answer questions.
When you post your test results it's a lot easier if you list them line by line.
CYA 82
FC 7.5
TA 53
pH 7.8
CH 163
Do you have a SWG, salt water generator ?? If not that CYA is a bit high.
The pH should likely be brought down 7.2/7.4 You would use "Pool Math" to figure out how much acid to add to lower it. Put in your numbers, pool gallons and down near the bottom "Suggested goal levels" choose Trouble Free Pool, Bleach and Vinyl. Pool Math --> http://www.troublefreepool.com/calc.html
For a CYA of 80 you should have a daily maintenance target of 9ppm FC and a minimum of 6. Drop below 6 and those green spots can start to come back. Here is the chart --> http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/128-chlorine-cya-chart-slam-shock
When you post your test results it's a lot easier if you list them line by line.
CYA 82
FC 7.5
TA 53
pH 7.8
CH 163
Do you have a SWG, salt water generator ?? If not that CYA is a bit high.
The pH should likely be brought down 7.2/7.4 You would use "Pool Math" to figure out how much acid to add to lower it. Put in your numbers, pool gallons and down near the bottom "Suggested goal levels" choose Trouble Free Pool, Bleach and Vinyl. Pool Math --> http://www.troublefreepool.com/calc.html
For a CYA of 80 you should have a daily maintenance target of 9ppm FC and a minimum of 6. Drop below 6 and those green spots can start to come back. Here is the chart --> http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/128-chlorine-cya-chart-slam-shock
