Dead Algae keeps blowing back into pool

[Paynster]

I've SLAMed the pool after my pump broke. It was out for about two months so the water was really green. I started this process on Saturday night. I flocked last night (Monday) hoping it would clear the pool water and I could vacuum to waste, but the water was still extremely cloudy. I still vacuumed to waste even though I couldn't see the bottom. I back-washed and then turned the pump on. It ran fine for about 15 minutes, and the dead algae started blowing back into the pool. I stopped and backwashed again, then about 10 minutes later, dead algae blew back into the pool.

I have a Hayward Sand filter with multivalve, Saltwater pool.
CA 40
TA 120
PH 7.4
FC 11
TC .5
TH 250

What do I need to do to get the water clear?

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! It sounds as though you prematurely used floc (which we seldom recommend) and didn't actually perform the SLAM Process accurately by "maintaining" the proper (elevated) FC level until all 3 SLAM criteria were completed. Hopefully you were able to remove all the floc, otherwise you could have a new problem to deal with later. For now though, I would go back to the SLAM Process article and be sure to follow it accurately using your TF-100 or Taylor K-2006C test kit to monitor the elevated SLAM FC level.

If you have questions about the SLAM Process let us know.

 

[Paynster]

Welcome to TFP! It sounds as though you prematurely used floc (which we seldom recommend) and didn't actually perform the SLAM Process accurately by "maintaining" the proper (elevated) FC level until all 3 SLAM criteria were completed. Hopefully you were able to remove all the floc, otherwise you could have a new problem to deal with later. For now though, I would go back to the SLAM Process article and be sure to follow it accurately using your TF-100 or Taylor K-2006C test kit to monitor the elevated SLAM FC level.

If you have questions about the SLAM Process let us know.

Ok. So I'll keep SLAMing. Any help on the algae blowing back into the pool?

 

[Texas Splash]

Any help on the algae blowing back into the pool?

Sand filters take their own time capturing dead algae. I would recommend sticking with the SLAM Process protocol first. Once you pass the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test, then evaluate the water clarity and if debris is still passing through the filter. In some cases, at the end of a SLAM, adding some DE helps to catch the finer stuff. If your filter/sand are old, you may need to open it up and do a thorough deep clean of the sand.

 

[Texas Splash]

These may help.

Add DE to a Sand Filter

A clean pool filter will increase the efficiency of your pool! ... your filter are to backwash it, clean the manifolds and grids, and add new DE.

www.troublefreepool.com

Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter

This post will walk you through the anatomy of a sand filter, and then provide a video at the end for how to deep clean your sand filter. The filter used in the photos and videos is a Hayward S180T top mount sand filter. The images are of a similar filter. Obviously not all filters are...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Paynster]

Sand filters take their own time capturing dead algae. I would recommend sticking with the SLAM Process protocol first. Once you pass the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test, then evaluate the water clarity and if debris is still passing through the filter. In some cases, at the end of a SLAM, adding some DE helps to catch the finer stuff. If your filter/sand are old, you may need to open it up and do a thorough deep clean of the sand.

I did pass the overnight chlorine loss test, that's why I was moving on to clearing out debris.

 

[Texas Splash]

Then I would definitely look at the links above.