- May 16, 2020
- 53
- Pool Size
- 15000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair iChlor 30
Moved from here.
I am a new guy in the pool "business" but I am an experienced biologist, more, a microbiologist, and according to my knowledge if you kill algae with... anything (it does not matter how you kill them) you actually release more phosphate (other phosphate source can be bird poops, decomposing leaves, actually any organic matter). Having said that, I am not sure how to translate this to the pool maintenance. Also, it is true that phosphate is "feeds" algae (and some bacteria). It seems like the more phosphate you have the less effective chlorine is and you need to keep higher chlorine level. Is there a level of phosphate that I should start thinking to treat it? Right now I have phosphates level 600 with FC level 6.7 and still have algae growing on the walls of the pool ( other results: TC 7.1, pH 7.9, TDS 1200, CYA 102). Please!!! do not take it wrong, I do not undermine anybody knowledge. It's rather a question and a discussion to educate myself.
Phosphates are algae food. If you kill all the algae, phosphates do not matter.
Be aware that Pool Store phosphates tests are not that good and they will try to sell you cheap phosphate removers even with very low phosphate levels. If you are concerned about phosphates, get the Taylor K-1106 test kit. Then if your phosphates are well over 2000 ppb, you may want to treat for them. I see you stated above 2500 ppb. If that was a pool store test, I would be wary of it.
I am a new guy in the pool "business" but I am an experienced biologist, more, a microbiologist, and according to my knowledge if you kill algae with... anything (it does not matter how you kill them) you actually release more phosphate (other phosphate source can be bird poops, decomposing leaves, actually any organic matter). Having said that, I am not sure how to translate this to the pool maintenance. Also, it is true that phosphate is "feeds" algae (and some bacteria). It seems like the more phosphate you have the less effective chlorine is and you need to keep higher chlorine level. Is there a level of phosphate that I should start thinking to treat it? Right now I have phosphates level 600 with FC level 6.7 and still have algae growing on the walls of the pool ( other results: TC 7.1, pH 7.9, TDS 1200, CYA 102). Please!!! do not take it wrong, I do not undermine anybody knowledge. It's rather a question and a discussion to educate myself.