Orange algae ring around pool

[tomngo]

I have been taking care of our pool since we bought the house three years ago. There's never been any real issues outside of orange algae coming once at the end of each summer. I would just use the powder thing from the store to shock and it goes away until the next year.

However, this summer the algae kept coming back because I guess my CYA was too high (60-90). I drained about 65% of the pool then SLAMed it. Shortly after, I noticed there was an orange ring just under the water level at the deep end and tapers to the floor at the shallow end. Three weeks later, the algae is back.

My CYA is once again near 60-90 range, even though I haven't done anything but put chlorine tablets in it. Yes, I know the tablets add to CYA, but that quickly?

Anyway, my main concern is the orange ring. It will not scrub off. I realize that I will likely have to dilute the pool water again to lower CYA, but can I get some help on the orange ring and what you would do to get this pool right again?

Thanks so much!

 

[JamesW]

Do you have a picture?

 

[tomngo]

Do you have a picture?

You can see it a lot better in-person. The orange ring is very faint in pics, especially since I just scrubbed it yesterday. I also notice that the algae seems to be grow below the ring, not above it in area between it and water level. Some of the algae comes off when I scrub, but the ring remains.

I also cleaned the filter yesterday, even though I did it just three months ago during SLAM.

I am pointing to it in the first pic:


Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Have you used any algaecides in your pool, perhaps containing copper?

Maddie

 

[Texas Splash]

My CYA is once again near 60-90 range, even though I haven't done anything but put chlorine tablets in it. Yes, I know the tablets add to CYA, but that quickly?

You'd be surprised. Those tabs can do a number on your CYA. Just try the "Effects of adding chemicals" section on the Poolmath calculator and you'll see.

In any case, to help James and anyone else reviewing your thread, now my be a good time for the following:
1 - Please confirm which test kit you are using. TF-100 or Taylor K-2006C?
2 - Please post a full set of test results. It helps paint a full picture.

FC
CC
CYA
PH
TA
CH

We'll do what we can to help guide you. Thanks.

- - - Updated - - -

Oh, and please include all of your pool info in your signature (to include the test kit) so you don't get asked every time.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Perchance were they Clorox Blu chlorine tablets?

 

[JamesW]

Looks like it might be iron. Try ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on a spot.

What did the filter look like?

Did it have brown staining?

It looks like there's an area below the tile that's different. I suspect that it's more porous allowing iron to adhere better.

Has the pool been replastered?

 

[tomngo]

1. Taylor K-2006C

2.

5 FC
0 CC
7.6 pH
90 TA
680 CH
CYA was off the charts, literally. It didn't even get to the 100 marker. To give you an idea, it was between the 1.8 and 4.5 markers on the container. That's strange because it is way higher than after I drained 65% off pool and SLAMed just three months ago.

I use In The Swim 3" chlorine tabs.

- - - Updated - - -

You'd be surprised. Those tabs can do a number on your CYA. Just try the "Effects of adding chemicals" section on the Poolmath calculator and you'll see.

In any case, to help James and anyone else reviewing your thread, now my be a good time for the following:
1 - Please confirm which test kit you are using. TF-100 or Taylor K-2006C?
2 - Please post a full set of test results. It helps paint a full picture.

FC
CC
CYA
PH
TA
CH

We'll do what we can to help guide you. Thanks.

- - - Updated - - -

Oh, and please include all of your pool info in your signature (to include the test kit) so you don't get asked every time.

1. Taylor K-2006C

2.

5 FC
0 CC
7.6 pH
90 TA
680 CH
CYA was off the charts, literally. It didn't even get to the 100 marker. To give you an idea, it was between the 1.8 and 4.5 markers on the container. That's strange because it is way higher than after I drained 65% off pool and SLAMed just three months ago.

I use In The Swim 3" chlorine tabs.

 

[Texas Splash]

I use In The Swim 3" chlorine tabs.

Ugh. Well, we know why your CYA was high. Tabs have stabilizer and will do that quickly. With a CYA that as high as you describe, the current FC of 5 is nowhere near high enough to prevent algae. Unfortunately, there is no way to lower CYA other than water exchange. But before going there, the gang had some other good questions above we need to know about:
- Used any Clorox Blue or other pool "snake oil" products?
- Any chance you have iron in that water? As James noted above, some vitamin C tabs can help tell you if the stain(s) are iron. On the other hand, if you take one of those chlorine tabs and rub it on a stained area briefly and see a change, it's organic (algae).
- Don't forget to update your signature with your pool info as well. It will help us tremendously.

Standing by ...........

 

[tomngo]

Have you used any algaecides in your pool, perhaps containing copper?

Maddie

No, the only thing that I have put in it since SLAM is In The Swim 3" chlorine tabs.

- - - Updated - - -

Perchance were they Clorox Blu chlorine tablets?

No, In The Swim 3" chlorine tabs.

- - - Updated - - -

Ugh. Well, we know why your CYA was high. Tabs have stabilizer and will do that quickly. With a CYA that as high as you describe, the current FC of 5 is nowhere near high enough to prevent algae. Unfortunately, there is no way to lower CYA other than water exchange. But before going there, the gang had some other good questions above we need to know about:
- Used any Clorox Blue or other pool "snake oil" products?
- Any chance you have iron in that water? As James noted above, some vitamin C tabs can help tell you if the stain(s) are iron. On the other hand, if you take one of those chlorine tabs and rub it on a stained area briefly and see a change, it's organic (algae).
- Don't forget to update your signature with your pool info as well. It will help us tremendously.

Standing by ...........

No, I've only used the In The Swim chlorine tabs for like two years. I used In The Swim shocker when algae came back, but before SLAM. I haven't used the powder since SLAM.

I don't know if I have iron in the water. I will try to rub a chlorine tab on the orange ring tomorrow when it's light and provide an update.

I'll update the signature shortly.

Thanks!

- - - Updated - - -

Looks like it might be iron. Try ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on a spot.

What did the filter look like?

Did it have brown staining?

It looks like there's an area below the tile that's different. I suspect that it's more porous allowing iron to adhere better.

Has the pool been replastered?

The filters looked dirty, like normal. The only time the filters looked funky was the first time I cleaned after SLAM, it was orange/yellow gook.

Didn't notice any brown staining.

The walls are pebble tech. That's what came when we bought the house.

 

[tomngo]

Testing new signature.

 

[Texas Splash]

Signature looks good! We'll watch for updates tomorrow.

 

[JamesW]

Get a vitamin C tablet and rub it on the stain. Don't use a chlorine tab.

 

[Demegrad9]

You said you did a SLAM 3 months ago, but don't anywhere mention you've ever used bleach. You didn't try to SLAM with those In The Swim 3" chlorine tabs, right?

 

[tomngo]

You said you did a SLAM 3 months ago, but don't anywhere mention you've ever used bleach. You didn't try to SLAM with those In The Swim 3" chlorine tabs, right?

I used liquid chlorine from Home Depot to SLAM. Then after it was good (so I thought), I went back to tablets to maintain the chlorine like I had been doing for the past three years. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[tomngo]

Get a vitamin C tablet and rub it on the stain. Don't use a chlorine tab.

As far as a vitamin C tablet, are you talking about the kind humans consume or is there a different one for pools? I just tried the consumption one and nothing happened with the orange ring.

- - - Updated - - -

Ugh. Well, we know why your CYA was high. Tabs have stabilizer and will do that quickly. With a CYA that as high as you describe, the current FC of 5 is nowhere near high enough to prevent algae. Unfortunately, there is no way to lower CYA other than water exchange. But before going there, the gang had some other good questions above we need to know about:
- Used any Clorox Blue or other pool "snake oil" products?
- Any chance you have iron in that water? As James noted above, some vitamin C tabs can help tell you if the stain(s) are iron. On the other hand, if you take one of those chlorine tabs and rub it on a stained area briefly and see a change, it's organic (algae).
- Don't forget to update your signature with your pool info as well. It will help us tremendously.

Standing by ...........

I rubbed a vitamin C tablet and a chlorine tablet on it and nothing happened. I did the best I could, but the orange ring is like five feet under the water level and my pool is FREEZING. I rubbed both, then used a brush to scrub and there was no change. At least nothing noticeable.

 

[Demegrad9]

I used liquid chlorine from Home Depot to SLAM. Then after it was good (so I thought), I went back to tablets to maintain the chlorine like I had been doing for the past three years. Sorry for the confusion.

Okay, good. To the fact that you were surprised on how fast CYA can get out of control, that's why everyone here is so against using tabs for daily chlorine. For most pools there just isn't a way to balance a pool using them continuously.

 

[mknauss]

The best way to do what has been asked is to use your pool brush or other instrument to hold the tablet or a sock of Vit C tablets in place.

For the Vit C, put 30+ tablets (plain Vit C) into a sock. Crush them up a bit, and tie the sock closed. Hold over the stain using your pool brush. After 15 minutes or so remove the sock. See if the color of the stain changes. This is a metals test.

For the tablet, just use the brush to hold in place for no more than 15 minutes. Remove it and see if the stain goes away or again, has a color change. This an organics test.

 

[tomngo]

The best way to do what has been asked is to use your pool brush or other instrument to hold the tablet or a sock of Vit C tablets in place.

For the Vit C, put 30+ tablets (plain Vit C) into a sock. Crush them up a bit, and tie the sock closed. Hold over the stain using your pool brush. After 15 minutes or so remove the sock. See if the color of the stain changes. This is a metals test.

For the tablet, just use the brush to hold in place for no more than 15 minutes. Remove it and see if the stain goes away or again, has a color change. This an organics test.

Thanks for the tip! I'll try that this weekend and see how it goes.

- - - Updated - - -

Okay, good. To the fact that you were surprised on how fast CYA can get out of control, that's why everyone here is so against using tabs for daily chlorine. For most pools there just isn't a way to balance a pool using them continuously.

Yeah, but isn't it a lot cheaper to use tabs? I have been using these same tabs for like three years and the CYA was never an issue until now. After I replaced like 65% of the water three months ago, Leslie's tested my water and said my CYA was at 60. I just don't want to spend a lot of energy or money on maintenance.

Is liquid chlorine what everyone in these forums suggest?

 

[Texas Splash]

Yeah, but isn't it a lot cheaper to use tabs? I have been using these same tabs for like three years and the CYA was never an issue until now. After I replaced like 65% of the water three months ago, Leslie's tested my water and said my CYA was at 60. I just don't want to spend a lot of energy or money on maintenance. Is liquid chlorine what everyone in these forums suggest?

Honestly, this is exactly why home testing is so important, and we all learned it just like you are now. The pool store tests are not always accurate. Not the best lighting, seasonal employees in some cases, in a hurry, and results based on a company philosophy of selling certain products that are either over-priced or simply won't work. You can go to the same store 3 times in a week and get different results. Remember, the pool store sold you a bucket of tabs to chlorinate your water, but probably never warned you about the side effects of the stabilizer. One bucket, two buckets, etc, until one day they say .... "you need to drain your pool". Here in TFP, we show members how to chlorinate without unwanted side effects. Regular bleach is the same as what you hear of as chlorine or liquid shock. The main ingredient is sodium hypochlorite. Practically no side effects to speak of that will harm your pool or water when balanced against the proper CYA (stabilizer) level as noted on the Chlorine/CYA Chart (link below). Once you get the hang of it, you'll see why. Regular bleach is generally cheap and easy to find, so the cost is comparable.