The undead Algae

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T

tedkar

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Jul 15, 2015
39
Mickleton, NJ
Hi, I am new to the thread and still reading a few things. I have been a pool owner for 7 years and I am at my wits end with this pool. This algae won't die and the running joke is that it is the undead Algae. I have been told this is algae - it is spotty and seems to be in the crevasses of the pool floor - is a mustard algae. It is all over and not just in the shade or sunny part of the pool and never on the walls. If you sweep it, it turns to dust. My water is crystal clear and fully balanced. No one can figure out why this keeps returning.

Here is what we have tried.

1. Used Yellow Algae treat by broadcasting in pool, then brushing walls and floor, shocking it only to have it return. (Today new twist was dumping 2 gallons of liquid chlorine in skimmer). All the stuff that was in the pool that could have algae on it was put in to be killed.
2. Tested for Phosphates and it was high but we knocked that down and tested during a period when algae wasn't present. I was told you can't test phosphates with algae present but algae is always present so I just treated it several times. There were dead phosphates but recently I have not had any dead phosphates
3. They tested for iron, nothing with that.
4. They tested nitrates and that seemed high but with the algae they say that could mess up the reading. The only cure they say for nitrates is to empty the pool halfway and fill it up again. The pool was filled halfway with fresh water when it was opened.
5. They tried a copper algecide with no luck
6. I have vacuumed to waste, backwashed, rinsed and even had a priest come and bless the pool to rid the demons.

I am just totally aggravated. Today when we did step one and the algae came back the fastest I have ever seen - within 4 hours (see pic). It is spotty and there are some lines where the crevasses are. Chlorine levels are there but a little high. All other chemistry looks great. I have been running the filter 24 hours for the last 3 weeks and I have good pressure. The pool stores have no idea what to do next so I decided to try and research this myself and to post on a forum to see if anyone else has an idea.

Any guidance or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Ted
 

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Welcome to the forum!
Sounds like you have been on the pool store hamster wheel.
Do you have your own test kit? To follow TFPC and do a SLAM Process that will rid your pool of algae, you need a proper test kit. Read Test Kits Compared. I suggest the TF100XL from TFTestkits.net
Until you get your kit, add 5ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine to your pool each evening with the pump running. Do not add any chemicals directly into the skimmer. Pour liquid chemicals at the pool return with the pump running. Slowly.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Pool School eBook.
 
Welcome to TFP! Listen to Marty above, he has the right answers to getting you to a point where you can begin to take care of this problem permanently.

I hope you didn't use too much of that Yellow Treat, it is sodium bromide and not something you want in your water and if you added too much you will just want to do a pretty significant drain. I consider it the worst thing you can add to a pool and it in no way helps to kill algae. Any idea how much you put in?
 
Hi,

Thank you for the information. Yellow treat last year I used a lot but when I opened the pool I had to fill it a lot. This year I treated it early I think with 3 scoops of Yellow treat. Today I used something different that was for a 15K gallon pool.

I am going to get the test kit. I am not sure what 5ppm FC of liquid chlorine is for a 17K gallon pool?

Read the book and will continue to study some of the information. One other question, they told me I should run the filter 18-24 hours per day. I know that I have an issue now so I have to run it longer but is that true for a normally balanced pool? I believe it is a single stage - on and off.
 
If you find you can not hold a FC level, then you will need to drain a significant amount as your pool is a bromine pool.
 
Re: paying for test kit.........It will be the best money you ever spent on your pool......promise!

To the left on your screen you will see a column of items starting with "home Page" Under that is "poolmath" click it.

Scroll down the poolmath page and click on "Old poolmath Webpage" That page will look a little daunting at first but iit s where you can go to calculate all your doses.

You will find that 5 PPM of chlorine into your pool is 177 oz of 6% chlorine (bleach). That bleach comes in 121 oz containers so you can get buy with one of the containers and call it "close enough" for now. Put that in each evening until your test kit comes in and then do all the tests and post them onto this thread. We'll all help.

Run your pump 24/7 while you are waiting. You will likely see some noticeable improvement in your pool and we'll help you get it crystal clear
 
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OK thank you.

I probably won't get the kit for a few days or even a week. I am going to the pool store tomorrow or the next day, do you think 6 is enough? Also, I am assuming the kids can swim just the chlorine levels will be high.

Is there an online store you recommend to purchase products?
 
For normal pool chemicals, CYA, liquid chlorine, etc Walmart, Home Depot, etc. Really should not need much else.

I have heard members in NJ buy their liquid chlorine at Ocean States Job Lots. Good price and fresh supply.
 

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OK, I just read most of the information in Pool School. What appears to be algae may actually be pollen? My $10 test kit (LOL) shows I do have high chlorine levels and the water is crystal clear. The interesting thing is that doesn't algae only grow in the shaded parts of the pool? This will be in all over and some in the dead center where it is always sunny. I know we will figure it out for sure when the test kit comes and I am going to SLAM it. I was just curious about pollen and does it sink to the bottom that quick?

Seriously, thank you all for replying. I'm actually getting excited again for the pool.
 
Do you have pollen all over your outdoor furniture, cars. etc?

At the start you do not see algae. It is in the water and all you see is the dead algae. When you brush or disturb what is in the pool, does it 'poof' away? That is dead algae.
 
He everyone! Just got my TFTestKit TF-100 XL Option and I just need some guidance on how to use it and which tests to do. Is there a doc I can follow with step by step instructions also explaining what the test is?

On a side note it rained a lot this week so I just ignored the stuff at the bottom of the pool and made sure the chlorinator had chlorine. I didn't add any liquid chlorine because I agree I am just continuing to waste money without testing. Everything tests fine with the cheapo test kit during the week and the water is crystal clear but the undead algae grew a bit. I vacuumed it to wast and I am now ready to tackle this the right way and learn the test kit.

Any assistance is greatly appreciated.
 

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