Help with Algae

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Enzoenzone said:
Is it supposed to be this hard?
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Not at all. Chemically speaking, when the chlorine is maintained at sufficient strength and balanced to the CYA properly on the FC/CYA Levels, algae is destroyed. Especially with all the brushing you are doing. Sounds like you might be in a tough spot with no more drops remaining huh?
 
Texas Splash said:
Not at all. Chemically speaking, when the chlorine is maintained at sufficient strength and balanced to the CYA properly on the FC/CYA Levels, algae is destroyed. Especially with all the brushing you are doing. Sounds like you might be in a tough spot with no more drops remaining huh?
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Yeah pool stores around me dont have the R0871. Is there another code for it? I went to one and they said they have only r 001, r002 and r003.

I'll keep doing it, hopefully can get rid of it. Thanks everyone.
 
Still have some algae I will have to start over. Got my bottle of fc. Anyway I have some questions. 2 night ago i tested all again and it was really bad.

2 night ago:
Salt 2800 we had a lot of raind during my slam
FC 9.5
CC 0.5 or less
TA 100
Ch 70
Cya under 20
PH over 8.2

Added the salt tonight and started chlorinator at 75%

Using the calculator I added last night chemicals and this morning I have

Salt 3700
CyA 70
Ph 7.4
TA 140
Ch 75 but added 5 lb so I will test again tonight
Fc 18
Cc 0.5
‐--------------------edited because I found the answer to some of my questions.

For CH it says I need to add 20lb more of calcium chloride? Should I do it now before the slam or it is ok after?

I am lowering the ph to 7.4 with acid before the slam how fast can I test and start the slam process?

Cya last night was 70 and FC 20.5.
On thing I found is that in the morning no algae visible in the pool. The pump doesnt run at night. When I get home after the pump ran for the day I see some spots of mustard algae. Why only when it runs ?
 
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Texas Splash said:
No other codes I'm afraid. Local stores probably won't have it. You'll need to order some replacement R-0871 drops. You can get them HERE.
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For CH the pool calc it says I need to add 20lb more of calcium chloride? Should I do it now before the slam or it is ok after?

I am lowering the ph to 7.4 with acid before the slam how fast can I test and start the slam process?

Cya last night was 70 and FC 20.5.
One thing I found is that in the morning no algae visible in the pool. The pump doesnt run at night. When I get home after the pump ran for the day I see some spots of mustard algae some darker so it must be dead but it is happening every day. Why only when it runs ?
 
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I get some grit in my pool gathering along the bottom only when the pump runs. My suspicion is that it’s actually dust/dirt. When the pump is off it’s settling evenly over the bottom and looks clear, and when the pump is on it’s moving water around and causing it to gather in corners/ledges.
 
Texas Splash said:
E, sorry I've been out busy like crazy. How's that SLAM going? As long as you do all the details on that SLAM Process page you should do fine.
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I finished another week of SLAM and I still have the same issue. Just came home today and some spots have this algae or grit. This morning when I woke up the pool was clear but I think it is because the pump did not run last night. After the first Slam my CyA was almost 0 so I added with the sock method. Being at 80 I had most of the time the FC at 32 and last 24 hours it was 38. I am right now where I started, it is still there. Right now it is at 20 and cya reading was 50. How is.this possible?

I thought Cya doesnt go down only if diluted. First time we had rain too so I thought that was the issue.

Still reading and learning.
 
Enzoenzone said:
After the first Slam my CyA was almost 0 so I added with the sock method. Being at 80 I had most of the time the FC at 32 and last 24 hours it was 38. I am right now where I started, it is still there. Right now it is at 20 and cya reading was 50. How is.this possible?
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It's not. It sounds like you may still be having a testing issue because you're correct - CYA doens't just bounce around like that. I don't recall if you've seen this, so make sure to use this next time you test your CYA ....
CYA Testing:
Proper lighting is critical for the CYA test, so you want to test for CYA outside on a bright sunny day. Use the mixing bottle to gently mix the required amounts of pool water and R-0013 reagent, let sit for 30 seconds, then gently mix again. Recommend standing outside with your back to the sun and the view tube in the shade of your body at waist level. Then, begin squirting the mixed solution into the skinny tube. Watch the black dot until it completely disappears. Once it disappears, record the CYA reading. To help the eyes and prevent staring at the dot, some people find it better to pour & view in stages. Pour some solution into the viewing tube, look away, then look back again for the dot. Repeat as necessary until you feel the dot is gone. After the first CYA test, you can pour the mixed solution from the skinny view tube back to the mixing bottle, gently shake, and do the same test a second, third, or fourth time to instill consistency in your technique, become more comfortable with the testing, and validate your own CYA reading. Finally, if you still doubt your own reading, have a friend do the test with you and compare results.
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Texas Splash said:
It's not. It sounds like you may still be having a testing issue because you're correct - CYA doens't just bounce around like that. I don't recall if you've seen this, so make sure to use this next time you test your CYA ....
Click to expand...
Perfect. The cya is holding at 50. Should I raise it to 70? After 3 slams I still have the algae in some spots. It comes back every time the pump runs. I'm not sure what I did wrong. If I backwash or brush the pool and the pump doesnt run the pool is perfect. One thing I didnt do is to take out the lights and replace sand.

Anyway what everyone is doing if going in vacation? I will be gone for 3 weeks in July.
 
If your CYA is confirmed at 50, I would not increase it until you have passed the SLAM Process for sure. That way you can maintain a SLAM FC of 20 versus a higher one. If algae is visibally returning, it must be hidden in an area or perhaps some of the details outlineed in the SLAM Process article have been overlooked. It would be ideal to pass the SLAM before departing for your vacation.

During your vacation, folks with a SWG simply let it ride as programmed to maintain the proper FC level noted on the FC/CYA Levels and try to have someone check-in from time to time to ensure the skimmer isn't clogged or the pump has stopped. If you have concerns about the SWG operating while you're away, you can have someone add bleach periodically.
 
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Good morning,

Update:
So I started another SLAM last Monday. It seems that is going well but... if you look st the previous pics my pool doesnt have too much mustard algae. I Slamed every day and the last 3 days when testing in the morning I had no OCL happening but still a visible finger length algae in the deep end corner. I brush the pool twice a day morning and at night but that thing keeps re-appearing. I am at a loss, it seems dead buy after 6-7 hours is there again. My CyA was at 50 and almost every day I had more than the Slam FC. This morning is at 30ppm. Is there something else should I test? Is this normal to keep doing this? Being hot and sunny I need to add around 4 jugs during the day to keep it at level
 
I think I found the issue. Every time I backwash next day I see more algae. I started vacuuming to waste...my understanding is that it bypasses the filter. I tried to get it clean before vacation but unable to. This is a pain and I really wasted a lot of mmoney.I learned a lot by doing this but being unable to get rid of this small amount of algae it angers me. Can someone answer and tell me their thoughts please?
 
To answer your question, none of this is normal. A properly chlorinated, chemically-balanced pool should not have visible algae. Something is off. When we see owners perplexed with such moments, it's time to take a deep breath, back-off, and go back to basics. The following is simply a way to remind us of things we may have taken for grantid over the course of the past few weeks:
- CYA accuracy: If the CYA test is off (especially higher than expected), then the FC will never be at the appropriate level.
- FC testing: Reagents must be fresh and water samples should be gathered from the same location for consistancy.
- Chlorine/bleach additions as consistant as needed to maintain the SLAM Process throughout the day/night; bleach fresh?
- Pool inspected thoroughly: This includes in the skimmer, steps, ladders, rails, and/or behind a light (niche) if one is present.
- Filter: Has the sand been deep cleaned recently? It may need it. Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter

Some of these things seem simple and too easy to overlook, but generally one of them is the reason for algae returning.

CYA Testing:
Proper lighting is critical for the CYA test, so you want to test for CYA outside on a bright sunny day. Use the mixing bottle to gently mix the required amounts of pool water and R-0013 reagent, let sit for 30 seconds, then gently mix again. Recommend standing outside with your back to the sun and the view tube in the shade of your body at waist level. Then, begin squirting the mixed solution into the skinny tube. Watch the black dot until it completely disappears. Once it disappears, record the CYA reading. To help the eyes and prevent staring at the dot, some people find it better to pour & view in stages. Pour some solution into the viewing tube, look away, then look back again for the dot. Repeat as necessary until you feel the dot is gone. After the first CYA test, you can pour the mixed solution from the skinny view tube back to the mixing bottle, gently shake, and do the same test a second, third, or fourth time to instill consistency in your technique, become more comfortable with the testing, and validate your own CYA reading. Finally, if you still doubt your own reading, have a friend do the test with you and compare results.
Click to expand...
 
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Texas Splash said:
To answer your question, none of this is normal. A properly chlorinated, chemically-balanced pool should not have visible algae. Something is off. When we see owners perplexed with such moments, it's time to take a deep breath, back-off, and go back to basics. The following is simply a way to remind us of things we may have taken for grantid over the course of the past few weeks:
- CYA accuracy: If the CYA test is off (especially higher than expected), then the FC will never be at the appropriate level.
- FC testing: Reagents must be fresh and water samples should be gathered from the same location for consistancy.
- Chlorine/bleach additions as consistant as needed to maintain the SLAM Process throughout the day/night; bleach fresh?
- Pool inspected thoroughly: This includes in the skimmer, steps, ladders, rails, and/or behind a light (niche) if one is present.
- Filter: Has the sand been deep cleaned recently? It may need it. Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter

Some of these things seem simple and too easy to overlook, but generally one of them is the reason for algae returning.
Click to expand...

Before I started the process the CYA was at 50 and I tested a few times. I lowered the Ph to 7.2 I kept the pool for over a week at 20-22. Never went down under 20 and brushed 2 a day.I backwash probably on Friday and more came back so I started again. This week one day when I came home it was at 15. During the day i started running the pool chlorinator as well so it can help. No shade and it was very hot.last night it looked very good just a realy small line very thin looking dead darker brown. Made the mistake on backwashing. This morning 3 palm size spots.

Maybe bad batch of chemicals but tssting after chlorine seems that they are working
The chlorine seems good as it raises most of the time the FC.
No ladders only lights and yes I did not take them out.
I did not rinse after backwashing this seems to confirm what I was suspecting.

I will test again today the CYA because I suspect it went low like after the last SLAM. I found this being an issue for others.
 
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My experience with algae is it is very hard to kill it all with chlorine alone. There always seems to be a little left that I didn't brush off the ladder or whatnot that keeps it coming back. What I do is follow SLAM until the pool is clear, then use a preventative algaecide to keep it away. What's the one we recommend here? Polyquat 60? I just use the blue copper stuff because it is cheap and very effective.
 
Joshii said:
My experience with algae is it is very hard to kill it all with chlorine alone. There always seems to be a little left that I didn't brush off the ladder or whatnot that keeps it coming back. What I do is follow SLAM until the pool is clear, then use a preventative algaecide to keep it away. What's the one we recommend here? Polyquat 60? I just use the blue copper stuff because it is cheap and very effective.
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Is this polyquat 60 same as the blue cooper stuff ?
First time pool owner. Never used any of this
 
Joshii said:
What I do is follow SLAM until the pool is clear, then use a preventative algaecide to keep it away. What's the one we recommend here? Polyquat 60? I just use the blue copper stuff because it is cheap and very effective.
Click to expand...
Be careful about that @Joshii. The alagecides with blue/copper add just that to your pool - copper. That's never good. Poly 60 is a TFP-recommended product, but typically only at winterization or during an AA treatment. Using algaecides with a normal FC level will not last as the chlorine will break it down and oxidize it faster.

@Enzoenzone, hang in there with the TFP discipline. Unless there is algae hidden and undisturbed, the proper amount of chlorine will kill it. Your light(s), are they the smaller LED nicheless kind, or is there an actual niche behind that might need to be inspected?

Also, I didn't ask early .... do you have a main drain? If so, covers can hold junk so they need to be exposed.

Lastly, don't underestimate the deep cleaning of the sand. If it's been a while, it can help.
 
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