Pollen

[Luric]

I'm 90% sure I'm having a pollen problem - my OCLT was 1 drop lower (and I accidentally slept in, so that was a actually about an hr after the sun came up, oops) - but I'm not sure the best way to get rid of it. There's an oil slick of pollen on top as there has been for about a month, but I noticed the water seemed a hint greener yesterday (tho still definitely clear!) , and when I brushed the steps could see yellow plumes. Since I'd been on top of the FC levels and not using the pool at all (my daughter broke her arm, so it seems cruel to let everyone else swim while she presses her face to the window for the 3 wks she's in a cast), I decided to test first before SLAM. Was 3 last night, was 2.5 this morning (and I did both tests twice).

We're in a high pollen area, high pollen time of year, and our pool is surrounded by trees and plants of all kind. We always have a bad spring with pollen, and I use hair nets to help. I've never had this problem of the pollen sinking. Filter runs on low 8 hrs thru the night, then on high 2 hrs in the AM & 3 hr in the PM which is when it produces chlorine. We break it up to help clear in advance of the 2 big windows when we swim - we get a TON of debris from all the plants. Should I be running the pump more? I admit we have been lazy about the robot and I don't think she's been in for over a week. Will running that help or do we need to vacuum? Should we backwash (been about 3 wks, but level seems fine). I know TFP isn't big on clarifier, but will that help pickup the finer pollen for a one-off use? Looking for answers, I came across this most with a few ppl saying not to trust overnight test for mustard algae Pollen/Dust in the pool, ready to throw in the towel. Is that still a possible problem?

Thanks!

FC: 2.5
CC: 0
pH: 7.6
TA: 80
CH:400
CYA: 70

 

[Texas Splash]

My concern for you is that you may on the beginning side of an algae outbreak. Your FC is just under the absolute minimum recommended for a salt pool. See FC/CYA Levels. At this point with temps increasing, that's a welcoming environment for algae. Clarifiers or other such products are not the answer. You should backwash when the filter pressure increases by about 25% from the clean pressure. Since your last OCLT was a bit questionable, I would recommend another one. I would also increase your FC to around 10-12 all day today until bed time (use liquid chlorine/regular bleach), then do another Overnight Chlorine Loss Test (SWG off of course). Today, use this time to give the entire pool a good brushing and if the filter pressure increases, go ahead and backwash that as well.