Hey folks. New pool owner here. I’ve learned a lot over the past month from my local pool supply store, friends, and the internet, but still... Couple of questions. But first, the issue at hand: I had a green algae bloom pop up (seemingly out of nowhere) and after just over a week and countless hours and $$$ I still have a bit of green algae hanging out in a few spots. I used Algaeside, chlorine shock, clear aid, and algae control. I’m sure it started because I neglected routine cleaning for a couple of days and my chlorine levels were too low for too long (lesson learned). But, I feel like I could have cleared this problem up much faster if there was a way to vacuum out the bad green monsters at the beginning, but I didn’t know that at the time so I was vacuuming through my filter then cleaning it after (did that several times). My pump and filter do not have a backwash or waste setting. I saw an earlier thread on here that gave recommendations like taking out the filter, sealing off the return lines, and using the drain plug to expel the gunk. Friends have suggested getting something like a shop vac to vacuum it out. Does anyone have a better idea? If not, which one of these two options are better? I’m worried about messing up my pump and/or cartridge assembly with the first option.
Can’t quite seem to reverse an algae bloom...help please!
- Thread starter Boss_Hogg
- Start date
Welcome to the forum 
This will likely sound blunt but I would suggest you unlearn what you have learned from friends and pool store. You seem to imply that filter(s) are your issues but they are not. Chlorine (actually lack thereof) is the primary issue you must contend with before your pool will sparkle. What we teach is very methodical, scientifically solid and will require the use of one of two test kits we suggest. The TFTestkits TF-100 or the Taylor K-2006C.
Please read "The "ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry" up in Pool School.......that's the place to start. Then read about how to SLAM your pool up in Pool School also.
Getting one of those kits (so you can do the precision testing required) is essential to your success. Keep reading and exploring here......you will learn some eye-opening stuff.
This will likely sound blunt but I would suggest you unlearn what you have learned from friends and pool store. You seem to imply that filter(s) are your issues but they are not. Chlorine (actually lack thereof) is the primary issue you must contend with before your pool will sparkle. What we teach is very methodical, scientifically solid and will require the use of one of two test kits we suggest. The TFTestkits TF-100 or the Taylor K-2006C.
Please read "The "ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry" up in Pool School.......that's the place to start. Then read about how to SLAM your pool up in Pool School also.
Getting one of those kits (so you can do the precision testing required) is essential to your success. Keep reading and exploring here......you will learn some eye-opening stuff.
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,828
- Pool Size
- 28000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
*** Update. Dave was typing at same time as me. He's one of the experts I was talking about. Do what he says***
Boss,
Welcome to TFP. Sad to say your pool has been "pool stored". There are many, many people that get to this site from exactly what you describe. My recommendation is you read this ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry, get an approved test kit Test Kits Compared and some liquid chlorine. Add 5ppm equivalent daily 'till the kit arrives and stay out of the pool store. Their "free tests" often become "fee tests" and result in your situation. TFP uses simple methods based on solid science that work for thousands using generic chemicals you can get at big box stores. We are staffed by volunteer experts to help pool owners. We sell absolutely nothing so we never are conflicted. You can use Pool Math to figure out how much liquid chlorine to add.
Ask any questions you may have as you await your test kit. Will be good for you to be ready to covert to TFP methods.
I hope this helps.
Chris
Boss,
Welcome to TFP. Sad to say your pool has been "pool stored". There are many, many people that get to this site from exactly what you describe. My recommendation is you read this ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry, get an approved test kit Test Kits Compared and some liquid chlorine. Add 5ppm equivalent daily 'till the kit arrives and stay out of the pool store. Their "free tests" often become "fee tests" and result in your situation. TFP uses simple methods based on solid science that work for thousands using generic chemicals you can get at big box stores. We are staffed by volunteer experts to help pool owners. We sell absolutely nothing so we never are conflicted. You can use Pool Math to figure out how much liquid chlorine to add.
Ask any questions you may have as you await your test kit. Will be good for you to be ready to covert to TFP methods.
I hope this helps.
Chris
Thanks, will do!Welcome to the forum
This will likely sound blunt but I would suggest you unlearn what you have learned from friends and pool store. You seem to imply that filter(s) are your issues but they are not. Chlorine (actually lack thereof) is the primary issue you must contend with before your pool will sparkle. What we teach is very methodical, scientifically solid and will require the use of one of two test kits we suggest. The TFTestkits TF-100 or the Taylor K-2006C.
Please read "The "ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry" up in Pool School.......that's the place to start. Then read about how to SLAM your pool up in Pool School also.
Getting one of those kits (so you can do the precision testing required) is essential to your success. Keep reading and exploring here......you will learn some eye-opening stuff.
Actually, what I meant to imply was that I somewhat understood why I got an algae bloom (not maintaining chlorine levels properly), but after all the bad advice I’ve still got a tiny bit of algae. I was wondering if it would be prudent to vacuum it out as waste instead of continuously running it through the filtration system and back into the pool?
No you cannot vacuum out ALL the live algae. You have to kill it with chlorine (SLAM)