Hello - I'm here for my last hope!

[TitanBrave]

Hey everyone,

Been struggling with my above ground pool for the last 3 or 4 weeks, I can not get it clear from algae or green!

I replaced 50% of the water to get the CYA down to 45% and I thought that was going to solve my problems - nope
I super shocked over 8ppm with liquid shock - nope
I've used flocculant - nope

I've had my pool perfectly balanced (not using test strips) and still, emerald green! I just don't know what to do anymore!

Anyway,

Hoping to find some answers here!

Thanks,

Titan

 

[wireform]

Titan, welcome. Great place to clear things out. For starters how are you testing? Just for your information 45 CYA is rounded up to 50. Slam level for 50 Cya is 20ppm Fc. No wonder it didn't help. We need a complete set of levels with one of our recommended test kits and you'll be back to clear in no time.Test Kits Compared - Trouble Free Pool

 

[TitanBrave]

Titan, welcome. Great place to clear things out. For starters how are you testing? Just for your information 45 CYA is rounded up to 50. Slam level for 50 Cya is 20ppm Fc. No wonder it didn't help. We need a complete set of levels with one of our recommended test kits and you'll be back to clear in no time.Test Kits Compared - Trouble Free Pool

Thank you my friend, yes, I've just started reading the whole SLAM guide, realizing that I'm no where near where I need to be.

My combined chlorine is super high too, and I'm only realizing why that's a bad thing for the first time. I'll make some changes and see what happens!

 

[wireform]

Get yourself armed with atleast 10-12 gallons of plain bleach aka liquid pool shock. Get the poolmath app as it'll be your best friend.

 

[TitanBrave]

Get yourself armed with atleast 10-12 gallons of plain bleach aka liquid pool shock. Get the poolmath app as it'll be your best friend.

I had my water tested at Leslies (don't have my kit yet)

FC = 4 ppm
CC = 4 ppm
Total Alkalinity = 170 ppm
pH = 8.0

Thank you! Yes, got the app, got my PH and Alkalinity down using Mutriatic Acid, new levels:

FC = 4 ppm
CC = 4 ppm
Total Alkalinity = 100 ppm
pH = 7.2

Ready to shock tonight... my CYA is at 40, so I need FC at 16 and it's currently at 4. I work that out to be just over 2 gallons of bleach correct?

 

[wireform]

You can't slam without a kit. I'd just keep 5ppm chlorine in the pool till kit arrives. Leslie's isn't anything I'd or anyone here would rely on.

 

[TitanBrave]

You can't slam without a kit. I'd just keep 5ppm chlorine in the pool till kit arrives. Leslie's isn't anything I'd or anyone here would rely on.

Ok will do.

I'm a little bit confused, so I've tested with a similar kit to the ones for sales, Ace Hardware and Leslies, all of them have the same FC and Combined at 4. So I think it's safe to say I'm at 4ppm for both FC and combined.

If that's the case, that means my chlorine isn't being used up correct?

I don't understand why my pool is still green

Gosh, so much to learn.

 

[V___25]

I don't understand why my pool is still green

It's still green because your FC is way too low and it's not killing the algae. Also, pool store tests and guess strips are historically unreliable. We've seen wide swings in CYA testing between pool stores/strips and your own test kit. Without knowing your actual CYA, it's impossible to know what your FC should be for SLAM and also ongoing. When your FC drops below 4, you're asking for trouble.

Also, what type of filter do you have? When you used the floc, did you vacuum to waste? If not, the floc most likely gummed up your filter so you may not be filtering at full capacity.

 

[TitanBrave]

It's still green because your FC is way too low and it's not killing the algae. Also, pool store tests and guess strips are historically unreliable. We've seen wide swings in CYA testing between pool stores/strips and your own test kit. Without knowing your actual CYA, it's impossible to know what your FC should be for SLAM and also ongoing. When your FC drops below 4, you're asking for trouble.

Also, what type of filter do you have? When you used the floc, did you vacuum to waste? If not, the floc most likely gummed up your filter so you may not be filtering at full capacity.

Thank you, I didn't run my pump whilst floc was in the pool, I just used my pool bot on constant, and cleared it out.

My K-2006C kit arrives on Thursday. I have started boosting my chlorine levels whilst waiting and noticed a significant change in the color of the pool from deep green to aqua/turqouise green.

Will keep mainting Chlorine level until Thursday then really go for the SLAM. I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[wireform]

Thank you, I didn't run my pump whilst floc was in the pool, I just used my pool bot on constant, and cleared it out.

My K-2006C kit arrives on Thursday. I have started boosting my chlorine levels whilst waiting and noticed a significant change in the color of the pool from deep green to aqua/turqouise green.

Will keep mainting Chlorine level until Thursday then really go for the SLAM. I'll keep you guys posted.

Don't over do it with the chlorine until you get the kit. Just put in 5ppm as per poolmath so it won't get worse. Any more then that is pure waste.

 

[Flying Tivo]

What size in Gal is your AGP? If you have added all those things the poolstore told you and then some. You are better served starting fresh with a new fill.

 

[TitanBrave]

What size in Gal is your AGP? If you have added all those things the poolstore told you and then some. You are better served starting fresh with a new fill.

I didn't add anything based on the poolstores I visited as there was very little correlation between the data.

The agp is 15k gallons.

The only thing I did recently was drain 50% of the pool and refill to reduce the CYA to 40-50% (we'll know for sure on Thursday when I get my proper test kit).

 

[TitanBrave]

Hey everyone, I tested my pool with my new K-2006c kit, here's my results:

FC 7.4
CC 0.8
PH 7.4
TA 160
CH 140
CYA 34

Honestly my pool seems to be doing well now, it's blue and no hints of green, HOWEVER, there is creamy/milky color about 1ft below the surface. Would you still recommend that I go for the SLAM?

I'll do an overnight test tonight on the chlorine, I know this will help determine.

Would welcome opinions on those numbers above.

Thank!

 

[wireform]

I'd say with what you have a slam is in order immediately. Don't waste energy on a OCLT because there's no way it'll pass. You can call it 40 CYA and slam level would be 16 FC. I'm not convinced on the TA level but for now forget that and just slam away.TA testing with new regents has its quirks but when the pool is done including a good OCLT it will be delt with.

 

[TitanBrave]

I'd say with what you have a slam is in order immediately. Don't waste energy on a OCLT because there's no way it'll pass. You can call it 40 CYA and slam level would be 16 FC. I'm not convinced on the TA level but for now forget that and just slam away.TA testing with new regents has its quirks but when the pool is done including a good OCLT it will be delt with.

Thank you, can you help me understand your TA comments a little?

 

[wireform]

So the TA regent has a static charge to tip for the first few tests causing non uniform droplets rendering test inaccurate. What that means is you may get smaller droplets causing a higher droplet count until the solution changes color. So where you got 160 can possibly be 130 if the true droplet size would fall of the tip. Just to be clear all tests are performed with the reagent bottle perfectly vertical and not tipped sideways which again will cause all droplets to fall off the tip uniform in size. The static issue with the TA reagent #R-0009 is corrected by: between every droplet you would invert it back right side up, wipe the very tip with a damp paper towel and then go it again and letting the droplet fall off the tip with the very slightest squeeze to help it form and then drop off. This will be as accurate as possible.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Don't even sweat the TA at this point. A high TA tends to pull up the pH, that's all. The problem Wireform is warning you about is because the bottles are new on the TA reagent 0010.

To save reagents when doing the FC and CC test, use 10 cc of pool water to one heaping scoop of DPD powder. This will save reagents. Each drop will equal 0.5...... so just count your drops and divide by 2.

Maddie

 

[TitanBrave]

FC 17.5
CC 0.5

Ok - so a little bit higher that the 16 FC target. Any advice now or do I just continue to follow the SLAM steps?

 

[wireform]

Keep it going

 

[Mdragger88]

Don’t forget to brush/vacuum every day & test fc & replenish slam level as often as possible just not more than once an hour.
Backwash (sand/de) or clean(cartridge) when pressure rises 25% over clean pressure. You never said what type of filter u have & it’s not listed in your signature.
Also be sure to remove & scrub places that algae loves to hide like ladders/steps, weir doors etc.