Green Algae keeps returning

[MajorS]

Hello,

I need help controlling Green Algae. I live in southern California where I have a 7,402 gallon kidney shaped in ground plaster pool with a Salt cell that has not worked for over 5 years. We used to employ a Pool Maintenance guy. However, my wife and I were reviewing our finances and needed to cut back on our spending to redirect funds into our retirement. We agreed to eliminate $110/month for the pool maintenance guy and I would learn pool chemistry and maintenance. I have been learning a lot over the past year and most recently, I am being challenged by green Algae. I have been taking my pool water samples to a local office of a well known national Pool Supplies store for testing and I have been spending a glut of money on chemicals like Green-Out one week, Yellow-Out another week, a bottle of Clear Aid here & there, every time I get my water tested, I and up having to spend at least $70-$80. After reading various articles, I have decided to try SLAMing my pool. As of yesterday, my water test results were as follows: FC=.12, Total(combined) Chlorine=.12, pH=8.1, TA=82, CH=446, CYA=100, Iron=0, copper=.2, Phosphates=23, Salt=642.

My current understanding is that we have to meet the pre-requirements before we can start SLAMing.

1. Adjust PH level to 7.2
2. Adjust CYA level 30-50

Note: I decided to drain my pool completely and bring in fresh water and retest, due to the fact my CYA is so high and I have had the chemical balance scattered all over.

Having said that, After my pool fills up with fresh water, I need liquid chlorine. Which concentration of chlorine should I get and from where?

 

[HermanTX]

Welcome to TFP.
You have what we call been “pool stored”. The money saved from pool tech ended up in the pocket of a well know pool store.
Well you have found the right place for help.

You are doing the right thing to lower your CYA. That is critical before you SLAM.
Another important part is that you have to stop going to the pool store for testing. They are erratic in their results. You need your own test kit. Please see Test Kits Compared . You will be testing 2-4 times a day during the SLAM so you need to test frequently and thus having your own kit is paramount. Order that today so by the time you drain and refill your test kit will be delivered.

Do you plan to get your salt cell back working or will only use liquid chlorine going forward? BTW, you need to purchase about 15 gals of LC to start the process. Get either 10% or higher. Walmart, Home Depot carry Pool Essentials Liguid Shock (their name) which is 10%.

Please review the video -

It would be good to read up on Pool Care Basics so you start to understand everything about pool chemistry.
Also, since you are replacing water, you will need to add CYA to get it back up to 30ppm for the SLAM. Purchase granular chlorine stabilizer. We can tell you how to add it so you do not overshoot your CYA target.

Hope this gets you started.

 

[jeffchap]

You are going to LOVE it here! Once we get you cleared up you'll be able to run your pool all year for what you would spend in one trip to the pool store.

 

[Deb04]

You are going to save SOooo much money getting control of your own pool. No more testing at pool stores and therefore no more of them recomending/pushing magic potions that don't work. I spend max $200 a year in pool chemicals. My pool is open only 5 mos a year vs your 12, but I do have to SLAM at opening every yr. Once you're through this SLAM you may never have to do it again if you test every day and therefore know what's going on in your pool and can react early.

 

[MajorS]

Welcome to TFP.
You have what we call been “pool stored”. The money saved from pool tech ended up in the pocket of a well know pool store.
Well you have found the right place for help.

You are doing the right thing to lower your CYA. That is critical before you SLAM.
Another important part is that you have to stop going to the pool store for testing. They are erratic in their results. You need your own test kit. Please see Test Kits Compared . You will be testing 2-4 times a day during the SLAM so you need to test frequently and thus having your own kit is paramount. Order that today so by the time you drain and refill your test kit will be delivered.

Do you plan to get your salt cell back working or will only use liquid chlorine going forward? BTW, you need to purchase about 15 gals of LC to start the process. Get either 10% or higher. Walmart, Home Depot carry Pool Essentials Liguid Shock (their name) which is 10%.

Please review the video -

It would be good to read up on Pool Care Basics so you start to understand everything about pool chemistry.
Also, since you are replacing water, you will need to add CYA to get it back up to 30ppm for the SLAM. Purchase granular chlorine stabilizer. We can tell you how to add it so you do not overshoot your CYA target.

Hope this gets you started.

Harmen,

Thank you for your encouragement and pointers. I have a couple of questions to ask and keep in mind I am on a tight budget.
1. Can you recommend a test ticket that has the essentials only not bloated with stuff I will only need once a year something.
2. Should I drain 50% or 100%?

 

[HermanTX]

Harmen,

Thank you for your encouragement and pointers. I have a couple of questions to ask and keep in mind I am on a tight budget.
1. Can you recommend a test ticket that has the essentials only not bloated with stuff I will only need once a year something.
2. Should I drain 50% or 100%?

The TF 100 is the best value - more volume of tests can be conducted with reagents supplied. Every test in this TF-100 is essential for everyday pool care. Also, since you have to SLAM get the XL Option which adds more reagents for testing FC. So that is about $105 total. You did not indicate you were going back to a salt pool, so you do not need to add any for salt testing.

We do not know if your CYA is 100 or over 100. Was those tests from a pool store? If so - unreliable. I would drain at least 75%.

 

[HermanTX]

One other small item Please update your signature - go to Settings (on the left) and then go to Signature. Include specific details on your pool such as - Inground plaster Kidney shaped pool, 7400gals, using Liquid Chlorine and TF-100 test kit, Pump is (mfg and model), Filter is (mfg. and model)
This will help when you ask a question and everyone can see what set up you have.

 

[MajorS]

The TF 100 is the best value - more volume of tests can be conducted with reagents supplied. Every test in this TF-100 is essential for everyday pool care. Also, since you have to SLAM get the XL Option which adds more reagents for testing FC. So that is about $105 total. You did not indicate you were going back to a salt pool, so you do not need to add any for salt testing.

We do not know if your CYA is 100 or over 100. Was those tests from a pool store? If so - unreliable. I would drain at least 75%.

Hi Herman,
I will be picking up the Liquid Chlorine from Walmart tonight. The pool has drained about 70% and I'll start refilling it shortly after I brush the walls. I was reading online that there there may be a discount availanble for the TFT test kit. Would you know how or where a discount coupon may be found?

 

[HermanTX]

Hi Herman,
I will be picking up the Liquid Chlorine from Walmart tonight. The pool has drained about 70% and I'll start refilling it shortly after I brush the walls. I was reading online that there there may be a discount availanble for the TFT test kit. Would you know how or where a discount coupon may be found?

The only discount I am aware of is if you contribute to TFP (it is a non-profit org.), They will give you a discount code to use at TFT and you also get a discount at some other pool supply house. Go to home page at bottom is Contribute and it gives you 3 options for contributions if you wish to do that. You will note that some people have badges under their names based on their contributions to TFP. It is not mandatory because all contributors do so at their own time and leisure. I think the contributions do help maintain the website.

 

[Snoobug]

I picked up 12.5% liquid chlorine from Menards tonight at $3.99 a gallon. Not sure if you have a Menards but you can check online to make sure a store has it before you drive. Lowe's/Home Depot/Ace Hardware or whatever store you prefer should carry it.

 

[MajorS]

I picked up 12.5% liquid chlorine from Menards tonight at $3.99 a gallon. Not sure if you have a Menards but you can check online to make sure a store has it before you drive. Lowe's/Home Depot/Ace Hardware or whatever store you prefer should carry it.

Hi Snoobug,

It appears that Liquid Chlorine is difficult to find, Leslies pool supplies, Home Depot, Lowes were all out of stock. I did find Pool Essentials Chlorinating Liquid for $4.77 so I picked up 16 gals since I'm emptying my pool getting ready to Slam it.

 

[Snoobug]

I

Hi Snoobug,

It appears that Liquid Chlorine is difficult to find, Leslies pool supplies, Home Depot, Lowes were all out of stock. I did find Pool Essentials Chlorinating Liquid for $4.77 so I picked up 16 gals since I'm emptying my pool getting ready to Slam it.

I am so sorry... Good job on finding 16 gallons though!

 

[kul]

Glad you were able to find some at Walmart. Do you have plans to replace your SWG cell? That may also help - but I don’t know how much it costs. I purchase my chlorine from Discount Pool Mart, but just recently discovered Walmart had better pricing.
Also since you are draining your pool so much maybe just drain it all the way, then spray/scrub the whole thing with bleach and then fill so you can get a head start?

 

[MajorS]

Glad you were able to find some at Walmart. Do you have plans to replace your SWG cell? That may also help - but I don’t know how much it costs. I purchase my chlorine from Discount Pool Mart, but just recently discovered Walmart had better pricing.
Also since you are draining your pool so much maybe just drain it all the way, then spray/scrub the whole thing with bleach and then fill so you can get a head start?

Hi Kul,
My intension is to fix the Salt Cell but Leslies is estimating $290 for the Salt cell but no Guarantee that's where the problem is. Since, I have the pool down for maintenance, maybe I will pull out the salt cell and have Leslies test it for me.
On the subject of draining the pool, I think I am at 75% drained but the Green Algae. is starting to dry up and fusing into the plaster. what is the best way to remove the Green gunk and how should I prepare the pool before I start to refill it?

 

[kul]

Typically on this forum, people scoop it out. After it’s all out I’d suggest filling one of those garden sprayers like the attached or something like it and spraying down with liquid chlorine/scrubbing/washing the pool, especially the returns and anywhere algae could lurk. You’ll also need to clean your filter so you don’t have algae hiding there either.
Flo-Master by Hudson 24101 1... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B42QKDW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[MajorS]

One other small item Please update your signature - go to Settings (on the left) and then go to Signature. Include specific details on your pool such as - Inground plaster Kidney shaped pool, 7400gals, using Liquid Chlorine and TF-100 test kit, Pump is (mfg and model), Filter is (mfg. and model)
This will help when you ask a question and everyone can see what set up you have.

I thought I had done that earlier when I joined and I just checked and all that info is there. Do I need to turn it on or something?

 

[MajorS]

Typically on this forum, people scoop it out. After it’s all out I’d suggest filling one of those garden sprayers like the attached or something like it and spraying down with liquid chlorine/scrubbing/washing the pool, especially the returns and anywhere algae could lurk. You’ll also need to clean your filter so you don’t have algae hiding there either.
Flo-Master by Hudson 24101 1... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B42QKDW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Hi Kul and thank you for the suggestion and I'm going to run over to the store and pick it up.

 

[HermanTX]

Hi Kul,
My intension is to fix the Salt Cell but Leslies is estimating $290 for the Salt cell but no Guarantee that's where the problem is. Since, I have the pool down for maintenance, maybe I will pull out the salt cell and have Leslies test it for me.
On the subject of draining the pool, I think I am at 75% drained but the Green Algae. is starting to dry up and fusing into the plaster. what is the best way to remove the Green gunk and how should I prepare the pool before I start to refill it?

The $290 sounds suspicious but guess anything is possible. If it has not worked for 5 yrs then you have to consider how much life you would get out of it. Also, since you are draining your pool, you will need to purchase salt (in the future) to operate the SWCG.

Thanks for updating your signature.

 

[MajorS]

The $290 sounds suspicious but guess anything is possible. If it has not worked for 5 yrs then you have to consider how much life you would get out of it. Also, since you are draining your pool, you will need to purchase salt (in the future) to operate the SWCG.

Thanks for updating your signature.

The $290 sounds suspicious but guess anything is possible. If it has not worked for 5 yrs then you have to consider how much life you would get out of it. Also, since you are draining your pool, you will need to purchase salt (in the future) to operate the SWCG.

Thanks for updating your signature.

Hi Herman,

Thanks for all your tips. The pools been drained and I sprayed Pool Essentials LC on all the Green Algae. I may have eroded the plaster b/c now the plaster looks spotty. It was too dark for me to take a picture tonight but I'll one tomorrow morning it will still be filling. Now I gotta get a test kit.

 

[kul]

Don’t forget to clean your filter as well so you don’t reintroduce algae.
I’m not sure about the spotting- could be if you didn’t wash off the chlorine as you scrubbed as i’d guess it would lighten the area if you drenched it and left it there. Hopefully it will look ok once you finish filling.