green pool, high copper questions

[Bperry]

You are right, after owning this pool without incidence .. I have truly met my first rodeo and have been thrown right off the buck! To my defence, even the so called pool pros and chemist were thrown off too. I am not sure if running my pool without a filter is wise or not, but right now its either tha

This is the point where you have to decide who you trust and just follow one set of directions. You’ve got a chemist who is wrong about algae being present in water that may have copper in it. And a pool service that put in some unknown product that’s causing your filter to clog every 5 minutes. I’m assuming you had to give both of those folks some cash for their advice?

Or trust the TFP advice and get your chlorine up at a sanitary place before it gets worse. Don’t waste your time and money mixing and matching advice, it’ll lead you down a bad road.

 

[lilyjo]

I'm inexperienced with phosphate removers but I believe that if you don't vac out the debris within a certain window, it all goes back into solution.

Trust me friend. The road to TFP is paved with 335k members, most of whom wore out your very shoes getting here. We have nothing to sell you buy goodwill and the others can't say the same. With our collective knowledge based in science, we have an understanding of the subject matter like no other.T

I'm inexperienced with phosphate removers but I believe that if you don't vac out the debris within a certain window, it all goes back into solution.

Trust me friend. The road to TFP is paved with 335k members, most of whom wore out your very shoes getting here. We have nothing to sell you buy goodwill and the others can't say the same. With our collective knowledge based in science, we have an understanding of the subject matter like no other.

It was that very knowledge that led me to get the slam slamming!

 

[lilyjo]

This is the point where you have to decide who you trust and just follow one set of directions. You’ve got a chemist who is wrong about algae being present in water that may have copper in it. And a pool service that put in some unknown product that’s causing your filter to clog every 5 minutes. I’m assuming you had to give both of those folks some cash for their advice?

Or trust the TFP advice and get your chlorine up at a sanitary place before it gets worse. Don’t waste your time and money mixing and matching advice, it’ll lead you down a bad road.

Well the chemist was free advice and the pool filter clogging advice is a monthly service but everything they add thats over that fee is on their dime .. so I am guessing that they will protect that dime well. They are essentially doing the slam but hit a snag with the phosphates is what I am seeing since my pool was not holding any measurable chlorine for all the jugs they poured into it. In researching I do see where the filter clogging is a common issue with this treatment .. I just do not know how to proceed as I shouldnt have to but do kinda supervised what is done to my pool.

 

[lilyjo]

This is the point where you have to decide who you trust and just follow one set of directions. You’ve got a chemist who is wrong about algae being present in water that may have copper in it. And a pool service that put in some unknown product that’s causing your filter to clog every 5 minutes. I’m assuming you had to give both of those folks some cash for their advice?

Or trust the TFP advice and get your chlorine up at a sanitary place before it gets worse. Don’t waste your time and money mixing and matching advice, it’ll lead you down a bad road.

they put in phosphate remover so my pool will hold chlorine, boy i hope that wasnt a bad idea

 

[lilyjo]

Pinch a penny uses drop based kits but they can be manipulated by the tester ..no? Leslies has a computer test that all these fancy VPs and chemist say they prefer but they showed my phosphates at 0, but I did hear from jacks chemist that when treating copper the phosphates will be high. Maybe leslies just didnt test for them?

I sent those CUlator chemist the same pictures I posted here of my pool and you guys were the ones that caught the algae. They insisted that my pool was green from copper! The pool draining idea was the most frightening advice I was given .. I am so glad I came here!

 

[Bperry]

they put in phosphate remover so my pool will hold chlorine, boy i hope that wasnt a bad idea

Well the chemist was free advice and the pool filter clogging advice is a monthly service but everything they add thats over that fee is on their dime .. so I am guessing that they will protect that dime well. They are essentially doing the slam but hit a snag with the phosphates is what I am seeing since my pool was not holding any measurable chlorine for all the jugs they poured into it. In researching I do see where the filter clogging is a common issue with this treatment .. I just do not know how to proceed as I shouldnt have to but do kinda supervised what is done to my pool.

Just to be clear, they are not doing a TFP-SLAM. It’s not possible to do a SLAM in a single day and without a FAS-DPD test kit. I know these text forums don’t express communication with accurate intent all the time, but my intent is to help you see you’re heading for a water chemistry mess or an expensive repair bill.

If you want to follow the TFP advice, get a test kit ASAP and add 5ppm of liquid chlorine every day to your pool until the test kit arrives.

 

[lilyjo]

This is the point where you have to decide who you trust and just follow one set of directions. You’ve got a chemist who is wrong about algae being present in water that may have copper in it. And a pool service that put in some unknown product that’s causing your filter to clog every 5 minutes. I’m assuming you had to give both of those folks some cash for their advice?

Or trust the TFP advice and get your chlorine up at a sanitary place before it gets worse. Don’t waste your time and money mixing and matching advice, it’ll lead you down a bad road.

Owning this pool for 20 years without incidence until recently, I meant to say.

 

[Newdude]

Owning this pool for 20 years without incidence until recently, I meant to say.

I was one of the few fortunate ones whose pool maintained itself for 8 years pre-TFP. What I learned once I got here was how I was managing on dumb luck alone. I can unequivocally state thay ignorance is bliss. Now that I know, what I didn't know is frightening just how close I was to serious issues. A green pool is ugly but the real threat is from the person to person transmissions that thrive in an unsanitary pool environment.

 

[lilyjo]

Have you ever dealt with high phosphates? I am finding that my cartridge filter is clogging up almost instantly from their removal. I ordered a new filter but wonder if I will keep on encountering the same issue? I asked the pool tech if I should run the pool without the cartridge just to have the chemical be able to circulate, he didnt seem to keen on that idea but I am having to clean that filter within 5-10 minutes and it is only 6 months old. I must admit though that it has taken a beating though.

 

[Toxophilite]

Like most, I don't test or care about phosphates so I've never dealt with it. I guess the questions are how high is your phosphate level and how and why are you treating it. You may just be dealing with the cure.

 

[lilyjo]

I was one of the few fortunate ones whose pool maintained itself for 8 years pre-TFP. What I learned once I got here was how I was managing on dumb luck alone. I can unequivocally state thay ignorance is bliss. Now that I know, what I didn't know is frightening just how close I was to serious issues. A green pool is ugly but the real threat is from the person to person transmissions that thrive in an unsanitary pool environment.

Ignorance was bliss for me too until this happened. I figured it would be an easy fix, its been a month! I never figured I would ever have to resort to hiring a pool company but here I am. I dont intend on ever having a pool again, but I have learned from this that its frightening even other than unsanitary. Its is something that can be catastrophic, with my pool being on top of a hill so close to the lake, draining is out of the question bc of popping. I pray that my pool isnt stained!

 

[lilyjo]

Like most, I don't test or care about phosphates so I've never dealt with it. I guess the questions are how high is your phosphate level and why are you treating it. You may just be dealing with the cure.

3 resent test read 2500 ppg, 200 ppg and 0. It is being treated bc my pool would not hold any readable chlorine level.

 

[Flying Tivo]

Filter problems 99% of the time they end up being a chemical problem. How are you testing? What are your test results? Here is our recommendations, Test Kits Compared

 

[Toxophilite]

3 resent test read 2500 ppg, 200 ppg and 0. It is being treated bc my pool would not hold any readable chlorine level.

Phosphates are not your chlorine demand, what phosphates feed, algae, is. You need to follow this, first: SLAM - Shock Level and Maintain Also, Phosphate Removers - Further Reading

 

[lilyjo]

Phosphates are not your chlorine demand, what phosphates feed, algae, is. You need to follow this, first: SLAM - Shock Level and Maintain

I started the slam and with 4 or so jugs of liq chlorine added my pool the very next day read at 0. It was suggested that the high phosphates rendered the chlorine useless and a waste of money and product so the phosphates needed to be removed in order to have the algae treated. I am going to add a disclaimer here. I am dumber than a box of rocks.

 

[Flying Tivo]

Well thats easy, start by reading up Pool Care Basics,SLAM Process. Forget about Phosphates for now(probably forever), please post your test result.

 

[Toxophilite]

I started the slam and with 4 or so jugs of liq chlorine added my pool the very next day read at 0. It was suggested that the high phosphates rendered the chlorine useless and a waste of money and product so the phosphates needed to be removed in order to have the algae treated. I am going to add a disclaimer here. I am dumber than a box of rocks.

I would read carefully through that SLAM instructions again and form yourself a game plan. The "next day" to monitor is not going to work at this stage. Here's the pertinent info from the instructions:

"Test and adjust chlorine levels as frequently as practical, but not more than once per hour, and not less than twice a day. Chlorine additions should be frequent, especially at the beginning. Algae and other organic debris will consume chlorine very rapidly at first. As things progress, you will lose less chlorine each cycle and can add chlorine less frequently."

 

[JamesW]

It is being treated bc my pool would not hold any readable chlorine level.

What was added and how much?

 

[PoolStored]

Ignorance was bliss for me too until this happened. I figured it would be an easy fix, its been a month! I never figured I would ever have to resort to hiring a pool company but here I am. I

I was in the same position as you a few years ago. Had algae. Tried 5 pool stores, daily testing, buying whatever they told me to buy, for over a week without results. I was "Pool Stored," that is why I AM PollStored here.

I found TFP, followed the instructions that were given to me and within a week, pool was perfect. I've never looked back and have not been back to a pool store in years. They are setup to sell you stuff, not make it simple and cheap. I now spend less than $50 on chemicals and my pool is always perfect. My test kit and TFP has saved me $1000s and I have a pool that is ready to swim whenever I want.

If you want to fix this, you must solve your algae problem. The shortest and cheapest way to do this is:
1) you need a good test kit. Order the TF-100 Pro today. We will help you learn to use it. This is the most important step you can take to help yourself.
2) Stay out of the pool store and fire the maintenance company. We can help you fix your pool.
3) Add 1 gallon of liquid chlorine to the pool daily until you get your test kit.
4) When you get your test kit, a) post your numbers here, and start the SLAM process. Please click this link-->SLAM Process , print it out and read it three times, get your self familiar with the process.

We have your back and can help you clear this, but you need to follow these steps.

If you want proof, read this thread...LINK-->How Clear is TFP Clear?

 

[JamesW]

Lanthanum will form precipitates with carbonates and phosphates and the lanthanum phosphate and the lanthanum carbonate will need to be vacuumed to waste using a side pump.

The filter will clog up very fast with the precipitate and it will need to be cleaned as often as necessary based on the pressure.