Pool won't stay clean

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bigbrewbowski

Well-known member
Aug 3, 2022
61
Rhode Island
SWG Type
CircuPool RJ-45
I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong. This happened last year as well. I just opened the pool, and did my initial clean with the vacuum. The very next day I've got brown gunk on the pool floor again. Not as much, probably 30% of what it was.

Is there a issue with the way I'm vacuuming? Do I just need to vacuum everyday until it stays clean?
 
Since you just opened for the season, it's safe to say you had algae along with the gunk you described. To get rid of the algae requires you to follow the SLAM Process page. You're basically set now, all you have to do it increase (and maintain) the FC at "20" which is the proper SLAM level based on your CYA of 50 per the FC/CYA Levels. Do that and follow the SLAM page and you should see major improvement over the coming days.
 
Texas Splash said:
Since you just opened for the season, it's safe to say you had algae along with the gunk you described. To get rid of the algae requires you to follow the SLAM Process page. You're basically set now, all you have to do it increase (and maintain) the FC at "20" which is the proper SLAM level based on your CYA of 50 per the FC/CYA Levels. Do that and follow the SLAM page and you should see major improvement over the coming days.
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So I unfortunately haven't been able to be consistent with the SLAM since last Friday. I've been trying to keep my FC up around 20, but it's hard since I am at work all day. I was home all day Wednesday and was able to test and add shock every 2 hours. There were some big drops over 2 hours - sometimes as much as 4-6 PPM. The overnight test failed, however, FC dropped by 1, but still had CC of 0.5. And more gunk on the bottom.

I was fighting algae all last summer, and have a sneaking suspicion that this is mustard algae. Is there a sure fire way to know? The dead algae that show up on the pool floor is a light brown color. Last summer I was keeping the FC level high, but my CYA was at the recommended level for my SWG at 70, and it was hard to keep my FC high. Also I wasn't diligent about cleaning the pool every day. Does the algae live on cartridge filters? Can it live inside the pool ladder? I have the plastic kind that you need to fill with water to keep it from floating away.

I am going on vacation tomorrow for a week and have to leave the pool on autopilot. I'm going to have to enlist the family when we get home to try and complete a legit SLAM. Will report back next week.
 
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bigbrewbowski said:
Is there a sure fire way to know?
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The article below can help clarify if you might have Mustard Algae. Still, the protocol is almost the same as a regular SLAM Process, so stick with that for now.

bigbrewbowski said:
Does the algae live on cartridge filters?
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With no light and constant chlorine running through, it should not.

bigbrewbowski said:
Can it live inside the pool ladder?
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Yes! If a ladder is in the water, pull it out now. Over the weekend or your next days off, disassemble what you can. Anything you can't take apart, inject some chlorine into it, let it sit for a bit, then rise and dry thoroughly. You can use a syringe or turkey baster to help with injecting chlorine in tight areas.
 
Texas Splash said:
Might help if I actually posted the article. Ha. :hammer:

www.troublefreepool.com

Mustard Algae

Today We are going to show you how you can get rid of mustard algae in your pool. By following the steps in this guide and with no expensive chemicals.
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
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Thanks. I've read that before, but I still am not sure if I have mustard algae or just the regular kind.
 
bigbrewbowski said:
I've read that before, but I still am not sure if I have mustard algae or just the regular kind.
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I wouldn't let myself get distracted by the MA variety. Just stick to the basics of the SLAM Process. Your schedule is challenging, but you'll get it. The ladder might be key to this as well.
 

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bigbrewbowski said:
Is it safe to swim in at the moment?
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Should be fine. The big things are:
- Able to see the bottom of the pool (safety)
- FC not over the SLAM level; last I saw your CYA was 70, so the SLAM FC level is 28. You're well under that I believe.
- PH anywhere between 7.2-7.8.
 
<< Not an expert but I did have this happen this year.
Vac'ed it good, got chems where they should be and just couldn't rid of cloudy water. Like so white I could see it when back washing or in a measuring cup. PH was a little low, go that all back in shape and just wouldn't clear.
(This is at my old house and that I rent out, so I am not there 100% of time, which wasn't helping. )

I'm looking at pool frustrated Sunday and think what could be fighting this?
I went through the list in my head that I have read here numerous times, lights (no light fixtures), skimmers (clean), all places for algae.
I look across the pool at my steps. I kept thinking ladder, was not thinking steps. I have brushed all around it and over it, but ok let's try.

I unhook and pull it up, and when I let it part way back down to regrip it, and large green cloud flows out around it.
It was a green algae farm at the bottom of the steps. molded plastic and it has some tight, hidden areas.
Green sludge dripping out. So gross.
I was almost mad at myself for missing this but just so glad that I had most likely found it.
Scrubbed, washed, bleached and left it to dry in the sun.

Now we are SLAM-ing without that green farm and I expect BIG changes, likely by tonight.

I know better, always pull the stuff out but have been trying to do to many things and not concentrating.
 
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Just got home to a filthy pool. Algae (dead?) all over the bottom. I spent about an hour vacuuming and it looks great. Now I need to get my SLAM going.

Any recommendations for ladders? I would like a solid ladder, no filling with water. Can aluminum coated work with the swg?

1000009299.jpg
 
I pulled the trigger on a Confer Plastics ladder, which is filled with sand: Amazon.com

SLAM still in progress. Kept the FC level over 20 all day long, vacuumed and brushed the pool in the morning and evening. But still had a 3 FC drop overnight with CC of 1.
Will keep at it today. The pool was clear this morning with nothing on the bottom.
 
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Passed the overnight test - FC drop of 0.5, and 0 CC.

I'm not sure if I'm dealing with mustard or regular algae, so I am continuing with the extra high shock level for 24 hours.

Here's my question - I tested at 6 AM at 26.5 FC. Pool math says to get to 30 FC I needed to add 59 oz of bleach. I added 64 oz at 6:30, and tested at 7:00 and it came back at 27.5 FC with 0.5 CC.

I'm confused, did the combo of sunlight and algae deplete the FC between 6:00 and 6:30 so that my FC wasn't 26.5 when I added the bleach, in only 30 minutes?
 
bigbrewbowski said:
I'm confused, did the combo of sunlight and algae deplete the FC between 6:00 and 6:30 so that my FC wasn't 26.5 when I added the bleach, in only 30 minutes?
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That sure seems quick for an early morning drop. :scratch: The sunlight would not have been that intense yet. You passed the OCLT so algae shouldn't be an issue. Going to MA level for 24 hrs is designed to kill any remain spores only. An FC that high will drop quickly as the FC-to-CYA ratio is much wider. Also, whenever we go to an FC that high, the chance of FC test result variations can increase. I would stick with what you're doing for now. Let's not read too much into this until we have more to go on.
 
I use the TFTestkits FAS/DPD Chlorine Test Kit. There is some variation in the amount of powder I use, but I use a pipette to measure the volume of pool water.

One other possibility I just thought of - I recently stopped taking water samples by reaching down into the pool as far as I can reach. Lately I've been putting the pipette in and sampling from about 5-6" deep instead of +/- 24" deep. I'm not sure how much this matters.
 
Got home to algae on the bottom.

I couldn't see it from the sides of the pool or deck, but once I got in to vacuum I found it. In the center of the pool where most of the debris collects, there was some algae that looked kind of like dust.

There were also probably three to five other small spots of it on the pool floor that looked a little more solid. Typically this is what I see, not the dust-like algae at the center. It has been improving everyday. I had more spots yesterday than today.

Today I had my wife adding shock every 2 hours or so. So I really don't know what the FC was during the day. I'm pretty sure it was over 20.

When I got home I first checked the FC which came back at 24, and CC at 1.0. I vacuumed and scrubbed and then added more liquid shock. 30 minutes later it tested at 29.5 FC & 0 CC.

I'll run the overnight test again and see what results I get. I should mention that I've been vacuuming and cleaning at night instead of the morning.

I think I'm going to try and work from home tomorrow and keep a close eye on where the FC is at.
 
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