Running Pool 24 hours prevents algae

spartyspartan

Active member
Oct 29, 2024
37
Houston
We just finished the SLAM process and as soon as we stopped running the pool 24 hours it started back turning green. Hayward sand filter. Sand is barely 1 year old. Why is the water only staying clear when we run the pump 24 hours? First time pool owners and need help.
 
Welcome to TFP! :wave: Tell us how you test your water and post a full set of water test results. That's always step #1 and tells us a lot.

Also, how do you chlorinate on a daily basis?
Using cholorinator 2 tabs. We use Leslie’s accublue at home. I’ve attached most the recent test results. The first two pictures were at home and the last one was at the store yesterday.
 

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Using cholorinator 2 tabs. We use Leslie’s accublue at home. I’ve attached most the recent test results. The first two pictures were at home and the last one was at the store yesterday.

Also, the chemicals Leslie’s recommends we put in always turns our pool electric green. The SLAM method was helpful and turned are pool crystal clear. But as soon as we adjusted the pump we went back green.
 
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Accublue isn't as accurate as LPS would like you to think it is.
Their goal is to get you to buy their overpriced and frequently ineffective products.

Get one of the recommended test kits and take charge of your pool.
Test Kits Compared

Without one of the recommended test kits, you're just guessing and not effectively managing your pool chemistry.
 
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We can save you SO much money by NOT selling you anything! All you have to do is follow the TFP pool care routine. We buy our chemicals from Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, even Sams/Costcos. Here is one example: "TA is raised by adding baking soda" as seen in this link: Recommended Pool Chemicals

I want you to look close at the two different tests. Notice how different the CYA was 45 vs 28. The only way to lower CYA is to drain/replace water. That alone shows you one of the many reasons we don't trust those kinds of tests. Getting your own test kit like we suggest will save you so much money. Look at the link Gene @proavia shared with you in his post above for the test kits we use. $50 a MONTH for the membership for a test that is not as good as you were lead to believe as you can see from your test results is a lot of money.
 
Hey Sparty and Welcome !!!

The accublue has to go. This post details why :

 
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We can save you SO much money by NOT selling you anything! All you have to do is follow the TFP pool care routine. We buy our chemicals from Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, even Sams/Costcos. Here is one example: "TA is raised by adding baking soda" as seen in this link: Recommended Pool Chemicals

I want you to look close at the two different tests. Notice how different the CYA was 45 vs 28. The only way to lower CYA is to drain/replace water. That alone shows you one of the many reasons we don't trust those kinds of tests. Getting your own test kit like we suggest will save you so much money. Look at the link Gene @proavia shared with you in his post above for the test kits we use. $50 a MONTH for the membership for a test that is not as good as you were lead to believe as you can see from your test results is a lot of money.
How long do these test kits last?
 
The TF-Pro, TF-100, and K2006C can last a year or so depending on how much you are testing. The plain K2006 doesn't have as much of the FAS/DPD chlorine test so you would be replacing that pretty quickly. Storing indoors in a cool/dry/dark place you can probably go longer on anything that hasn't run out.

You really want the smart stir or speed stir which is included with the TF-Pro, but none of the others. It makes testing much easier and more consistent. Most of the cost is in the permanent parts like case, tubes, stirring device, etc. After the initial purchase you can get replacement chemical sets for each in the $50's ($40's each spring on sale) at tftestkits.net.
 
Here are several threads on the removal of metals from your water. The number one thing to do is to find the source. Do you fill your pool from a well? Google search results We can and will help you clear it up once we get some solid information on your water.

Test kits-The prices range from $85 (do not have the speed stir and you really want that) to $145 (includes speed stir). All of the regents are guaranteed for a year. So even if you buy the "expensive" one you are still coming out ahead by $450 by not having to buy the membership for the tester you have now.
 
Here are several threads on the removal of metals from your water. The number one thing to do is to find the source. Do you fill your pool from a well? Google search results We can and will help you clear it up once we get some solid information on your water.

Test kits-The prices range from $85 (do not have the speed stir and you really want that) to $145 (includes speed stir). All of the regents are guaranteed for a year. So even if you buy the "expensive" one you are still coming out ahead by $450 by not having to buy the membership for the tester you have now.
We are not on a well water.
 
Also, the chemicals Leslie’s recommends we put in always turns our pool electric green. The SLAM method was helpful and turned are pool crystal clear. But as soon as we adjusted the pump we went back green.
Tell us more about what Leslie's has had you add, especially the product(s) that turn the pool electric green. As you have gathered, no one here will ever give advice based on pool store testing....the items we don't routinely have alternative tests for are Copper and Iron. BUT, with a large note of caution, your Leslie tests for those came in very low. So we hope that is not the issue.
Please post a picture of the green pool as it is now.
And get the recommended test kit as fast as you can.
 
Tell us more about what Leslie's has had you add, especially the product(s) that turn the pool electric green. As you have gathered, no one here will ever give advice based on pool store testing....the items we don't routinely have alternative tests for are Copper and Iron. BUT, with a large note of caution, your Leslie tests for those came in very low. So we hope that is not the issue.
Please post a picture of the green pool as it is now.
And get the recommended test kit as fast as you can.
Leslie’s Conditioner, no phos, ultra brite, and muriatic acid
 

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That is not really "Clear" green.

Clear means really clear, but green.

In any case, it might be iron or algae, hard to tell for sure.
It’s progressing getting worse. This is what it looked like on Thursday last week. This was at the end of the slam process and running the pump for 24 hours for 5 days. As soon as we stop running the pump for 24 hours it started turning slight green and then when we added the chemicals from Leslie’s it turned clear bright green.
 

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