Hi, I am a recent pool owner, built our first pool just 6 months ago. Since then, we hired a pool maintenance company, but just recently got rid of them because they weren't doing anything and were messing up the chemical balancing in our pool. I wanted to use them while I learned how to take care of the pool myself.
Current Problem: Algae growth (2nd time in 3 months) and high CYA/stabilizer
We have algae growing in our pool for the second time in the past 3 months. I wasn't sure why at first, I knew the pool chemistry was off, but wasn't sure where to start. I've now determined it's most likely due to the CYA/stabilizer being too high. I want to start fixing it, but not sure which steps I should take first or which order I should do them in, so any help would be appreciated. I've posted my questions and details about the pool below, as well current chemical levels.
Questions:
1. Should I partially drain and refill pool first to lower CYA levels, or shock pool first? or something else entirely?
2. What can I do to maintain my CYA levels and keep them from going high again in the future? The old pool maintenance company told me that chlorine pucks have stabilizer in them by default, but I would like to not have to do a partial drain every so often.
3. What can I do to prevent algae growth again in the future?
Pool Details and Chemical Levels
Pool Type: Plaster/Gunite/Concrete
Size: 21,000 gallons
Location: Tomball, TX
Water Temperature (roughly 80-95 degrees F in the summer)
Pool Chemical Levels as of 7/1/23
Free Chlorine: 0 ppm
pH: 8 (or higher)
Total Alkalinity: 200
Calcium Hardness: 80
CYA/Stabilizer: 80-90
Current Problem: Algae growth (2nd time in 3 months) and high CYA/stabilizer
We have algae growing in our pool for the second time in the past 3 months. I wasn't sure why at first, I knew the pool chemistry was off, but wasn't sure where to start. I've now determined it's most likely due to the CYA/stabilizer being too high. I want to start fixing it, but not sure which steps I should take first or which order I should do them in, so any help would be appreciated. I've posted my questions and details about the pool below, as well current chemical levels.
Questions:
1. Should I partially drain and refill pool first to lower CYA levels, or shock pool first? or something else entirely?
2. What can I do to maintain my CYA levels and keep them from going high again in the future? The old pool maintenance company told me that chlorine pucks have stabilizer in them by default, but I would like to not have to do a partial drain every so often.
3. What can I do to prevent algae growth again in the future?
Pool Details and Chemical Levels
Pool Type: Plaster/Gunite/Concrete
Size: 21,000 gallons
Location: Tomball, TX
Water Temperature (roughly 80-95 degrees F in the summer)
Pool Chemical Levels as of 7/1/23
Free Chlorine: 0 ppm
pH: 8 (or higher)
Total Alkalinity: 200
Calcium Hardness: 80
CYA/Stabilizer: 80-90
