Hi folks. I am trying to help a dear friend in the North Dallas area. I was visiting over the weekend and he mentioned a few pool issues. Eventually I was able to see his Leslie's test result (I know, I know....) and take a look at the pool. I am always hesitant to offer a lot of advice about pool care - people like the "ease" of dealing with the pool store, and telling them there is a better way is sometimes a tough sell.
Here is what I know.....
20k gallons
Does not winterize
Pebble or pebble type of finish
Attached spa with spillover
Travertine deck
Heater
Chlorinates with granules, stopped using a puck feeder because Leslie's said that pucks add CYA (I know, I know.....)
I got a look at the Leslie's test result and from what I can remember it said.....
TC = 3.3
FC = 2.7 (he was advised to use MPS to fix this, though I do not think he has)
PH = 8.2 (he added acid to fix this)
CYA: 62 (I know, I know.....)
Phosphates (I know, I know.....): was high and Leslie's wanted him to do some sort of phosphate treatment
He complained of persistent algae that he could not brush off. This is pretty new - he had a period of time (a week maybe???) where he had a freeze issue and the pump was not working about a month ago or so. His pool is about 12 years old and aside from having to drain water to lower CYA a few years ago, he does not report any issues.
When I looked at the pool, I noticed a few things. There were a lot (and I mean a lot) of areas where the blue pebble had turned white; mainly on the horizontal surfaces, but on some vertical ones as well. It were in these whiter areas that the algae seemed to form. It was not really green, but more yellow (mustard algae??) and I could not really scratch it off with my finger. I found that part interesting.
We went back inside, and I tried to explain the Chlorine to CYA relationship, that pool stores get CYA wrong more often than right, shock is a process not a product, having a professional test kit is essential and that the only way to kill algae is with chlorine. I offered to him that if someone presented me or most of us here on the board that set of results and looked at the pool, we would suggest a SLAM is in order. The lack of chlorine was not doing him any favors and the target range of 1-4 from Leslie's was very low considering the 62(!!!) CYA they measured and the presence of algae. I also advised him that common products like bleach, baking soda etc are what I use and are exact replicas of whatever Leslie's is selling him. Further, that mixing advice from me (us) and Leslie's is a recipe for more problems. He seemed to accept my little info session graciously (we are very good friends) and wanted to add more chlorine.
We went out, and he did what he was taught to do from Leslie's or his builder or whomever and broadcast a couple of scoops of granular throughout the pool and let it sit. Then a lightbulb went off in my head and I thought this is where the white patches on the horizontal surfaces are coming from. I did not mention it at the time because I wanted to check in here first.
Lastly..... There is a lot of efflorescence on the side where the spa spills over. It is pretty thick in some areas. While he did not mention it as a problem, I know it is and I am looking to offer a fix for that. Aside from what I have told him, do you have anything else to offer? I mentioned a couple of times that he is a dear friend and his pool is really nice. I'd like to give him a few pointers to nudge him the TFP way.
Thanks in advance!
Here is what I know.....
20k gallons
Does not winterize
Pebble or pebble type of finish
Attached spa with spillover
Travertine deck
Heater
Chlorinates with granules, stopped using a puck feeder because Leslie's said that pucks add CYA (I know, I know.....)
I got a look at the Leslie's test result and from what I can remember it said.....
TC = 3.3
FC = 2.7 (he was advised to use MPS to fix this, though I do not think he has)
PH = 8.2 (he added acid to fix this)
CYA: 62 (I know, I know.....)
Phosphates (I know, I know.....): was high and Leslie's wanted him to do some sort of phosphate treatment
He complained of persistent algae that he could not brush off. This is pretty new - he had a period of time (a week maybe???) where he had a freeze issue and the pump was not working about a month ago or so. His pool is about 12 years old and aside from having to drain water to lower CYA a few years ago, he does not report any issues.
When I looked at the pool, I noticed a few things. There were a lot (and I mean a lot) of areas where the blue pebble had turned white; mainly on the horizontal surfaces, but on some vertical ones as well. It were in these whiter areas that the algae seemed to form. It was not really green, but more yellow (mustard algae??) and I could not really scratch it off with my finger. I found that part interesting.
We went back inside, and I tried to explain the Chlorine to CYA relationship, that pool stores get CYA wrong more often than right, shock is a process not a product, having a professional test kit is essential and that the only way to kill algae is with chlorine. I offered to him that if someone presented me or most of us here on the board that set of results and looked at the pool, we would suggest a SLAM is in order. The lack of chlorine was not doing him any favors and the target range of 1-4 from Leslie's was very low considering the 62(!!!) CYA they measured and the presence of algae. I also advised him that common products like bleach, baking soda etc are what I use and are exact replicas of whatever Leslie's is selling him. Further, that mixing advice from me (us) and Leslie's is a recipe for more problems. He seemed to accept my little info session graciously (we are very good friends) and wanted to add more chlorine.
We went out, and he did what he was taught to do from Leslie's or his builder or whomever and broadcast a couple of scoops of granular throughout the pool and let it sit. Then a lightbulb went off in my head and I thought this is where the white patches on the horizontal surfaces are coming from. I did not mention it at the time because I wanted to check in here first.
Lastly..... There is a lot of efflorescence on the side where the spa spills over. It is pretty thick in some areas. While he did not mention it as a problem, I know it is and I am looking to offer a fix for that. Aside from what I have told him, do you have anything else to offer? I mentioned a couple of times that he is a dear friend and his pool is really nice. I'd like to give him a few pointers to nudge him the TFP way.
Thanks in advance!
