Hello all,
Long time lurker, finally a poster! Used BBB last year to a trouble free, clear pool last season. First time openers this year, as we have had a company open and close in years past. Have had 4 summers in the pool, and battled high CYA every year. Closed last year with a CYA balancing between 80-90 (despite multiple drain and refills), wasn't there to witness how the pool was closed (how well it was shocked), and had a very mild Ohio winter. Opened the pool this past weekend, and was slightly cloudy with greenish tint. Visibility fine in shallow end, more cloudy in deep end. Pool drain somewhat visible in deep end. Opening values were:
5/29 late afternoon:
FC 0
CC 5
pH 7.5
TA 150
CH 250
CYA 50
Assumed CC was due to algae bloom so started SLAM method, brushing, vacuuming. That's when it all started to go haywire. Gallons and gallons of bleach were raising FC to 2, and CC were raising dramatically. Continued slamming to bed time and woke up next morning to
5/30:
FC 2
CC 22
CYA 30
Other readings stayed the same.
At this point I start freaking out, and doing research on TFP forum, while adding enough bleach to maintain some FC level. Came across some articles about CYA degrading and releasing ammonia, ammonia feeds algae. So basically come to conclusion that I probably have the mysterious CYA eating organism in my pool, and am now dealing with ammonia AND mustard algae. Grab an ammonia kit from Walmart late 5/30, and sure enough test reads danger zone (dark green). Also bought 18 gallons (in addition to the 20 gallons 8.25% bleach I bought in anticipation of opening and Slamming) 10% liquid chlorine from Walmart in order to hit it hard.
Start 5/31: no improvement in water color and clarity
FC 3
CC 25
CYA between 20-30, closer to 30
Ammonia danger (dark green)
Started process during high cloud cover. Brushed numerous times and vacuumed today.
1:45 pm added 5 gallons shock
2:40 FC 11 CC 30+ added 1 gallon shock
4:07 FC 9 CC 40+ added 1 gallon shock
5:13 FC 6 (stopped testing CC when noticing dark pink color after adding 5 drop reagent. don't feel the need to waste reagent when knowing it's sky high) Added 2 gallon shock (ammonia test seems to be lighter green, maybe my hopeful imagination)
7:45 FC 9 CC still bright pink added 2 gallons shock
9:17 FC 5.5 CC still bright pink added 2 gallons shock
10:30 pm FC 6 CC still bright pink (ammonia test back to danger, dark green) added 3 gallons shock
11:50 pm FC 7 CC still bright pink
At this point, hopeful that some FC is holding, but concerned that it seems I am getting greater FC loss in darkness considering the increase in shock usage. Note FC of 7 to see what loss is there in morning. Husband also bought additional 15 gallons of 10% shock from walmart.
Which leads me to today. Greenish tint is gone, and water looks clearer. Can easily see center drain in deep end.
6/1
8:30 am readings
FC 3
CC 25
Ammonia Danger (dark green)
CYA between 20-30, closer to 20 (so still losing CYA)
added 4 gallons shock
9:30 am FC 3 added 3 gallons shock
10:30 am FC 2 CC 25 added 4 gallons shock
11:30 am FC 2 CC still bright pink
Start to have anxiety attack, which is where I am now! I have already added 11 gallons of 10% shock in three hours and am just maintaining (not raising) FC, no real difference in CC, and no change to ammonia levels. With such a low CYA level and full bright sun, I feel like I'm just throwing my hard earned (quickly dwindling) money down the pool drain. I feel like adding CYA to help stabilize chlorine loss is only going to add literal fuel to the flame by creating more for the mystery bacteria to eat. However, money is becoming a concern and I can't keep putting 25+ bottles of shock into the pool a day.
So, my lengthy post leads me to this: What would you recommend?
Some of my thoughts:
1. Would a partial drain and refill at this point help the exorbitant chlorine cost, or would the only option be to completely drain and refill (once again, not sure cost would allow that as our water is expensive)?
2. Would it make better sense to add chlorine to maintain during the harsh daylight hours, and try to shock during dusk and dawn? Or would that just allow things to get more out of hand during the day?
Obviously I am more than a little overwhelmed at the cost of chlorine thus far, and what it may cost to completely rid this pool (or a drain/refill). The one bright spot is that I feel pretty confident that with the constant brushing and steady above 5 FC levels yesterday have helped clear the algae problem. Looking for any bright spot I can find!
Thanks in advance if you stuck around this far, and for your help. I felt like too much detail was better than too little, but sure you probably still have questions. Look forward to hearing back!
Ashley
Long time lurker, finally a poster! Used BBB last year to a trouble free, clear pool last season. First time openers this year, as we have had a company open and close in years past. Have had 4 summers in the pool, and battled high CYA every year. Closed last year with a CYA balancing between 80-90 (despite multiple drain and refills), wasn't there to witness how the pool was closed (how well it was shocked), and had a very mild Ohio winter. Opened the pool this past weekend, and was slightly cloudy with greenish tint. Visibility fine in shallow end, more cloudy in deep end. Pool drain somewhat visible in deep end. Opening values were:
5/29 late afternoon:
FC 0
CC 5
pH 7.5
TA 150
CH 250
CYA 50
Assumed CC was due to algae bloom so started SLAM method, brushing, vacuuming. That's when it all started to go haywire. Gallons and gallons of bleach were raising FC to 2, and CC were raising dramatically. Continued slamming to bed time and woke up next morning to
5/30:
FC 2
CC 22
CYA 30
Other readings stayed the same.
At this point I start freaking out, and doing research on TFP forum, while adding enough bleach to maintain some FC level. Came across some articles about CYA degrading and releasing ammonia, ammonia feeds algae. So basically come to conclusion that I probably have the mysterious CYA eating organism in my pool, and am now dealing with ammonia AND mustard algae. Grab an ammonia kit from Walmart late 5/30, and sure enough test reads danger zone (dark green). Also bought 18 gallons (in addition to the 20 gallons 8.25% bleach I bought in anticipation of opening and Slamming) 10% liquid chlorine from Walmart in order to hit it hard.
Start 5/31: no improvement in water color and clarity
FC 3
CC 25
CYA between 20-30, closer to 30
Ammonia danger (dark green)
Started process during high cloud cover. Brushed numerous times and vacuumed today.
1:45 pm added 5 gallons shock
2:40 FC 11 CC 30+ added 1 gallon shock
4:07 FC 9 CC 40+ added 1 gallon shock
5:13 FC 6 (stopped testing CC when noticing dark pink color after adding 5 drop reagent. don't feel the need to waste reagent when knowing it's sky high) Added 2 gallon shock (ammonia test seems to be lighter green, maybe my hopeful imagination)
7:45 FC 9 CC still bright pink added 2 gallons shock
9:17 FC 5.5 CC still bright pink added 2 gallons shock
10:30 pm FC 6 CC still bright pink (ammonia test back to danger, dark green) added 3 gallons shock
11:50 pm FC 7 CC still bright pink
At this point, hopeful that some FC is holding, but concerned that it seems I am getting greater FC loss in darkness considering the increase in shock usage. Note FC of 7 to see what loss is there in morning. Husband also bought additional 15 gallons of 10% shock from walmart.
Which leads me to today. Greenish tint is gone, and water looks clearer. Can easily see center drain in deep end.
6/1
8:30 am readings
FC 3
CC 25
Ammonia Danger (dark green)
CYA between 20-30, closer to 20 (so still losing CYA)
added 4 gallons shock
9:30 am FC 3 added 3 gallons shock
10:30 am FC 2 CC 25 added 4 gallons shock
11:30 am FC 2 CC still bright pink
Start to have anxiety attack, which is where I am now! I have already added 11 gallons of 10% shock in three hours and am just maintaining (not raising) FC, no real difference in CC, and no change to ammonia levels. With such a low CYA level and full bright sun, I feel like I'm just throwing my hard earned (quickly dwindling) money down the pool drain. I feel like adding CYA to help stabilize chlorine loss is only going to add literal fuel to the flame by creating more for the mystery bacteria to eat. However, money is becoming a concern and I can't keep putting 25+ bottles of shock into the pool a day.
So, my lengthy post leads me to this: What would you recommend?
Some of my thoughts:
1. Would a partial drain and refill at this point help the exorbitant chlorine cost, or would the only option be to completely drain and refill (once again, not sure cost would allow that as our water is expensive)?
2. Would it make better sense to add chlorine to maintain during the harsh daylight hours, and try to shock during dusk and dawn? Or would that just allow things to get more out of hand during the day?
Obviously I am more than a little overwhelmed at the cost of chlorine thus far, and what it may cost to completely rid this pool (or a drain/refill). The one bright spot is that I feel pretty confident that with the constant brushing and steady above 5 FC levels yesterday have helped clear the algae problem. Looking for any bright spot I can find!
Thanks in advance if you stuck around this far, and for your help. I felt like too much detail was better than too little, but sure you probably still have questions. Look forward to hearing back!
Ashley