I'm new to the forum. I'm new to testing the pool water myself. I'm new to pool water issues. I've already had to replace my pump motor, did it myself, very proud of it.
The story
About 8 months ago I started maintaining my pool. I've been adding 1.25 gallons (half a jug) of pool store liquid chlorine (12% I believe) and refill the floater with 1-2 3" stabilized tablets. I started with two tables but in the south Florida "winter" days they were not completely consumed so I started adding just one. I do this once a week. I also add 2-4oz of pool store algae preventer every other week.
Up to about a month ago I never had issues. Blue water/no algae. A month ago I noticed green algae in the pool bench (the one at the deep end of the pool). The water looked OK though (in my novice opinion). Pool store guy gave me this "powerful" granulated chlorine to (the one they advertise to clean black algae and remove stains). Told me to brush off the algae and run my pump 24 hours. And yes, the algae was gone the next day (as expected since all that was done was to add massive amounts of chlorine).
Long story short (kind of), green algae keeps coming back on a 10-ish day basis around the deep end bench and now also around the shallow end steps. After mentioning this to the pool store guy in my weekendly visit to the store to get my "free" water test he (very informally) mentioned that my CYA levels were high. He suggested I drained/replace some water of the pool to lower it. I drained/replace about two feet's about two weeks ago. next checkup I asked about the CYA and they said "yeah it's better, but still over 100". I also stopped adding the 3" tables. On my last visit I ended up being the proud owner of a bottle of phosphate remover which was instructed to pour in entirely. Yes, it clogged the filter in less than a day. Cleaned the filter afterwards.
After googling about these symptoms I got here. I learned about the ABC's and also read further about high CYA levels. I learned that my high CYA levels are kind of reducing my FC power and probably the cause of the algae coming back. And also about not trusting the pool store tests. I also learned to be careful with the 3" stabilized tables as they bring lots of CYA (and also granulated chlorine).
What I'm doing
As mentioned before: about two weeks ago I drained/replace 2 feet of water. Stopped the 3" tablets. Added the phosphate remover the guy sold me. Also the unintended water replaced from last weekend rain.
I'm adding a whole jug 2.5 gal 12% once a week. Occasionally the algae preventer.
I got a Taylor K-2006 FAS-DPD kit. Last night's (Wednesday) test results as follows. This was my first time using the kit.
FC 4.2
CC 0.4 (let's say 0.3 - not sure if the second drop was absolutely necessary but I ended up adding it)
pH 7.5
TA 100 (at 9 drops I got transparent water, the 10th drop changed the color)
CH 350
CYA - very high, not even close to the 100 mark.
Note: last time I added liquid chlorine was Sunday evening, 1.25 gal 12%.
I was expecting my own CYA test to be lower than the pool store (as from reading others comments). Because it wasn't last night I freaked out and added another jug 2.5 gal 12% chlorine.
Today I will repeat the FC/CC test and also do a diluted CYA test (add 7ml of pool water, plus 7ml of tap water, mix, remove half of the resulting mix and continue with the test).
From reading posts I should remove a lot of water. Playing with the math tool if I guesstimate my CYA at 200ppm seems like I have to replace 75% of the water to bring it to 50ppm (I will get a better number today after I repeat my test). That is going to cost me a fortune. Rain season is around the corner on south Florida (actually last weekend we got so much rain it almost overflows the pool, had to drain about half feet to take it back to regular water levels).
Questions
Am I on the right track?
Can I get by "safely" with just adding 2.5 gal 12% and algaecide on a once per week basis while rain season slowly brings CYA down? I'm debating replacing 2 feet this weekend to give it a boots, but budget is a concern. As I mentioned before my water looks good, even when there is visible algae on the steps.
I appreciate your time and suggestions. Thank you all!
The story
About 8 months ago I started maintaining my pool. I've been adding 1.25 gallons (half a jug) of pool store liquid chlorine (12% I believe) and refill the floater with 1-2 3" stabilized tablets. I started with two tables but in the south Florida "winter" days they were not completely consumed so I started adding just one. I do this once a week. I also add 2-4oz of pool store algae preventer every other week.
Up to about a month ago I never had issues. Blue water/no algae. A month ago I noticed green algae in the pool bench (the one at the deep end of the pool). The water looked OK though (in my novice opinion). Pool store guy gave me this "powerful" granulated chlorine to (the one they advertise to clean black algae and remove stains). Told me to brush off the algae and run my pump 24 hours. And yes, the algae was gone the next day (as expected since all that was done was to add massive amounts of chlorine).
Long story short (kind of), green algae keeps coming back on a 10-ish day basis around the deep end bench and now also around the shallow end steps. After mentioning this to the pool store guy in my weekendly visit to the store to get my "free" water test he (very informally) mentioned that my CYA levels were high. He suggested I drained/replace some water of the pool to lower it. I drained/replace about two feet's about two weeks ago. next checkup I asked about the CYA and they said "yeah it's better, but still over 100". I also stopped adding the 3" tables. On my last visit I ended up being the proud owner of a bottle of phosphate remover which was instructed to pour in entirely. Yes, it clogged the filter in less than a day. Cleaned the filter afterwards.
After googling about these symptoms I got here. I learned about the ABC's and also read further about high CYA levels. I learned that my high CYA levels are kind of reducing my FC power and probably the cause of the algae coming back. And also about not trusting the pool store tests. I also learned to be careful with the 3" stabilized tables as they bring lots of CYA (and also granulated chlorine).
What I'm doing
As mentioned before: about two weeks ago I drained/replace 2 feet of water. Stopped the 3" tablets. Added the phosphate remover the guy sold me. Also the unintended water replaced from last weekend rain.
I'm adding a whole jug 2.5 gal 12% once a week. Occasionally the algae preventer.
I got a Taylor K-2006 FAS-DPD kit. Last night's (Wednesday) test results as follows. This was my first time using the kit.
FC 4.2
CC 0.4 (let's say 0.3 - not sure if the second drop was absolutely necessary but I ended up adding it)
pH 7.5
TA 100 (at 9 drops I got transparent water, the 10th drop changed the color)
CH 350
CYA - very high, not even close to the 100 mark.
Note: last time I added liquid chlorine was Sunday evening, 1.25 gal 12%.
I was expecting my own CYA test to be lower than the pool store (as from reading others comments). Because it wasn't last night I freaked out and added another jug 2.5 gal 12% chlorine.
Today I will repeat the FC/CC test and also do a diluted CYA test (add 7ml of pool water, plus 7ml of tap water, mix, remove half of the resulting mix and continue with the test).
From reading posts I should remove a lot of water. Playing with the math tool if I guesstimate my CYA at 200ppm seems like I have to replace 75% of the water to bring it to 50ppm (I will get a better number today after I repeat my test). That is going to cost me a fortune. Rain season is around the corner on south Florida (actually last weekend we got so much rain it almost overflows the pool, had to drain about half feet to take it back to regular water levels).
Questions
Am I on the right track?
Can I get by "safely" with just adding 2.5 gal 12% and algaecide on a once per week basis while rain season slowly brings CYA down? I'm debating replacing 2 feet this weekend to give it a boots, but budget is a concern. As I mentioned before my water looks good, even when there is visible algae on the steps.
I appreciate your time and suggestions. Thank you all!