2nd Opinion: How did I get an algae problem?

[TKpoolOH]

Hi TFP,

It’s been a glorious 2 years of having a crystal clear pool! Thanks TFP! Now my pool looks like everyone else’s though!

Somehow, I got an algae problem. Came back from Labor Day trip and thought a bunch of pollen had settled in the pool. Nope, turns out it was algae. Sorry no pic of that. The attached pictures are what it looks like now. The water was crystal clear but lots of algae on the floor. Stupid me thought it was pollen, ran the robot and the pool turned cloudy. Realized it was time to SLAM so am on day 2.

Can anyone offer a suggestion for how I got an algae problem? You should be able to se all my test results. I don’t believe I’ve ever been close to the minimum FC range. I run my pump 24/7 and the SWG anywhere from 40-100% depending up sun, etc. Thanks for the input.

BTW, it bothers me to no end them at my pool now looks like every non TFP pool out there

 

[Newdude]

Welcome back TK !!!!

Did you fail an OCLT ? The cloudy may be from stirring up the fall pollen dust crud if it's too fine for the robot.

Or the testing intervals were too long and the system shut down for a day or two but replenished the FC before you noticed.

 

[Flying Tivo]

Its a Big Hit to the EGO, but happens to the best of us once in a while. I think it happened twice in 6 years for me. So no big deal if you catch it soon.

 

[TKpoolOH]

Welcome back TK !!!!

Did you fail an OCLT ? The cloudy may be from stirring up the fall pollen dust crud if it's too fine for the robot.

Or the testing intervals were too long and the system shut down for a day or two but replenished the FC before you noticed.

Thanks!

I didn’t officially do an OCLT, but I lost 2.5ppm of chlorine last night during my slam with my SWG at 50%.

It could be the sand filter taking some time to clear it up I suppose.

 

[TKpoolOH]

It’s a cloudy day and I’m losing chlorine like crazy. Must be some serious algae in there somewhere. Should I take out the light niches to scrub?

 

[PoolStored]

Yes, scrub everything. INSIDE and outside lladders, lights, weir doors, skimmers, main drains under covers...seams where vinyl meets stairs or skimmer doors...everything.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Turn off the SWG during your SLAM and especially when doing an OCLT. During a SLAM you're just wasting hours of the cell's life.

 

[TKpoolOH]

Well, I passed an OCLT. Went from 23 at 10pm to 22.5 at 7am. The deep end is still not as clear as I’d like. Will post a pic when it’s light enough. Going to keep the slam for today, brush and scrub, backwash, and do another OCLT tonight. If I keep passsing the OCLT, do I stop the SLAM and just wait for the sand filter to catch up?

 

[Newdude]

You keep it at slam FC to not lose any ground. If you brush off another layer of biofilm on the walls/floor there will be more algae needing to be killed.

So a fail of any of the criteria is a fail. In this case, clear water.

DE will help speed the sand filter up.

 

[TKpoolOH]

I was brushing and scrubbing everything this morning. With the robot running almost 24/7 for 3 days and all the brushing and scrubbing I’ve done not sure how there’s any biofilm left . Keeping at SLAM and will see how well the water clears. Here’s pics from this morning. Sun was making it hard.

 

[proavia]

Based on those pics, you have a ways to go.
Keep your FC at SLAM Process levels until the water is Gin clear.
Once the water is crystal clear and you successfully pass the OCLT][/OCLT] you can let the FC drop to normal maintenance levels based on the FC/CYA Levels chart.

 

[Flying Tivo]

I would re-test CYA just in case to make sure you are at proper slam level.

 

[TKpoolOH]

I would re-test CYA just in case to make sure you are at proper slam level.

I had already retested this morning, it’s in Poolmath. It’s at 50 which I had it at when I started.

 

[TKpoolOH]

Got a pic too late so here’s one in the dark. Could definitely tell the progress made in clarity today. Happy to Feel like I’ll be able to say I have a TFP clear pool again soon

 

[Newdude]

The night time test is the hardest to pass. Its like the major leagues of TFP clear.

 

[TKpoolOH]

The night time test is the hardest to pass. Its like the major leagues of TFP clear.

So true!

As an aside, I think Maytronics should make pool lights. I just realized my Dolphins little tiny LED light illuminates the pool as well as my Intellibrites

 

[TKpoolOH]

Silly me turned the robot on before I took pictures, so water flow distorted the pics a bit. Passed OCLT again and water is getting better.

 

[TKpoolOH]

How clear is TFP clear? No visible algae, passed 3 OCLT’s in a row, and these pics are where my clarity is at.

Unfortunately, my wife still doesn’t understand TFP. She said I was testing the water too much. She then complained about our daughter’s friend whose pool has green water . Can’t imagine going a whole summer thinking green tinted water is normal.

 

[proavia]

In daylight, the water should be crystal clear - like Gin clear.
Toss a quarter in the deep end and you should easily be able to tell if it's head or tails. If you have to try to easily make it out, it isn't TFP clear.

How Clear is TFP Clear?

 

[TKpoolOH]

Another night time pic, never seem to get a chance or remember in good daylight. Water seems pretty clear but it’s hard to tell heads from tails through 8’6” of water. Maybe I’ll try it without the pump on.