I stumbled across TFP while researching solutions for my algae problems. The amount of information here is astounding! I'm battling the same thing I had to last year - a huge algae outbreak. Last year I followed the pool store advice and it cost close to 600.00 and weeks of my time. This round I'm wanting to learn all I can from this site and attempt TFP stategies.
I've read the stickies and most of the posts in the algae forum but I'm still a bit lost. Maybe I tried to take in too much info too soon......but here's what I've gathered so far:
1. I've created my algae problem to some degree by continuing to use the stabilized pucks. The result is not enough FC and too much stabilizer (CYA). This would explain why adding more pucks has had no effect (except to raise my CYA)
2. I need to drastically raise my FC and maintain the level to kill the algae. How far I need to raise FC depends on my CYA
If my thoughts above are correct, here's some more info: my CYA appears high. Way high. like around 200 high. I think but am not sure that the high CYA means I'll need a lot of FC and my estimate is 120 ppm based on my CYA. But that seems like A LOT.............am I on the right track?
I began the bleach therapy yesterday but don't think I hit it hard enough out of the gate. My pool is about 20,000 gallons. I added 7 bottles (96oz) of 6% to begin, then added another bottle every half hour for a total of 14 bottles. My filer runs 24/7.
This morning, little change. Things still green, not gray/blue. This morning I got more aggressive adding 32 bottles of 6% and adding another 2 bottles every hour. I do not have an accurate test kit yet so am judging things by looking at the color. I also tried mixing one part of pool water with four parts of distilled water, adding 5 drops of OTO and multiplying results by 5. Not sure if I did that right though, results were ambiguious.
Any advice or input from the helpful experts?
I've read the stickies and most of the posts in the algae forum but I'm still a bit lost. Maybe I tried to take in too much info too soon......but here's what I've gathered so far:
1. I've created my algae problem to some degree by continuing to use the stabilized pucks. The result is not enough FC and too much stabilizer (CYA). This would explain why adding more pucks has had no effect (except to raise my CYA)
2. I need to drastically raise my FC and maintain the level to kill the algae. How far I need to raise FC depends on my CYA
If my thoughts above are correct, here's some more info: my CYA appears high. Way high. like around 200 high. I think but am not sure that the high CYA means I'll need a lot of FC and my estimate is 120 ppm based on my CYA. But that seems like A LOT.............am I on the right track?
I began the bleach therapy yesterday but don't think I hit it hard enough out of the gate. My pool is about 20,000 gallons. I added 7 bottles (96oz) of 6% to begin, then added another bottle every half hour for a total of 14 bottles. My filer runs 24/7.
This morning, little change. Things still green, not gray/blue. This morning I got more aggressive adding 32 bottles of 6% and adding another 2 bottles every hour. I do not have an accurate test kit yet so am judging things by looking at the color. I also tried mixing one part of pool water with four parts of distilled water, adding 5 drops of OTO and multiplying results by 5. Not sure if I did that right though, results were ambiguious.
Any advice or input from the helpful experts?