Re: Algae Growth pool chemistry seems good

[Prime Dr Rockso]

Re: Algae Growth pool chemistry seems good

Post moved from http://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/71918-Algae-SLAM-(or-use-Shock-)/page6

Your cya is a little high but it's not a problem what you should do Is get this list of chemicals
•4 gal liquid chlorine
•10 lbs of 75% shock
•1qt of yellowtrine
•1qt of phosfree
•4 oz of super blue
And if you don't have a heater or are out of options pick up a bottle of copper algecide DO NOT turn the heater on if you use copper algecide or silver algecide

If you proceed with this method you will need to follow these steps

Step 1: clear out the skimmer, pump basket, and backwash the filter
Step 2: recharge the filter if needed and set the multi port valve on recirculate
Step 3: skim all debris of the surface and the bottom as best as you can
Step 4: take the 10 lbs of shock and slowly put it in the skimmer and make sure it is on recirculate or it will destroy your grids or if you don't feel comfortable with that method you can sprinkle it along the wall of the pool and brush the remaining shock around
Step 5: add the 4 gal of liquid chlorine on the shallow end, it works best if you add it right over a return line
Step 6: ad the phosfree and yellowtrine to the skimmer wait like 4 minutes in between before adding the other chemicals
Step 7: finally add the super blue in the skimmer wait 5 minutes before turning the multi port valve back to filter

If you followed this your pool will turn a white milky color and start to clear up

 

[Prime Dr Rockso]

Re: Algae Growth pool chemistry seems good

Post moved from http://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/72197-Algae-Growth-pool-chemistry-seems-good
You should bring the chlorine levels to 10-15 ppm by shocking it with liquid chlorine then use phosfree. While that is circulating through the system take your brush and brush all the algae off of the walls (you'll need a metal bristle brush for black algae) then add 10 lbs of granulated shock and brush it around the pool. Wait 24 hours and look if the algae is still there if it is use a copper algecide DO NOT turn on your heater while this is in your system wait 24 hours before you do

 

[JasonLion]

Re: Algae Growth pool chemistry seems good

There are several problems with this advice. First, using PhosFree is very likely a waste of money, and even if you choose to use it, it should never be added while fighting algae. Second, "granular shock" is almost always dichlor, which is going to dramatically raise the CYA level, which is exactly what you don't want when fighting algae. Third, adding a copper based algaecide is not such a good idea. Copper builds up in the water eventually getting to levels that will cause unsightly stains which are difficult, and sometimes impossible, to remove. Fourth, what does the heater have to do with anything? Running the heater while doing anything you suggest won't make any difference either way. And finally, even these rather expensive to follow directions are hardly guaranteed to kill off all of the algae. Sure, it might work, probably would, but without feedback from water testing you are either wasting money throwing in way too many chemicals, or undershooting only to need to start over again after this procedure fails.

Note: I am primarily responding to the second post, but the first one has essentially all the same problems.

 

[chem geek]

Re: Algae Growth pool chemistry seems good

Prime Dr Rockso,

I think it would be a good idea for you to go through Pool School especially the Defeating Algae article that also refers to SLAM - Shock Level And Maintain. You are probably not aware of the chlorine / Cyanuric Acid relationship. A higher CYA level makes the chlorine less effective unless one proportionally raises the FC level. So the most common cause of algae is in Trichlor pools where the CYA level builds up. Shocking with chlorine will kill algae, but the FC level must be raised high relative to the CYA level -- for shocking against green or black algae, it's an FC that is roughly 40% of the CYA level.

The following are chemical facts independent of concentration of product or of pool size so they show the side effects of chemicals including what you call "granulated shock" which could be Dichlor, Cal-Hypo, or more rarely Trichlor (granulated, not tabs):

For every 10 ppm Free Chlorine (FC) added by Trichlor, it also increases Cyanuric Acid (CYA) by 6 ppm.
For every 10 ppm FC added by Dichlor, it also increases CYA by 9 ppm.
For every 10 ppm FC added by Cal-Hypo, it also increases Calcium Hardness (CH) by at least 7 ppm.

Do you work in the industry or are you a pool homeowner?

 

[jmbradwell]

Re: Algae Growth pool chemistry seems good

Sounds like advice from a tablet tossing pool guy/pool store employee.

 

[BoDarville]

Re: Algae Growth pool chemistry seems good

•4 gal liquid chlorine
•10 lbs of 75% shock
•1qt of yellowtrine
•1qt of phosfree
•4 oz of super blue

That's quite an elixir of chemicals you're suggesting. The only one that is needed to rid the pool of algae is liquid bleach, only more of it than you are suggesting. The OP's 18K gallon pool needs around 5.5 - 6 gallons of 10% --OR-- 6.5 - 7 gallons of 8.25% bleach/liquid chlorine just to get it up to "shock"/SLAM level and more to maintain it there until the algae is gone and the water is clear. The remaining chemicals are completely unnecessary. As the bleach kills off the algae, the filter will remove the dead remains.

If you strongly believe the remaining chemicals are needed, the least you could do is articulate why you think they are needed. At TFP, we are all about understanding why a chemical is needed and it's impact on the pool when added.