Hi there.
I'm sure this story pops up here all the time, but I just discovered TFP and by proxy discovered that I'm doing everything wrong and have been for three years.
I am renting a house that has a gargantuan pool. 40,000 gallons. For several years now, I've been fighting with it, everything from chemical imbalance to algae. So far, this year has been no different, but hopefully that's about to change!
My landlord and I took the cover off late this year, because I was traveling in Indonesia around the time we should've opened it. We opened it to a swampy, smelly, black mess. Chaos immediately filled my head thinking about the vast amount of money that I was going to have to relinquish to the backyard money hole. Especially after traveling for a month and recently getting a small pay cut at my job. Until now, I've been really relying on my rudimentary knowledge of science to deal with the pool, but I'm seeing now that there's a certain "X-factor" of knowledge that you need to do this effectively. Which is why I'm inexplicably happy that this site exists.
So, to explain in the best way I know how, I'll outline what I've done to The Swamp already, and seek advice on where to go from here.
I've read the SLAM article and I've asked my landlord to purchase 30+ jugs of bleach. The unfortunate problem we have is that we both work full time jobs, and therefore cannot test and top off the FC every hour. The absolute best we could do is about every 4 hours, since he is lucky enough to be working from home the rest of this week (still a 20 minute drive to my house). On the weekend, I will be able to care for it hourly.
My questions are as follows. How much ground am I going to lose in terms of what I've already done? And based on my most recent test, should I worry about adjusting anything else in terms of water balance? I mean, I figure I'll soon (praying soon) be vacuuming to waste, so wouldn't adding anything else be kind of just a waste of money? Further, how much bleach can I expect to have to purchase beyond 30 jugs in order to clear all this algae?
When I get off of work today, I'll post up to date test results and try to get some pictures attached. Thanks in advance for all the help.
I'm sure this story pops up here all the time, but I just discovered TFP and by proxy discovered that I'm doing everything wrong and have been for three years.
I am renting a house that has a gargantuan pool. 40,000 gallons. For several years now, I've been fighting with it, everything from chemical imbalance to algae. So far, this year has been no different, but hopefully that's about to change!
My landlord and I took the cover off late this year, because I was traveling in Indonesia around the time we should've opened it. We opened it to a swampy, smelly, black mess. Chaos immediately filled my head thinking about the vast amount of money that I was going to have to relinquish to the backyard money hole. Especially after traveling for a month and recently getting a small pay cut at my job. Until now, I've been really relying on my rudimentary knowledge of science to deal with the pool, but I'm seeing now that there's a certain "X-factor" of knowledge that you need to do this effectively. Which is why I'm inexplicably happy that this site exists.
So, to explain in the best way I know how, I'll outline what I've done to The Swamp already, and seek advice on where to go from here.
- Algae Exterminator's Log - Day 001: Tested swamp water with ridiculously comprehensive Taylor test kit whose model number I cannot remember. TA 85, PH 8.0, CH 100, FC 0, CC 0, CYA >30. Not terrible. Used Muriatic Acid to lower PH. Water is swampy black and reeks.
- Algae Exterminator's Log - Day 002: Tested Swamp water. TA 80, PH 7.4, CH 100, FC 0, CC 0, CYA >30. Landlord went to pool store and bought 25 lbs. of Cal Hypo 73% along with some Algaecide. First mistake, but we don't know any better yet. Put 15 lbs. of Cal Hypo 73% in pool. FC obviously skyrockets to around 10. Pool almost immediately changes to deep, opaque green.
- Algae Exterminator's Log - Day 003: Pool is pale green in the morning, good sign! Test less swampy water. TA 75, PH 7.2, FC 2, CC 5, CYA >30. I freak out. All that chlorine gone already?! But the pool store said... UGH! Still have yet to discover TFP. I decide later that I will put the remaining 10 lbs. of Cal Hypo in that evening. FC shoots back up to around 10. Later, I go out to clear skimmers and see that my water level is dangerously low all of a sudden. Check pump system and realize there's water wasting even though the pump is set to filter. Open pump and find spider gasket all screwed up and sealant degraded. Deal with that in pitch dark, start to reconsider life choices.
- Algae Exterminator's Log - Day 004: Water color hasn't changed much. I test water this morning with similar results to yesterday except FC is 1.5 and CC is 0.5. I have a mental breakdown and do some research at work. I find you guys. Now I must seek help.
I've read the SLAM article and I've asked my landlord to purchase 30+ jugs of bleach. The unfortunate problem we have is that we both work full time jobs, and therefore cannot test and top off the FC every hour. The absolute best we could do is about every 4 hours, since he is lucky enough to be working from home the rest of this week (still a 20 minute drive to my house). On the weekend, I will be able to care for it hourly.
My questions are as follows. How much ground am I going to lose in terms of what I've already done? And based on my most recent test, should I worry about adjusting anything else in terms of water balance? I mean, I figure I'll soon (praying soon) be vacuuming to waste, so wouldn't adding anything else be kind of just a waste of money? Further, how much bleach can I expect to have to purchase beyond 30 jugs in order to clear all this algae?
When I get off of work today, I'll post up to date test results and try to get some pictures attached. Thanks in advance for all the help.
:
You'll find this method easier and cheaper in the long run than doing the pool store "try this" method. 
