New TFTestKit User. Metal or Algae? Or neither?

[Bobdigi]

We are new to TFP. Purchased a house in July of 2013 that needed a new pool liner and had it installed this past spring (Vinyl-18x36 sport pool). Recently ordered a TFTestkit and began using a couple of weeks ago so very new here. Prior to that we were using test strips and Leslies. We've had several bouts with Green Water this season (4 to be exact). Our pool installers swear it is metal that is coming from any water we add to the pool (have added an inch or so twice due to evaporation) or rain water. Leslie's says it is always Algae. Our pool installers would recommend StainX to remove the metal, Leslie's would recommend Green to Clean to remove the Algae. Each time we have gone with what our Pool Installers would recommend and the StainX would work, but after returning from a 3 day vacation, our pool was green again. We got a lot of rain and now that we have a TFTestKit, we want to tackle this without relying on StainX or any other out of the bottle solution and stick to the basics of chemistry. We shocked the pool upon return from vacation, cleaned it thoroughly and the water still has a slight tint to it, even more apparent in the deep end. We're using the pool math calculator to adjust levels but here are the current readings (recent shock): CYA:70 Alk:80 FC:9.5 CC:0 PH:7.0

One other note is that each time we used the StainX to remove the supposed metal from the water, it did work, but we had to clean our Sta-Rite cartridge filter each time to ensure that this was clean and also not holding onto the metal. Our filter is very clean.

Any thoughts on why our pool keeps going green?

Thanks in advance and if I am missing some key information on this, please let me know.

 

[JasonLion]

Welcome to TFP!

Metals will cause clear transparent green water. Algae will cause cloudy/murky green water. The appearances are very distinct (unless you have both at the same time). Which one are you seeing?

We recommend avoiding Green to Clean. While it can work, it tends to cause more trouble than it is worth.

 

[Bobdigi]

clear transparent green water is how it starts and then it migrates to a deeper green. usually within 12 hours of shocking it will be a clear transparent green, and then it gets a deeper green a few hours later. if it is metal, is there a recommended fix other than stainX? kind of pricey at $25/bottle.

 

[JasonLion]

For metals you need a sequestrant. Sequestrants based on HEDP, phosphonic acid, or phosphonic acid derivatives are the most effective. ProTeam's Metal Magic and Jack's Magic The Pink Stuff (regular), The Blue Stuff (fresh plaster), and The Purple Stuff (salt) are some of the top sequestrants. You can also find many other brands with similar active ingredients, some of which are noticeably less expensive.