Hello. I am new to this forum/website, so far I can see there is a wealth of good information though! It is all so overwhelming!
I have a 23,715 gallon pool that is about 2 years old. I have been wrestling with a algae problem for 10+ days. It started out as what looked like yellow algae on the shady side of the pool. Chlorine level was at zero. I had been using my automatic in deck chlorinator since pool was filled with water. Chlorine tabs were dissipating, but come to find out there was a clog and the pool wasn't getting much chlorine. I have switched to a floating chlorination device for now. Per pool store advice... I added 1 cup of a Mustard Algae product from the store, brushed pool, then a hour later added 2 lbs of shock, ran the cleaning system for 12+hours, then added 2 more pounds of shock and continued to run cleaning system for a total of 24 hours. Then retested water. Chlorine was showing zero. Algae looked better, so I was advised to add 2 more bags of shock. I did. Next morning I had water retested and mentioned I saw 2 new spots (or spots that were covered with yellow so I didn't see them before) that looked like a rust spot that had a black center to it. I was then told my phosphates were high>300 and I probably had black algae starting. I cleaned cartridge filters. I was advised to add Black algae chemical and 2 bags of shock, brush pool surface and run system for 24 hours. Next day, chlorine was zero. Black spots gone. I was told to add 3 bags of shock. Run system for 24 hours. Visually I am told my pool looks great, the water is crystal clear at this point. Free Chlorine and Total Chlorine is at 5, ph 7.6 CYA 100 and Phosphates 500. I am now close to $200 in cost and they recommend I add phospate remover. Everything I have read in the forums says this isnt necessary and that dichlor increases Cyanuric acid (which I believe has been active ingredient in the shock they sold me...Sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione dihydrate)
My question now is this...do I need to drain my pool, add the Phosphate removal chemical and start over?
Thank You so much!
Lisa
23,715 Gallon in ground plaster pool. Pentair Cartridge Filter (currently using of brand filters..Pleatco)Pentair variable speed pump, in ground cleaning system
I have a 23,715 gallon pool that is about 2 years old. I have been wrestling with a algae problem for 10+ days. It started out as what looked like yellow algae on the shady side of the pool. Chlorine level was at zero. I had been using my automatic in deck chlorinator since pool was filled with water. Chlorine tabs were dissipating, but come to find out there was a clog and the pool wasn't getting much chlorine. I have switched to a floating chlorination device for now. Per pool store advice... I added 1 cup of a Mustard Algae product from the store, brushed pool, then a hour later added 2 lbs of shock, ran the cleaning system for 12+hours, then added 2 more pounds of shock and continued to run cleaning system for a total of 24 hours. Then retested water. Chlorine was showing zero. Algae looked better, so I was advised to add 2 more bags of shock. I did. Next morning I had water retested and mentioned I saw 2 new spots (or spots that were covered with yellow so I didn't see them before) that looked like a rust spot that had a black center to it. I was then told my phosphates were high>300 and I probably had black algae starting. I cleaned cartridge filters. I was advised to add Black algae chemical and 2 bags of shock, brush pool surface and run system for 24 hours. Next day, chlorine was zero. Black spots gone. I was told to add 3 bags of shock. Run system for 24 hours. Visually I am told my pool looks great, the water is crystal clear at this point. Free Chlorine and Total Chlorine is at 5, ph 7.6 CYA 100 and Phosphates 500. I am now close to $200 in cost and they recommend I add phospate remover. Everything I have read in the forums says this isnt necessary and that dichlor increases Cyanuric acid (which I believe has been active ingredient in the shock they sold me...Sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione dihydrate)
My question now is this...do I need to drain my pool, add the Phosphate removal chemical and start over?
Thank You so much!
Lisa
23,715 Gallon in ground plaster pool. Pentair Cartridge Filter (currently using of brand filters..Pleatco)Pentair variable speed pump, in ground cleaning system