Advice on shocking a green pool & followup?

[Newdude]

I'll go turn the pump off and snap a pic to see if it looks better.

You can tell in person if it's stoopid clear or not. It may or may not show in the pic.

I did brush some dead algae yesterday

It could just as easily be pollen or whatnot. We're all getting blasted up here. I'd hold slam for another day or two and reasses. It's easy to continue slam once it's only UV loss, and sucktastic to have to start a new one.

 

[Antlo]

It’s super clear, but I’m gonna let it go for at least another day cause I just brushed some more of that stuff off the shallow end. Maybe I’ll throw the suction vacuum in later. Running out of chlorine though, hopefully another day is good

Attached photo of dead algae or whatever it may be

 

[Newdude]

Welp. That's too much growth for a .5 overnight loss IMO. (Just a hunch of course). So my guess is environmental.

But like i said above, your choices are easy peasy lemon squeezy or yucky sucky lemon -y.

Stay the course.

 

[JJ_Tex]

That dead algae in front of the ladder has me worried a bit about hidden algae. Have you removed/scrubbed the ladder, checked skimmer doors, behind lights, and any other hiding places where there might be algae hiding?

We've seen hidden algae erase weeks of SLAM progress in a matter of days and I would hate to see that happen here.

 

[Antlo]

Welp. That's too much growth for a .5 overnight loss IMO. (Just a hunch of course). So my guess is environmental.

But like i said above, your choices are easy peasy lemon squeezy or yucky sucky lemon -y.

Stay the course.

That’s what I was afraid of. What do you mean by environmental?

Definitely continuing the slam, I’ll throw the vacuum in when I get home too.

I have not cleaned the ladder, and I do believe my skimmer socks are catching some of the brown stuff as they turn color each time I replace them.

Any suggestions on how to best clean my ladders? I did have one sitting out for a few days but didn’t really clean it. I want to be rid of 100% of the problem!!

 

[Antlo]

Welp. That's too much growth for a .5 overnight loss IMO. (Just a hunch of course). So my guess is environmental.

But like i said above, your choices are easy peasy lemon squeezy or yucky sucky lemon -y.

Stay the course.

And if it is growth, how is it possible algae could grow in 20ppm FC water? Just curious if I’m misunderstanding

 

[Newdude]

One possibility is the leftover hidden in plain sight algae JJ mentioned. Say the light niche or 2 gallons of old water in the ladder rails. It'll just keep spreading from there, while the water started sterile.

Loss may be low at first, fooling you to thinking you're good

 

[Newdude]

What do you mean by environmental?

Pollen and such.

 

[Antlo]

One possibility is the leftover hidden in plain sight algae JJ mentioned. Say the light niche or 2 gallons of old water in the ladder rails. It'll just keep spreading from there, while the water started sterile.

Loss may be low at first, fooling you to thinking you're good

Gotcha. Luckily no lights in the pool, but I will take both ladders out and spray them off & wipe them down. Will check the skimmer weir door, what’s best to clean just simply brushing them off?

Hopefully it’s environmental and not some hiding algae, but I’ll find it either way!

 

[Newdude]

Will check the skimmer weir door, what’s best to clean just simply brushing them off?

I'd use a sponge with a healthy FC mix. For the ladder(s) dump some in the tubes and swish good. Try and get all up in there with a rag on a stick or such.

 

[Antlo]

I'd use a sponge with a healthy FC mix. For the ladder(s) dump some in the tubes and swish good. Try and get all up in there with a rag on a stick or such.

Got it. Will be making a trip to Walmart after work for more chlorine. Will clean the ladders & see about the skimmer, and re-up the water with FC to slam level. Hopefully not too much FC is lost since this morning but I’m betting it’ll be around 10-15ppm due to sun.
The slam continues!

 

[JJ_Tex]

And if it is growth, how is it possible algae could grow in 20ppm FC water? Just curious if I’m misunderstanding

Algae forms a protective coating that has to be brushed off for the chlorine to do its job. Its easy to remove that protective layer by brushing walls, floors etc. then the chlorine in the water can easily move in for the kill.

The problem with hidden algae is that it is in places like inside of your ladder, skimmer flaps, drains, and other places that do not normally get brushed in the normal course of pool care. Its also usually not enough algae to cause you to fail the OCLT, so people think they are algae free and stop the SLAM and then the algae returns a few days/weeks later.

I'm not saying you have hidden algae, but its certainly worth taking a look at that ladder, especially if there is a pile of dead algae near there. Hidden algae is very frustrating, but its awesome to see the eureka moment when someone finds it and gets rid of it so they can end the SLAM and return to enjoying their pool.

 

[Antlo]

Algae forms a protective coating that has to be brushed off for the chlorine to do its job. Its easy to remove that protective layer by brushing walls, floors etc. then the chlorine in the water can easily move in for the kill.

The problem with hidden algae is that it is in places like inside of your ladder, skimmer flaps, drains, and other places that do not normally get brushed in the normal course of pool care. Its also usually not enough algae to cause you to fail the OCLT, so people think they are algae free and stop the SLAM and then the algae returns a few days/weeks later.

I'm not saying you have hidden algae, but its certainly worth taking a look at that ladder, especially if there is a pile of dead algae near there. Hidden algae is very frustrating, but its awesome to see the eureka moment when someone finds it and gets rid of it so they can end the SLAM and return to enjoying their pool.

Makes sense! Thanks for the explanation. I definitely don’t want to leave anything to chance, ladders will be coming out and I will be dumping bleach in them & all around

Is there any risk of algae being in my suction vacuum head or the hose? It’s been out of water for a couple days (hose outside/vac in the garage). But last time I had it in, the water was not as clear. Im guessing any algae would be dead by this point, but just wanna make sure throwing the vacuum in isn’t going to reintroduce anything I don’t want in there.

 

[Antlo]

This feels like a personal blog at this point hahaha, but my roommates are tired of hearing me yap about the pool

Ladders are out and sanitized with bleach to the best of my ability, Took the caps off the ends and flushed the insides of the ladder's poles with chlorine and water & soaked the caps.

Proceeded to backwash the pool as normal, cut it back on, and air was in the pump! Oh no. I had a mini freak-out, texted the landlord, just to find out I had backwashed too much water out and just needed to fill it up so the water got through the weir door on the skimmer. Phew..

I guess I've been learning so much about pool chemistry I forgot to take a moment to learn about the equipment... time to figure out the model numbers and take a deep dive.

 

[Newdude]

This feels like a personal blog at this point hahaha

Pffffffft. Rookie. Check the build thread in my signature. (Turn mobile device sideways if using one).

Is there any risk of algae being in my suction vacuum head or the hose? It’s been out of water for a couple days (hose outside/vac in the garage). But last time I had it in, the water was not as clear. Im guessing any algae would be dead by this point, but just wanna make sure throwing the vacuum in isn’t going to reintroduce anything I don’t want in there.

It's probably fine because it dried out. But leaving stones unturned comes back to bite us. And by us, I mean you. So add some bleach mix and swish it good.

 

[Antlo]

Pffffffft. Rookie. Check the build thread in my signature. (Turn mobile device sideways if using one).

It's probably fine because it dried out. But leaving stones unturned comes back to bite us. And by us, I mean you. So add some bleach mix and swish it good.

That's a heck of a thread haha! Hopefully this one doesn't get that long.

Cleaned and sanitized everything I could yesterday, and brought FC back up to slam level. Didn't see anymore dead algae by the ladder this time, but I still saw a few spots of it on the other side. It should be noted it seems to be appearing on the floor of the pool in the shallow side, in front of the return jets. The dead algae that was by the ladder before is also directly in front of a return jet (they're both on the shallow side pointing toward the deep end).

Could that indicate that there's still some stuff within the filter or returns? Maybe just needs a good backwash or two? Though I did backwash it the other day. (Pressure gauge doesn't work, I just go by the pressure of the returns).

Water is completely crystal clear. Slowing down on my FAS/DPD tests for now as I'm running through the reagent that came with my kit so fast, but I'm starting to learn how much chlorine it takes to get it back up to SLAM based on a test a day. I'm thinking today could be the last day of the SLAM, I'm planning to let the FC levels drop around 8ppm and hold there, then run a full set of tests to see if anything else needs to be addressed. I'm almost scared to let the SLAM go though

 

[Newdude]

Could that indicate that there's still some stuff within the filter or returns?

Stuff always accumulates under the jets. It's not a dead zone but a couple of currents will meet down there and deposit heavier debris.

I'm almost scared to let the SLAM go though

If you've been thorough on the algae treasure hunt, I'd be ok with back to back OCLT passes.

 

[Antlo]

Stuff always accumulates under the jets. It's not a dead zone but a couple of currents will meet down there and deposit heavier debris.



If you've been thorough on the algae treasure hunt, I'd be ok with back to back OCLT passes.

Makes sense. Will perform the OCLT tonight, hopefully I pass. If so, will report the rest of my numbers then!

 

[Antlo]

Alright, OCLT passed this morning!

FC is currently at 12ppm. Unfortunately it's cloudy and gloomy outside, but water is still crystal clear. Hoping the sun comes back soon so we can bask in the glory of a clean pool.

Still seeing some brown stuff in front of that one return jet, just been brushing it but I imagine that isn't actually taking it out of the water so it's probably just resettling every time. I'll try out battery powered pole-vac and see if the mesh filter will hold it, though doubtful. Maybe I'll throw the navigator vac in eventually like I keep saying

Planning to let FC drop below 10 for the purposes of performing a proper pH test, and when that occurs I'll test all the other numbers with it and report. Planning to hold FC at 8+ regularly though as long as my CYA is still accurate.

Slightly off-topic question here though; I've seen recommendations around here for closing the main valve to ensure 90/10 skimmer/main suction. Both previous tenants and landlord who owns the pool advise to keep both skimmer and main valves completely open, unless using suction vacuum, where main drain will be closed 3/4.

Is this just personal preference, or is it important that the main be closed?

Hopefully now that I have the chemistry dialed in (fingers crossed) I can start to make sure everything else is as it should be.

 

[Newdude]

Is this just personal preference, or is it important that the main be closed?

It's old thinking that the main drain provides much benefit.

If it's open just a little it will provide some bottom circulation or take over if something was to happen to the skimmers (like being full).

Skimming on the other hand benefits from more flow, so devote most of it there.