Algae appears when filter runs

[flygirl516]

Good morning,
My main drain has been capped due to a leak so we're trying to limp by this summer before looking at options. I knew we'd have a rough summer fighting algae because of poor circulation, but this one I can't figure out. I always end up with algae this time of year when the sun shifts so I keep it at SLAM level to combat stubborn algae. At 0730 this morning, I check the pool before the filter kicked on and there was no algae in the pool. Great. Go back out at 0830 after it kicked on and the shallow end is covered in algae, mostly in the direction of the return. I vacuum, brush, and backwash daily. Is it possible the algae is in the filter? How did it bloom THAT fast once the water started moving around? CC = 0.5
Thanks!

 

[reggiehammond]

Good news - main drains do almost nothing and you can likely just cap it off with no real negative effects.

You likely have algae because you do not have enough chlorine. It's that simple.

Can you post a current set of test results?

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I check the pool before the filter kicked on and there was no algae in the pool. Great. Go back out at 0830 after it kicked on and the shallow end is covered in algae,

Strange...maybe it's not algae? Confirm by completing an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

Please post a full set of test results.

 

[Jimrahbe]

I knew we'd have a rough summer fighting algae because of poor circulation,

516,

That is not really true.. You have algae because you let your FC and CYA get out of the proper relationship. I suspect that you are trying to keep your FC way too low.

As noted above, main drains do not do much and thousands and thousands of pool don't have a working main drain and they all work just fine.

I suspect that you keep getting algae this time of year, because you are not following the TFP pool care process.

Thanks,

Jim R.