Hi everyone,I inherited a pool a few months ago and hired a pool guy. He did drain , pressure wash, and refill, and maintain afterwards. Since then, however, I've had these algae spores growing for about 2 months now. My pool guy repeatedly said it just needed time for him to treat. But after waiting so long and seeing it everyday, I just don't believe it. I want to take things in my own hands now so I let him go and ordered by TF-100 test kit last night (should arrive in a few days). In the meantime, is there anything people suggest I can do to treat it until my test kit gets ? Thanks in advance!
Algae treatment - first time newbie!
- Thread starter poolfreshie
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,061
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Welcome to TFP! 
Good job ordering your TF-100. 
For now:
- Review the SLAM Process
- Update your signature. See mine as an example.
- Sign up for the PoolMath APP. Great tool.
- Start shopping for good places to get liquid chlorine. Add about 5 ppm worth of liquid chlorine each day until the kit arrives.
- Bookmark our Pool Care Basics. It has just about everything you would like to know.
Other than the chlorine, don't do anything else except brush. Post your numbers when you can and we'll go form there. Have a great weekend.
Good job ordering your TF-100. For now:- Review the SLAM Process
- Update your signature. See mine as an example.
- Sign up for the PoolMath APP. Great tool.
- Start shopping for good places to get liquid chlorine. Add about 5 ppm worth of liquid chlorine each day until the kit arrives.
- Bookmark our Pool Care Basics. It has just about everything you would like to know.
Other than the chlorine, don't do anything else except brush. Post your numbers when you can and we'll go form there. Have a great weekend.
Oly
Gold Supporter
Do you have any info on what, if anything was added to your water by the "pool guy" after the refill?
Awesome. Will do!Welcome to TFP!
- Review the SLAM Process
- Update your signature. See mine as an example.
- Sign up for the PoolMath APP. Great tool.
- Start shopping for good places to get liquid chlorine. Add about 5 ppm worth of liquid chlorine each day until the kit arrives.
- Bookmark our Pool Care Basics. It has just about everything you would like to know.
Other than the chlorine, don't do anything else except brush. Post your numbers when you can and we'll go form there. Have a great weekend.
I see him adding swimtrine about once a week and some sort of acid every other week . Also did something with phosphate once to treat cloudy water.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,727
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
That is copper based algaecide. DO NOT put that in your pool!!!!
The stains you see are likely copper.
Phosphates do not cloud the water. Algae does.
Thanks for letting me know. I'll keep that in mind...For now, I'll continue adding the liquid chlorine per day until I receive the test kit . Hopefully things get gradually better. Do you have any suggestions on how long to run my filter for ? Currently I have it running early in the morning for 8 hours. Can I keep my sweeper running?
- May 3, 2014
- 62,727
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Just got my test kit this morning. Here are the results from my test:
FC - 0. It never turned pink so it means I have no chlorine. From the block test with PH , it was also clear, so I assume it means 0 chlorine ?
CC . Since FC was 0 , I didn't do this .
PH - 8.2. t was a hot pink.
TA - 100 . I added 10 drops and it turned hot pink.
CH - 100
CYA- ?? . The black dot never went away, so it was full all the way
FC - 0. It never turned pink so it means I have no chlorine. From the block test with PH , it was also clear, so I assume it means 0 chlorine ?
CC . Since FC was 0 , I didn't do this .
PH - 8.2. t was a hot pink.
TA - 100 . I added 10 drops and it turned hot pink.
CH - 100
CYA- ?? . The black dot never went away, so it was full all the way
Last edited:
- May 3, 2014
- 62,727
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Great.
Start with 3 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine. Test and add every day. Follow the FC/CYA Levels after the first day.
Then lower the pH to 7.4 using muriatic acid.
Then start 30 ppm CYA worth of CYA stabilizer granules dissolving using the sock method. Once dissolved, test the CYA level 24-48 hours later.
Start with 3 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine. Test and add every day. Follow the FC/CYA Levels after the first day.
Then lower the pH to 7.4 using muriatic acid.
Then start 30 ppm CYA worth of CYA stabilizer granules dissolving using the sock method. Once dissolved, test the CYA level 24-48 hours later.
I doubt you did anything wrong with your testing
1. Correct.........you have no FC. Your most important task is to get some in there.......NOW! Put in a gallon of unscented clorox from the grocery store or a half gallon of Liquid Chlorine from the pool store
2. Buy enough CYA (also called Conditioner or stabilizer) to get to about 30 ppm. Put it in right away. You can assume it's in there......it won't show on the test for a while.......dont worry.
3. Purchase and add enough muriatic to reduce your pH down to 7.5 or so. Using poolmath, you should use 8.0 as your "now" value. Do that right away after 1 and 2 above
4. Test pH again after that first dosage and repeat (about 30 minutes apart) until you get your pH down around 7.4
So, those steps will get you some FC in your pool, get your pH in the correct range and add some CYA to keep down the chlorine usage.
Best now to wait about 24 hours and test again and post the results. Do your CC's test again but don't worry about TA.....we'll get to it.
What does your water look like? Got a pic?
1. Correct.........you have no FC. Your most important task is to get some in there.......NOW! Put in a gallon of unscented clorox from the grocery store or a half gallon of Liquid Chlorine from the pool store
2. Buy enough CYA (also called Conditioner or stabilizer) to get to about 30 ppm. Put it in right away. You can assume it's in there......it won't show on the test for a while.......dont worry.
3. Purchase and add enough muriatic to reduce your pH down to 7.5 or so. Using poolmath, you should use 8.0 as your "now" value. Do that right away after 1 and 2 above
4. Test pH again after that first dosage and repeat (about 30 minutes apart) until you get your pH down around 7.4
So, those steps will get you some FC in your pool, get your pH in the correct range and add some CYA to keep down the chlorine usage.
Best now to wait about 24 hours and test again and post the results. Do your CC's test again but don't worry about TA.....we'll get to it.
What does your water look like? Got a pic?
Can I add chlorine , muratic and the stabilizer all at once or wait 10 minutes between each ? Do I need to get a sock for the stabilizer ? Attached is a pic .Wind was blowing in the back, hence why it looks blurry on top.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,727
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Water looks good.
Add the chlorine. Be sure you add it at a return with the pump running. Brush the area a few times. Add the acid, same thing.
Get a thin sock, knee high pantyhose, a skimmer sock, something to put the CYA into so it can dissolve.
The following article describes all the chemicals uses and how to add them.
www.troublefreepool.com
Add the chlorine. Be sure you add it at a return with the pump running. Brush the area a few times. Add the acid, same thing.
Get a thin sock, knee high pantyhose, a skimmer sock, something to put the CYA into so it can dissolve.
The following article describes all the chemicals uses and how to add them.
Recommended Pool Chemicals
Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.
www.troublefreepool.com
- May 3, 2014
- 62,727
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Thanks! For CYA, do I need to keep the pump on for 24 hours afterwards ? Or is 4 hours fine ?Water looks good.
Add the chlorine. Be sure you add it at a return with the pump running. Brush the area a few times. Add the acid, same thing.
Get a thin sock, knee high pantyhose, a skimmer sock, something to put the CYA into so it can dissolve.
The following article describes all the chemicals uses and how to add them.
Recommended Pool Chemicals
Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.
Empty bucket of 50lb pool & spa sanitizer. Leftover by old pool guy
- May 3, 2014
- 62,727
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
If you put the sock in the skimmer, keep the pump running until it is gone. After it has been in the water for an hour or so, you can normally squeeze it out pretty quickly.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,727
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
That needs to be raised. I assume your fill water is fairly low in CH. Hetch Hetchy water?
Get some calcium chloride. Get CH to 250 ppm.