Had my pool for 17 years. Plastered & remodeled when moved in, then again 2 years ago. I always thought I was pretty good at chemicals - not so much. I have been using tablets and granular this whole time. Before the last remodel (2 years ago) it was getting hard to keep the algae at bay. But with the new plaster and 'new' water, year 1 was easy peasy. Had an automatic chlorinator installed as part of remodel #2. Would just fill it once a week and pool sparkled all summer. Most of year 2 was pretty much the same. Now starting third year and annoying algae popping up. I brush it, turn chrorinator up higher and higher ad granular (which I never had to do year 1 ) it goes for a few days then it is back. Pool store said I needed to ad phosfree to keep the phosphates at bay. I have been doing that, but the algae persists.
So what do I do? I come to TFP of course. Been here a few other times for problems and it has always helped. Well, I spent only about 30 minutes reading and figured out I am doing it ALL wrong lol! One of the pool chemistry articles said tablets work fine until one day they don't and algae pops up and the pool owner doesn't know why - me!
So tested my CYA and that black dot disappeared fast! I look at the mark and its 100 - ugghhh. So now at least I know why my chlorine isn't as effective anymore. I am going to buy some liquid chlorine later today on my way home and start adding that immediately and forever going forward. I will monitor my pool the next few days, read more on here and decide if a partial water exchange is in order or not. My pool does sparkle and look clear but has the algae on the walls - in places - not everywhere. Any advice welcome and thank you to all the great pool experts and enthusiasts on here. Is this a great place or what?
I also tested out my
FC 5ppm
TC 3ppm
TC-FC = -2ppm ?!
PH 7.2
CYA 100
So what do I do? I come to TFP of course. Been here a few other times for problems and it has always helped. Well, I spent only about 30 minutes reading and figured out I am doing it ALL wrong lol! One of the pool chemistry articles said tablets work fine until one day they don't and algae pops up and the pool owner doesn't know why - me!
So tested my CYA and that black dot disappeared fast! I look at the mark and its 100 - ugghhh. So now at least I know why my chlorine isn't as effective anymore. I am going to buy some liquid chlorine later today on my way home and start adding that immediately and forever going forward. I will monitor my pool the next few days, read more on here and decide if a partial water exchange is in order or not. My pool does sparkle and look clear but has the algae on the walls - in places - not everywhere. Any advice welcome and thank you to all the great pool experts and enthusiasts on here. Is this a great place or what?
I also tested out my
FC 5ppm
TC 3ppm
TC-FC = -2ppm ?!
PH 7.2
CYA 100