Can’t seem to get rid of dead algae

[mclark93]

Hi everyone, I’m new to the group and relatively new to owning a pool. I bought my house with an inground pool in New Jersey about 2 years ago. Late last year I started to get algae. I shocked the pool and worked with my local pool store to kill it. However, it appears I can’t get the dead algae off the bottom of my pool. Every morning I brush it and run the filter all day. Every night it comes back and always builds up in the corners and edges of the pool. I’ve tried vacuuming to waste and vacuuming into the filter then backwashing. At one point o convinced myself that it wasn’t algae but sand from my filter. But the more I read online it sounds like if you brush it and it immediately dissipates into a cloud it’s not sand, but dead algae. I don’t know what to do to get rid of it. Furthermore, I’m wondering if I need a new filter. It’s a very old sand filter (I replaced the sand before I opened it this year). The previous owners installed the pool around 1999 and got the filter from someone they new who was filling their pool in, so I don’t know how old it is but I’d guess 35 years or more. Vacuuming in general doesn’t seem to be doing a whole lot, not just for the algae, but in general so I’m wondering if that’s a result of an old filter not working properly. Aside from the dead algae issue (at least I think it’s dead algae) and the seeming lack of suction on the vacuum, the filter seems fine. The pool is always clear, never cloudy. Any help would be appreciated, it’s driving me crazy.

 

[PoolStored]

Welcome to TFP!!!

First thing to do is get a good test kit. Link-->Test Kits Compared

When you get it, follow the SLAM Process...Link-->SLAM Process

 

[henryforever14]

Hi everyone, I’m new to the group and relatively new to owning a pool. I bought my house with an inground pool in New Jersey about 2 years ago. Late last year I started to get algae. I shocked the pool and worked with my local pool store to kill it. However, it appears I can’t get the dead algae off the bottom of my pool. Every morning I brush it and run the filter all day. Every night it comes back and always builds up in the corners and edges of the pool. I’ve tried vacuuming to waste and vacuuming into the filter then backwashing. At one point o convinced myself that it wasn’t algae but sand from my filter. But the more I read online it sounds like if you brush it and it immediately dissipates into a cloud it’s not sand, but dead algae. I don’t know what to do to get rid of it. Furthermore, I’m wondering if I need a new filter. It’s a very old sand filter (I replaced the sand before I opened it this year). The previous owners installed the pool around 1999 and got the filter from someone they new who was filling their pool in, so I don’t know how old it is but I’d guess 35 years or more. Vacuuming in general doesn’t seem to be doing a whole lot, not just for the algae, but in general so I’m wondering if that’s a result of an old filter not working properly. Aside from the dead algae issue (at least I think it’s dead algae) and the seeming lack of suction on the vacuum, the filter seems fine. The pool is always clear, never cloudy. Any help would be appreciated, it’s driving me crazy.

If you have a robot cleaner, let it do its job. When it's done, touch the dirt/dead algae it picks up. Dead algae feels very smooth and soft. Dirt/sand on the other hand feels dirt/sand.

If it settles somewhere in the shallow end where you can get in and touch, touch it and you will know.

 

[electro]

I have the same issue with dead algae like a dusting on the bottom. Water is clear and tests are normal. I have vacuumed to waste which helps, but I lose sooo much water.

I'm thinking to use my submersible undercover pump which connects to garden hose and power outlet. My thought is less water will be drained from pool. Will this work?