Could regional issues be the reason I've been SLAMming for a month with no progress?

[DeptOfMeteors]

Even though my water looks perfect, I keep getting algae on the bottom of my pool every morning. The latest lead I'm following is that this is a regional problem, because I've been hearing through the grapevine that a lot of my neighbours (i.e. folk 100s of mi away) are having algae problems. Some have been saying that this is a particularly resilient strain of algae, while others say that large amounts of pollen are feeding the algae. Can anyone think of any other explanations that will affect only small regions of the world at a time?

 

[an1vrsy]

Algae appears when the FC/CYA relationship falls below minimum even for a short length of time. Have you done an OCLT?

 

[PoolStored]

Can anyone think of any other explanations that will affect only small regions of the world at a time?

Would you mind posting pictures of you pool. Get all angles and show 3' around the pool. Looked in your media and didn't see that.

Do you have a ladder? Have you removed it and checked inside the tubes? That was my achilles heel.

Do you have an autofill?
I saw the light you took out and fixed, did you scrub in there?
Do you have a main drain? Did you take the cover off and scrub in there?
Do you have weir doors? Did you remove them and check the foam in them?
Do you have plastic steps. On the inside of the trim that attaches to the face of the stairs and holds down the liner (where they cut the liner for the stairs), did you scrub that area?

My guess is that your problem is regional, to your pool. Let's find it!

 

[Mdragger88]

Even though my water looks perfect, I keep getting algae on the bottom of my pool every morning. The latest lead I'm following is that this is a regional problem, because I've been hearing through the grapevine that a lot of my neighbours (i.e. folk 100s of mi away) are having algae problems. Some have been saying that this is a particularly resilient strain of algae, while others say that large amounts of pollen are feeding the algae. Can anyone think of any other explanations that will affect only small regions of the world at a time?

The whole world has algae issues in the summer months often more so as the summer progresses - generally due to increased cya levels & underchlorination in pools that adhere to industry recommendations where they use stabilized chlorine products &/or maintain fc @ 2 or 3ppm regardless of their cya. Go figure, It’s not new or special- just anecdotal, “yeah, the algae has been bad this year “ etc.
The majority of people just have regular ole algae. Some may even have Mustard algae but the first part of the prescription is the same —> SLAM until passing All 3 end of slam criteria BEFORE moving on to MA protocol. Did these people fill u in on their cya level & if they followed the SLAM Process to completion?

If u are consistently maintaining SLAM Process level fc for your cya & are still seeing the algae reoccur daily & not passing Overnight Chlorine Loss Test it is hiding somewhere.
If u are passing OCLT - can u gather some of what collects & let it dry out? Is it slimy or gritty? Does it “poof” when brushed?

 

[duraleigh]

Over the last 14+ years, TFP has heard that same argument, most often from pool stores. It's nonsense.

Algae is algae. it is universal. Likewise, chlorine kills virtually every type of algae you are troubled by in your pool.

If you are waking up to dead algae on the pool floor, a SLAM, conducted properly (including finishing it properly) will get rid of it

 

[DeptOfMeteors]

I'll try to answer all this as best I can.
I did an OCLT several weeks ago which failed. I haven't done any since, knowing what I'll get with all this algae forming.
With little cropping and no resizing, I've taken a bunch of pictures of my pool. Yes, you can see the kreepy krawley. I took the filters out of them so it will break up the algae deposits. It does a pretty good job.
No ladder. But I do have lights, which you can see removed, as per recommendations. I've scrubbed inside their cavities.
I suppose I'd know what an autofil is if I had one, so I guess I don't.
"Main drain"? I have drains at the bottom of the deep end, but I can only scrub w/the vacuum head.
I don't believe I have weir doors. the only moveable parts in my skimmer are those 2 cylinders. I guess that means I shouldn't expect to find any foam. I'm pretty sure I don't have any foam in the pool.
You can see the steps, but I don't think they are plastic. They feel too solid for that.
I discussed the regional issued with a pool professional, but he didn't act like he was biased, since his answer was basically "just live w/it". I.e., he didn't try to sell me anything.
The algae poofs when I disturb it. Not much chance of getting a sample.

If regional issues are eliminated then the next plausible explanation for algae resisting a month-long SLAM is that my neighbours or kids in the park next door are tossing algae in there while I'm not looking.

 

[Mdragger88]

If u have fine filters for the kreepy krauly use them - they will assist in the fight.
It is like having a roving cartridge filtering in your pool - which is finer filtration than your sand filter. Clean the filters often.

Those drain covers have voids beneath them that can hold funky stuff (often a bowl type situation with the pipe in the middle)
Yours look like they have screws that hold them in place (Some just untwist kinda like a smoke detector).
Wearing something weighted can assist in being able to get down there & remove them & scrub out the crud.
Don’t do this alone- Be sure u have an assistant at the ready incase u need help.
Alternatively - you can use a piece of pvc to reach them from outside the pool & get some concentrated liquid chlorine in there. Be sure to have them running some & brush the area well. U don’t wanna bleach your liner.

An auto fill is a water line plumbed to your pool that keeps your water at a certain level. If u need to top up your pool manually with the hose then u probably don’t have one.
Most are similar to this

Some pools also have an overflow drain that can get funky (sometimes above the waterline somewhere around the coping). I don’t see one from the pics but u may have one in your skimmer. If u scrubbed around in there u are good to go.

Maintaining Slam level for your cya as often as possible is crucial.
If u wish - You can use your swg to help while u are away just be sure it’s off for any Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
At the beginning of a slam running the swg can be a bit fruitless so it is suggested to turn it off - but near the end when the fc drops aren’t as great it can be useful.
Ps- your steps are likely fiberglass.
Be sure to scrub any seams around them.

 

[DeptOfMeteors]

The previous owner left me 2 types of filters for the krauly: one set that looks like ultra-fine mesh and the other the same kind of corrugated fabric you find in cartridge filters. Even w/out the filters, after 5 minutes of krauling, the base complains that my filters need cleaned/replaced. But I think they might be worthwhile here.
As for working the drains, I might need to suffer a great deal more frustration before I'm willing to go that far
I'm pretty sure I don't have anything you're describing as an auto-fill.

 

[wireform]

You have a salt system why is your CYA @30 which means whatever SWCG you have can't and won't overcome the uv from the sun = algae. Now that you do have 30 CYA take advantage and slam the pool asap and keep at it till all 3 criteria are done. You need to brush 2-3 times a day very we ell and keep slam level up there to come through in a timely manner. You have to get rid of the dead algae by way of vacuuming or stirring it up in the water and getting caught in the filter. If you vacuum that would be preferred and elimination is quicker.

 

[Mdragger88]

The previous owner left me 2 types of filters for the krauly: one set that looks like ultra-fine mesh and the other the same kind of corrugated fabric you find in cartridge filters. Even w/out the filters, after 5 minutes of krauling, the base complains that my filters need cleaned/replaced. But I think they might be worthwhile here.
As for working the drains, I might need to suffer a great deal more frustration before I'm willing to go that far
I'm pretty sure I don't have anything you're describing as an auto-fill.

Without the filters the robot is only swirling water around. Use the cartridges & clean them often.

 

[Mdragger88]

You have a salt system why is your CYA @30 which means whatever SWCG you have can't and won't overcome the uv from the sun = algae. Now that you do have 30 CYA take advantage and slam the pool asap and keep at it till all 3 criteria are done. You need to brush 2-3 times a day very we ell and keep slam level up there to come through in a timely manner. You have to get rid of the dead algae by way of vacuuming or stirring it up in the water and getting caught in the filter. If you vacuum that would be preferred and elimination is quicker.

The op has been attempting SLAM for a while. Thus the low cya.

 

[DeptOfMeteors]

I haven't seen any algae in a week and I did the OCLT today which showed a 1.0ppm drop of FC and no more than 0.5ppm of CC, so it looks like I'm finally past all this. What's interesting about this turn of events is that it happened just as my frustration w/the algae was turning into complacency and I stopped taking the SLAM seriously. This tells me that there's probably something to the possibility that this was a regional/environmental issue and that my efforts for the first month weren't having any effect. Perhaps the hypotheses about pollen or a resistant strain of algae were wrong, but I don't think you can kill algae w/indifference--that was just a coincidence.

 

[wireform]

I haven't seen any algae in a week and I did the OCLT today which showed a 1.0ppm drop of FC and no more than 0.5ppm of CC, so it looks like I'm finally past all this. What's interesting about this turn of events is that it happened just as my frustration w/the algae was turning into complacency and I stopped taking the SLAM seriously. This tells me that there's probably something to the possibility that this was a regional/environmental issue and that my efforts for the first month weren't having any effect. Perhaps the hypotheses about pollen or a resistant strain of algae were wrong, but I don't think you can kill algae w/indifference--that was just a coincidence.

I'd keep the FC on the hot side for the next ten days with that 1 ppm OCLT.