Dead algae battle

[Daddydave]

I believe I'm fighting dead algae never had this issue before. Sand looking brown in random spots of pool floor.
What chemical test results should I post for guidance?
Chrolene and ph levels stay 3ppm and 7.5 every day and we use liquid chrolene.
Tested cya last night lower than 20 so I added stablizer.
We use socks every day since we got the pool back in May.
I have vaccum the last 3 days. Many back washes and rinses.
Yesterday vaccum to waste.
Pool was ok this morning then my wife tells me after running pump 4 hours pool has dead algae sand look material bottom of pool.
I'm stopping by lowes on the way home to pick up shock and algae side.
Very hot this week too.
Very close to end of season for us to close up and winterize but I would like pool to be right before close.
Thank you

 

[Mdragger88]

Algaecide is a preventative at best- if you see visible algae you need to do the
SLAM Process with liquid chlorine. Don’t waste your $ on algaecide.
Post all your latest results
Fc
Cc
Ph
Ta
Ch
Cya
If you’re on the fence as to whether it’s algae or not do an
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

 

[Daddydave]

Cya 40
Fc 2.5
Cc 0
Tc 2.5
Added 1 drop to get cc go clear. Maybe cc .5 and tc 3
Ph between 7.2 and 7.5
Ch 200 ppm
Ta 100

Pool looks little cloudy but not much. Vaccum algae again on filter.
Plan to run pump all night.
Based on results what's my next step?
Thank you

 

[Mdragger88]

Your fc is below minimum for your cya

You should correct that immediately by dosing to target range with liquid chlorine and do an
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

 

[Daddydave]

Thank you raised fc to 6 this morning.
Adding liquid chrolene. For my 24" 4 foot water level i added105 ounces. I use 17 z water battle at 15 oz fill level.
Bottom of pool was kinda bad.
Vaccum pool with filter.
Changed sock pretty yellow greenish running all night.
Changed sock again after vaccum.
Pool looks Little cloudy.
I will check fc again few hours.
Anything else I need to do.
Pump still running. Didn't want to back wash so that I could keep my stablizer in pool.

 

[Daddydave]

I will do loss test tonight. And report out Sunday results.

 

[Bperry]

I will do loss test tonight. And report out Sunday results.

You just need to do the SLAM process referred to reply number 2 above. If you see algae, no need for a loss test.

 

[Mdragger88]

Backwash when psi rises 25% over clean pressure. Whenever that is.
Replacing water thats lost from one backwash Shouldn’t dilute cya too much.
If your water level is 4ft it would take replacing 1ft of water to drop your cya of 40 to 30.
If you need to bump up cya down the road so be it. But backwash as necessary. No more, no less.
Visible algae + cloudy water = slam time, no reason to wait & let it get worse.
It will overwhelm your filter.

The sooner you begin the
SLAM Process the sooner it will be done
Be sure to do all the things listed in the article.
I know its a holiday weekend but use it to your advantage if you’re home & hit it hard. Every couple of hours if possible.
It’s safe to swim with fc up to slam level for your cya so long as you can see the bottom of the pool for swimmer safety.

 

[Daddydave]

Update.
Didn't get to do the loss test.
Back wash this morning due to heavy rain last night.
Got water level below top of skimmer
Changed sock yellow tint.
My fc was at 16 early morning.
I couldn't get back to pool for 5 hours.
Found the fc drop to 12.
Added chrolene.
Check again 2 hours later sun had been out drop to 13.
Added more chrolene.
Vaccum today changed sock twice today once in morning once after filter vaccum.
Still seeing yellow film in sock.
Pool still looks cloudy but getting better.
Notice vaccum was easier and less to do today.
Pump has been running non stop for today is its 3rd day.
Psi not changing on pump. Watching to see the need for Back wash.

 

[Mdragger88]

Make sure your gauge is functioning properly- when the pump is off it should go to zero.
If not get it replaced.
Until the pool is crystal clear you don’t need to do the oclt. As it’s literally the last of the 3 end of slam criteria.
Some choose to do them occasionally during slam to get an idea of where they stand but its not a necessity.

 

[Daddydave]

Update.
Next 2 hours 3 to 5pm
Lost 3ppm fc
Added chrolene.
Dumb question. If I'm losing fc is due to fighting algae and sun.?
At night no sun. Algae present eats away at chrolene or uses chrolene?

 

[Daddydave]

Also replaced sock again still yellow stuff.

 

[Mdragger88]

Update.
Next 2 hours 3 to 5pm
Lost 3ppm fc
Added chrolene.
Dumb question. If I'm losing fc is due to fighting algae and sun.?
At night no sun. Algae present eats away at chrolene or uses chrolene?

Correct- thats why the oclt helps determine if you have an algae problem since it removes uv from the equation.

 

[Bperry]

Update.
Next 2 hours 3 to 5pm
Lost 3ppm fc
Added chrolene.
Dumb question. If I'm losing fc is due to fighting algae and sun.?
At night no sun. Algae present eats away at chrolene or uses chrolene?

If there’s algae, the chlorine is consumed when it kills algae. Keep the FC at SLAM level as often as you can, preferably several times per day.

 

[Daddydave]

Last check for today.
Another fc around 12 to 13.
Added chrolene.
Changed sock. Same yellow to green is material.
Pool slightly cloudy.
I was always able to see bottom but trying to use ladder as a visual gauge. Seems better.
Every 2 to 3 hours losing 3 to 4ppm. Is that normal?
Pool is in full shade about hour ago.
I'll see if lose any from now till morning.
I still think it's getting better.
Might need to go get some more chrolene.
Thank you again for the help and post.
Updates are not only for forum but history for my self.

 

[Bperry]

Every 2 to 3 hours losing 3 to 4ppm. Is that normal?

Yep, especially with bad algae.

 

[Mdragger88]

Yes, It’s normal to lose fc quickly at the beginning of the slam process. Its got alot to work on!
Keep at it
The shade & the actual dark are two different things. The oclt tests are done after dark & before sunrise for this reason.
Definitely get plenty of liquid chlorine on hand.
*If you have a
PoolMath subscription you can save logs of all your test results and additions. I think its $8 a year? But to me it’s functionality priceless.

 

[Daddydave]

Another update.
4th day pump running non stop. Verify gauge works like it should pump pressure.
Fc around 12 to 13. I say around noticeably see water being tested go to clear but shade of red still in.
Added chrolene.
Skimmer sock still yellowish material.
Vaccum pool. Little brown dirt material few spots. Easy to vaccum up.
Check again 3 hous later fc around 14 to 15. Added smaller amount of chrolene.
Hopefully today I see my fc holding strong other than loss from sun.
Pool very clear from my perspective and wife's and daughters view reports clear.
Thanks again to all that take the time to guide me.
Felt good to get my $60 back from lowes for taking back the shock and algaside cleaner.
For my reference
I have used total 6 gallons of chrolene since I got my fc level up to slam level to today Monday.
Saturday morning was the day after I got my cya up and started slam process.

 

[wireform]

Noone has mentioned this but brushing well twice daily is minimum to move the slam forward. Brush so the water turns cloudy then the stuff gets into the filter and starts to be minimized in the pool.

 

[Bperry]

Another update.
4th day pump running non stop. Verify gauge works like it should pump pressure.
Fc around 12 to 13. I say around noticeably see water being tested go to clear but shade of red still in.

The test is done when the sample is clear. Don’t guesstimate. Just count the drops until there’s no more red and write the number down. All of the tests have a definate number to write down so don’t guess on it.