DuckTales Woo-oo!

[Barkydoo]

This is the first season I've been responsible for my pool maintenance and I could not have done it without the help of this forum and site so thank you! I've been able to keep all my levels practically perfect and my pool has been sparkling all season (thank you liquid bleach!)...that is until the quacks arrived!

Short Version:
I have black algae covering the bottom of the pool. If i drain the pool completely and power wash it followed by cleaning the filter (cartridge - which I'll soak in muriatic acid) and slam once refilled, do we think that's sufficient?

DuckTales Edition:
Everything was great until a family of four wild ducks decided to relocate from our lake to the pool because they were having problems securing their clutch. Amazingly, with a lot of extra work and chlorine, I was still able to maintain proper levels and clarity. After several months, they were successful in hatching their clutch. Even with 8 extra ducklings floating around all was well, though I basically became a full time pool boy (probably the only benefit of being on strike all summer). Once the ducklings reached maturity, the sh*t hit the fan...literally. It was a good fight, but I've lost. As a result, we're building a pond with a bog system and will relocate the flock there. The black algae has taken over the bottom so my game plan once the pond is complete is to drain the pool completely, power wash and brush, clean the cartridge filter and slam once refilled. Any other suggestions?

And yes, all future animal guests will be referred to the pond! Thank you!

 

[Mdragger88]

I assume you have a plaster pool?
You don’t have to drain your pool to deal with black algae or regular algae.
Depending upon your ground water level it can be quite risky to completely drain.

Black Algae

This guide provides a step by step procedure for eliminating black algae in your concrete or gunite pool. Read full post here.

www.troublefreepool.com

Draining - Further Reading

www.google.com

 

[Barkydoo]

I assume you have a plaster pool?
You don’t have to drain your pool to deal with black algae or regular algae.
Depending upon your ground water level it can be quite risky to completely drain.

Black Algae

This guide provides a step by step procedure for eliminating black algae in your concrete or gunite pool. Read full post here.

www.troublefreepool.com

Draining - Further Reading

www.google.com

It's pebble tech. Once they're relocated that would make sense. Brushing, cleaning the filter and slamming and then cleaning the filter again. Unless you suggest a different order/line of attack. It seems like the nooks and crannies of the pebble tech give the algae an extra hold.

 

[Bperry]

It's pebble tech. Once they're relocated that would make sense. Brushing, cleaning the filter and slamming and then cleaning the filter again. Unless you suggest a different order/line of attack. It seems like the nooks and crannies of the pebble tech give the algae an extra hold.

You don’t want to pressure wash it as that can damage the surface.

 

[Barkydoo]

You don’t want to pressure wash it as that can damage the surface.

Should I just Shock - Brush - Clean Filter - rinse and repeat til its gone?

 

[Bperry]

Should I just Shock - Brush - Clean Filter - rinse and repeat til its gone?

You should forget the word “shock” and follow the TFP SLAM process. Here’s the link for it:

SLAM - Shock Level and Maintain

We’ve all had to deal with a green pool. Clear algae from your pool with a SLAM! Read here to use shock level and maintain to clear your pool.

www.troublefreepool.com