Hello all,
I am a new member as of today.
I live 20 miles south of Houston, Texas.
I’ve recently retired after 40+ years of work.
I’m adjusting to retirement and immersing myself in trying to get my 23 year old 16,000 gl. pool in top shape. I admit that the level of attention the pool has received has been lacking until the past couple years. The plaster is original with significant overall damage (sorely needs replacing). Tile and coping in remarkably good shape. Pentair 60 DE filter (filter grid replacement last fall). I use a chlorine tablet feeder with Leslie’s Trichloro pool tablets. I have the original Polaris 280 cleaner (proudly maintained through the years). I run the circulating pump 8 hours daily 365 days a year.
I am currently battling (for a month now) an emergent “black algae” problem. Found approximately 50 spots on pool floor in shallow end. Deep end appears devoid of any BA. I’ve been scrubbing the spots with a chlorine tablet with some success. The spots that remain are now more brown than black and don’t appear to be growing.
Another concern is with my pH. I am struggling to achieve a pH of less than 8. I have repeatedly dumped the prescribed muriatic acid (I use Leslie’s pool for sample analysis) while adjusting/maintaining Total Alkalinity numbers within range.
I have been adding 1.5# of HTH brand cal-hypo shock weekly (since BA discovery).
Chlorine levels are always maintained in the 1-4 range
Currently pH is 8 (been as high for short periods as 8.5)
TA is 87.
CYA is currently 104.
Phosphate level is in the 450 range
I have read that the black algae can cause pH to be high.
My question is do I need to totally eliminate the BA before I have a chance to gain pH control?
If so, how do I eliminate the BA?
Thanks for reading and I look forward to advice!
Ken
I am a new member as of today.
I live 20 miles south of Houston, Texas.
I’ve recently retired after 40+ years of work.
I’m adjusting to retirement and immersing myself in trying to get my 23 year old 16,000 gl. pool in top shape. I admit that the level of attention the pool has received has been lacking until the past couple years. The plaster is original with significant overall damage (sorely needs replacing). Tile and coping in remarkably good shape. Pentair 60 DE filter (filter grid replacement last fall). I use a chlorine tablet feeder with Leslie’s Trichloro pool tablets. I have the original Polaris 280 cleaner (proudly maintained through the years). I run the circulating pump 8 hours daily 365 days a year.
I am currently battling (for a month now) an emergent “black algae” problem. Found approximately 50 spots on pool floor in shallow end. Deep end appears devoid of any BA. I’ve been scrubbing the spots with a chlorine tablet with some success. The spots that remain are now more brown than black and don’t appear to be growing.
Another concern is with my pH. I am struggling to achieve a pH of less than 8. I have repeatedly dumped the prescribed muriatic acid (I use Leslie’s pool for sample analysis) while adjusting/maintaining Total Alkalinity numbers within range.
I have been adding 1.5# of HTH brand cal-hypo shock weekly (since BA discovery).
Chlorine levels are always maintained in the 1-4 range
Currently pH is 8 (been as high for short periods as 8.5)
TA is 87.
CYA is currently 104.
Phosphate level is in the 450 range
I have read that the black algae can cause pH to be high.
My question is do I need to totally eliminate the BA before I have a chance to gain pH control?
If so, how do I eliminate the BA?
Thanks for reading and I look forward to advice!
Ken
