Frustrated new pool owner...please help!

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diesel59

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Jul 27, 2017
17
Shepherdsville/KY
We moved in last September and closed/opened pool via some guidance from a friend. Now that it has gotten hotter, I've been fighting a constant green which seems to only be visible on the floor of our pool. I've read quite a few posts about SLAMing, but wanted to see if you all think it is necessary with the pic that I've posted and the description. We have a 33' round above ground with a sand filter (new this year). I've been vacuuming to waste when I try and remove the algae (I assume), but it comes right back a few hours to a day later. I have ordered one of the K-2006 and it should be here tomorrow, so I wanted to get this thread started. I am sure there are a million and a half of these same posts, but I've reviewed several and most pools that people are talking about SLAMing look much worse to me than what I'm fighting, but I could be wrong.

I've told my wife I'm a few days away from stocking it with bass and calling it a pond, so hopefully that explains the ledge that I am hanging off of ;)

Thanks for any help that you all can provide!!
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Hi, welcome to TFP! You have a nascent algae bloom, and if you don't kill it you risk it going full green on you. I'm glad to see you have ordered the test kit. Once the kit arrives post a full set of test results and we can guide you through the SLAM Process process, and how to maintain the pool once it is clear.

You never want to let your pool get to the point that algae is actively growing, even if it is small amounts like you have now.
 
Welcome to the forum!

Is that a tablet floater I see in the pool? If yes, you should remove that and use liquid chlorine, aka bleach, instead.

Tablets add CYA (stabilizer) to the pool, which will continue to build up in the water, eventually reaching a point where your current daily FC level is ineffective at sanitizing the water. If your pool has been on a diet of tablets you may be looking at a partial drain/refill to lower your CYA level.

It is fine to use standard laundry bleach (8.25% sodium hypochlorite), as long as it is not splashless or scented. One 121oz jug of bleach in your 25600 gallon pool will add approx. 3ppm to FC. You can also find bleach at the pool $tores that will come in 10% or 12.5% sodium hypochlorite strengths. Just do not let them talk you into any 'magic potions'.

Have you read through our Pool School yet? Here are some starters:

https://www.troublefreepool.com/content/123-abc-of-pool-water-chemistry

https://www.troublefreepool.com/content/113-pool-chemistry

https://www.troublefreepool.com/content/126-defeating-algae

Be sure to add your pool details to your signature as explained here:

https://www.troublefreepool.com/content/115-read-before-you-post

Don't worry, we'll have that pool crystal clear!
 
domct203 said:
Welcome to the forum!

Is that a tablet floater I see in the pool? If yes, you should remove that and use liquid chlorine, aka bleach, instead.

Tablets add CYA (stabilizer) to the pool, which will continue to build up in the water, eventually reaching a point where your current daily FC level is ineffective at sanitizing the water. If your pool has been on a diet of tablets you may be looking at a partial drain/refill to lower your CYA level.

It is fine to use standard laundry bleach (8.25% sodium hypochlorite), as long as it is not splashless or scented. One 121oz jug of bleach in your 25600 gallon pool will add approx. 3ppm to FC. You can also find bleach at the pool $tores that will come in 10% or 12.5% sodium hypochlorite strengths. Just do not let them talk you into any 'magic potions'.

Have you read through our Pool School yet? Here are some starters:

https://www.troublefreepool.com/content/123-abc-of-pool-water-chemistry

https://www.troublefreepool.com/content/113-pool-chemistry

https://www.troublefreepool.com/content/126-defeating-algae

Be sure to add your pool details to your signature as explained here:

https://www.troublefreepool.com/content/115-read-before-you-post

Don't worry, we'll have that pool crystal clear!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the feedback, guys! Stupid question here, but should I also not be using granulated shock? Will bleach completely replace the tablets and granular shock that I've been using? I just bought two cases of it and would like to return it and use that money to buy gobs of bleach if that is the case.
 
Correct. Any solid form of chlorine such as shock powder and pucks will add CYA to your pool. Only use liquid forms of chlorine such as bleach.
 
Yes, return the shock packets and buy either liquid chlorine from the pool store or plain unscented bleach from the grocery store, whichever you can get from wherever you bought the shock if they don't give money back.
 

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So, I received our test kit, returned the Swamp Kit and now have plenty of liquid chlorine (12.5%) available. I will test tomorrow AM and post the results. Thanks for the help! I'm betting our CYA is really high, as the sample that I took in today was not bad at all.
 
Use CYA of 40.

Add sufficient muriatic acid to lower your pH to 7.2

SLAM -- shock level is FC 16. Test/dose every couple hours until the FC holds at shock and you can lengthen out the time between test/dose.

Take care.

From now on - use 10 ml of water for the FC test. Use one scoop of powder, and multiply your drop count by 0.5

See Pool School - FAS-DPD Chlorine Test
 
pH down contains sulfates. At higher levels they can present problems. Plus muriatic acid is a whole lot cheaper.

Up to you - just be aware.

Take care.
 

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