Green coming out of pool jets

[mjnorman]

Hi all! In the past couple of months, we replaced our old above ground pool that was desperately in need of replacing.

Once we got our salt and chemicals in check we had a nice month or so. Then we had our first big leaf fall and our little robot they gave us wouldn’t keep up.

We started to notice the dreaded green color and checked chlorine we were around 5 so figured pool is just dirty, ended up leaving it for a couple weeks just un clogged the robot once in a while, but the pool just started to look real dirty.

I got the leaf debris out, and hooked my old barracuda vacuum and now have it running, but I can literally see the green colored water that the vacuum is sucking up coming out of the jets? Almost like the filter isn’t doing its job.

I took the filter out and cleaned it even though it had only been about a month or so of use. I see no damage to the cartridge so I’m just confused why the thing isn’t filtering right. I have an appointment for them to come check it out but thought I’d ask here in case anyone has any ideas?

After I cleaned the cartridge and got everything hooked back up and the vacuum started doing its thing and the biggest green cloud came spewing out of the jet like it didn’t even get filtered at all.

I don’t have a full set of test results since I’m out of reagents, but using the mini kit my FC is >>> 5 ( tester is orange instead of the yellow it should be still running that T15 cell ), and ph 7.2.

27 ft AGP
Carvin Sherlock 200 filter
Carvin 1.5 hp dual speed (set to high)
Vortex pre filter tank (can’t recall the brand)
Hayward Salt T15

 

[Mdragger88]

Your filter nor your swcg can overcome algae.
You need to do the
SLAM Process for that. Order some new reagents asap.
Also switch to low speed for the pump if its still high enough to engage the swcg’s flow switch. No need for high speed.

 

[TinFoilHat]

You should NEVER run out of reagents. That then means you're flying blind.

 

[1poolman1]

Hi all! In the past couple of months, we replaced our old above ground pool that was desperately in need of replacing.

Once we got our salt and chemicals in check we had a nice month or so. Then we had our first big leaf fall and our little robot they gave us wouldn’t keep up.

We started to notice the dreaded green color and checked chlorine we were around 5 so figured pool is just dirty, ended up leaving it for a couple weeks just un clogged the robot once in a while, but the pool just started to look real dirty.

I got the leaf debris out, and hooked my old barracuda vacuum and now have it running, but I can literally see the green colored water that the vacuum is sucking up coming out of the jets? Almost like the filter isn’t doing its job.

I took the filter out and cleaned it even though it had only been about a month or so of use. I see no damage to the cartridge so I’m just confused why the thing isn’t filtering right. I have an appointment for them to come check it out but thought I’d ask here in case anyone has any ideas?

After I cleaned the cartridge and got everything hooked back up and the vacuum started doing its thing and the biggest green cloud came spewing out of the jet like it didn’t even get filtered at all.

I don’t have a full set of test results since I’m out of reagents, but using the mini kit my FC is >>> 5 ( tester is orange instead of the yellow it should be still running that T15 cell ), and ph 7.2.

27 ft AGP
Carvin Sherlock 200 filter
Carvin 1.5 hp dual speed (set to high)
Vortex pre filter tank (can’t recall the brand)
Hayward Salt T15

Add a small amount of DE or cellulose fiber to the skimmer with the pump running to capture the algae. It will be washed out when the filter is cleaned.
You will have to clean the filter more frequently until all the algae is gone.
Algae can get right through most cartridge filters, especially the air-relief screen, as its size is smaller than the micron rating of the cartridge, so the DE or fiber will increase the filter's ability to trap smaller "stuff."

 

[mjnorman]

Thanks all. Just wanted to be clear that I have done slam many many times in the past and this is not algae. If it is then it defies all logic. It’s just dirty water and leaves.

My results are attached along with a video of what it looks like after I clean the skimmer basket and turn everything back on. Correction it wouldn’t let me post a video so took a screen grab hope it is clear enough.

It “feels” like this is a situation where dirty water comes in and the cartridge isn’t filtering it and just spits it back in the pool? Maybe defective or a hole somewhere?

I was wrong in my initial post it was CYA reagent I was almost out of but had just enough for one last test.

 

[mjnorman]

I’ll run an OCLT tonight and see what it says. I just don’t see how my chlorination would be keeping up with an algae bloom. That has never happened. As soon as I notice cloudy/green, check FC, it’s always been 0. But not this time.

 

[mjnorman]

Forgot the pool pic, also attached.

 

[Mdragger88]

That definitely looks like algae from my house.
Just because when you checked fc it was above minimum doesn’t mean it never fell below minimum. The cell could have made up the difference inbetween your testing.
Lets see what the
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test says.
Have you added water recently?
Does the spewing cloud still form if the swcg is off?
Can you try catching what it’s spewing out in a sock or skimmer sock tied to the return?
Let’s see if it’s slimy vs gritty or changes color when ascorbic acid/vit c is applied.
Have you opened the big silver pre filter thing to see what it is like in there?

 

[mjnorman]

That definitely looks like algae from my house.
Just because when you checked fc it was above minimum doesn’t mean it never fell below minimum. The cell could have made up the difference inbetween your testing.
Lets see what the
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test says.
Have you added water recently?
Does the spewing cloud still form if the swcg is off?
Can you try catching what it’s spewing out in a sock or skimmer sock tied to the return?
Let’s see if it’s slimy vs gritty or changes color when ascorbic acid/vit c is applied.
Have you opened the big silver pre filter thing to see what it is like in there?

I get what you are saying about the FC. I’ve just never had that happen but you are right I suppose.

I love that you call it a big silver pre filter thing because I had no idea what to call it lol. It is just a kind of vortex filtration and it just has a tiny bit of debris at the bottom nothing major. I don’t have the exact mode handy but it’s just like this Vortex.

I’m going to catch some of the green and put it under microscope too just because

 

[sande005]

That cloud sure looks like what my old sand filter would do when overwhelmed with dirt/algae. How dirty were the cartridges when you cleaned them? How dirty are they now?
Mine also had the issue of the pump and filter being mismatched - too small of a filter. So the pump would just blow everything through the sand, and back out.
Not sure if cartridges can behave that way or not (now that I have a proper sized one). Try running the pump on a lower speed and see what effect it has on the discharge. About the same, just less forceful - or much less or none?

 

[mjnorman]

That cloud sure looks like what my old sand filter would do when overwhelmed with dirt/algae. How dirty were the cartridges when you cleaned them? How dirty are they now?
Mine also had the issue of the pump and filter being mismatched - too small of a filter. So the pump would just blow everything through the sand, and back out.
Not sure if cartridges can behave that way or not (now that I have a proper sized one). Try running the pump on a lower speed and see what effect it has on the discharge. About the same, just less forceful - or much less or none?

Someone earlier mentioned that, but on low speed, there just isn’t enough power it seems. I have a Barracuda vacuum I think, and the tool they give you to test how much suction you have shows barely a 1 out of 6 and they want you to be in the 3-4 range.

It barely even moves on low.

Regarding the filter, the whole system is brand new. When I took it out, it wasn’t dirty really at all. A simple spray with the hose and it was pristine unlike older cartridges where you never seem to get it all off.

You could be onto something with the too much power. However, It’s only a 1.5 same as I had before and that used a 150 sqft vs this 200. I dunno.

Looking forward to the OCLT to know for sure. Under the microscope I just see tiny round bits with a hint of green but zero movement and nothing like what I’ve seen online for algae. I’m not a scientist

 

[mjnorman]

That definitely looks like algae from my house.
Just because when you checked fc it was above minimum doesn’t mean it never fell below minimum. The cell could have made up the difference inbetween your testing.
Lets see what the
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test says.
Have you added water recently?
Does the spewing cloud still form if the swcg is off?
Can you try catching what it’s spewing out in a sock or skimmer sock tied to the return?
Let’s see if it’s slimy vs gritty or changes color when ascorbic acid/vit c is applied.
Have you opened the big silver pre filter thing to see what it is like in there?

I would have bet a million (ok a hundred) (ok at least a dollar) that there was no algae in the pool. However science does not lie. Sigh off to the bleach store.

 

[JJ_Tex]

I would have bet a million (ok a hundred) (ok at least a dollar) that there was no algae in the pool. However science does not lie. Sigh off to the bleach store.

View attachment 612685

Look on the bright side, now you know the problem and the solution (SLAM). That is much less frustrating and likely cheaper, than trying to diagnose and fix a filter problem.