Green pool, I'm losing faith in the fight!!

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Every time you go below target you are letting the algae grow again.
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+1 on this.

The trick, LaurieBlue, is to dose frequently enough to not drop below slam. But if you can't do that and it takes a few extra ppm to hold, provided you're not ever going nearly as high or higher than the mustard slam value shown in PoolMath for your specific parameters, then its my opinion that you'd make faster progress without undue harm to equipment.

At the same time, it IS true that exceeding the recommended SLAM value by more than a few points does waste more chlorine because higher-then-needed FC burns off without "doing anything."

So in the early days of slam where FC drops the fastest, you kind of ave to choose between optimal progress in terms of either frequency r to dose in a way that helps compensate.

If you spend 6 of 8 hours below slam value, then you only slammed for two hours. So try to track how fast your FC is being used to get dialed in a bit better.
 
About 3 hours ago FC was 7, so I added 4 jugs. After getting in and brushing and a couple hours later, the FC is back down to 7. I'm waiting for hubby to get home with more bleach. These are the current levels -
FC 7
CC 0
PH 7.4
Alkalinity 100
CYA less than 30
 
The CYA probably lowered from your prior value due to the frequent backwashing of your filter. Water replacement will lower CYA. Too low a CYA will make all of the chlorine burn up in the sun before it has chance to work on the algae. You should add some CYA to get the value to 30. I'm sure you have more than 0, but not sure how much less than 30. You can try adding enough to raise your CYA by 10 ppm. Use pool math to determine the amount.

You can still SLAM while you are waiting for the CYA to dissolve. Right now target a FC of 10 assuming your CYA is 20. Once the CYA dissovles you can assume your CYA level is 30, but you'll still want to verify the CYA. You can retest CYA about 12 hours after it has dissolved.
 
We'll have to buy the stabilizer today. WalMart has 4lb bottle (64oz). If it says Add 59oz by weight or 61oz by volume of stabilizer, will 1 bottle do it or should we get more?

We've only backwashed 2 or 3 times in these last 2 weeks, and even then for just a few minutes or less. Bleach is on the way, so should I slam to 10 or higher until we can get the stabilizer later tonight?


4:30pm - Just added 2 jugs until I hear otherwise
 
You should probably go ahead an pick up 2... you'll probably want to raise your CYA after the SLAM and you'll need more on hand if your CYA level isn't 30 after adding the 61 ounces.

Target FC of 10 for now. Once the 61 ounces of CYA dissolves your FC target should be 12.

Make sure you have enough bleach on hand so you don't lose the progress you are making. Unfortunately you have a very large pool, so you'll need a lot of bleach.
 
Okay thanks. Yep - got another 20 bottles. Hopefully raising the CYA will "clear up" the problem :). It has been very hot here for the last couple of weeks ("feels like" 100), so it's not totally surprising this is taking so long. It's starting to cool off a bit though.

I was just reading through some of the forum on how to add the stabilizer, and it seems there are 2 different schools of thought. Would you suggest directly into the skimmer basket (slowly, and then swish it around by hand) or put it into a sock or pantyhose? Also, should we go ahead and pick up some DE powder at the same time?
 
Never add CYA to the skimmer directly. You must put it in a sock or panty hose first. The sock can go in the skimmer or you can hang it in front of a return. Give the sock a squeeze a few times a day or more often if you so choose.

DE can help at the end of a SLAM. It is a little early to use it now as you are going through so much bleach. Make sure you get pool DE. You'll have to buy much more than you will use, but it doesn't go bad and will last you a long time.
 
Ordered 2 bottles of Clorox stabilizer from a WalMart that had it in stock, only to get there and have them tell us they in fact did not. So, ordered online through Amazon and it will be here tomorrow. In the meantime, slammed the pool last night to 12 and will check it shortly. Should I keep it slammed to 12 until the stabilizer arrives?
 

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Well we have Hermione affecting our weather for a few days, and it's going to be rainy, which it has been all day today. My stabilizer that I ordered was supposed to arrive yesterday, but there was a "carrier" issue and it didn't come until 4pm today. So, my dilemma is, since the pool is getting quite full and covering up the skimmers, do I wait until another dry day as we'll have to backwash occasionally now to get the water level lower. And, do I continue to slam to 12 (I just checked and it's at 6, earlier this morning it was at 13!)?
 
LaurieBlue said:
Well we have Hermione affecting our weather for a few days, and it's going to be rainy, which it has been all day today. My stabilizer that I ordered was supposed to arrive yesterday, but there was a "carrier" issue and it didn't come until 4pm today. So, my dilemma is, since the pool is getting quite full and covering up the skimmers, do I wait until another dry day as we'll have to backwash occasionally now to get the water level lower. And, do I continue to slam to 12 (I just checked and it's at 6, earlier this morning it was at 13!)?
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Update: I added 3 jugs to keep slamming, and added 4 lbs. of stabilizer. As I was brushing, I could actually see the brush on the floor of the shallow end today! From what I understand, while the CYA is getting adjusted, I just slam to 10 again?
 
Keep FC at 12 and run filter 24x7 until your water is clear. Ignore pH for now, it doesn't read properly with FC over 10.
 
Here's where we are. Generally staying in the FC 11-12 range for a couple of days. I've been putting in 1 jug in the morning and 1 at night. However, I'm concerned about the discoloration on the floor. Will that eventually fade to normal? I can see almost clearly in the shallow, and most of the deep end, but not the drain yet.
view
 
The stains can be worked on after the water is clear and you've finished your SLAM. However, we can start talking about it so you are aware of the types of stains, how to ID stains and what can be done.

Stains are either organic (algae) or inorganic (metals). The fact you have a vinyl pool, more than likely it is not organic in nature as algae has a harder time adhering to vinyl pools You can crush vitamin C tablets and hold them down on the stain for a few minutes. If the stain lightens it is caused by metals. Metals can enter the water from a) the water source or b) introduced into the pool using products that contain copper like some algaecides and solid forms of chlorine.

Sometimes a liner can lighten by pooling of solid forms of chlorine or liquid bleach that is poured into the pool while the pump isn't running.

Pool School - Metals in the Water and Metal Stains

Post up some photos once you can get a clear picture.
 

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