Help: algae bloom I can't control

[mknauss]

Please do not do that. It increases chances of spilling and is not necessary.

 

[PoolStored]

I usually mix 32 oz of acid with 5 gallons of pool water and dump along the pool edges

Handling acid multiple times introduces more opportunity for damage and injury. Lower the jug into the pool and pour slowly over a return. The pool water will support the weight of the jug, making it easier.

Acid, can sink to the bottom and cause issues. When you pour in front of a return it is rapidly diluted.

 

[martink]

I started SLAM. Lowered PH to 7.2 by adding 96oz of acid. Alkalinity is still 110-120. I was expecting it to go lower after I lower PH.

I added 2 pounds of stabalizer (that is all I had on hand) and some tabs which will take time to raise it.

Back to my CYA question, I adjusted it to 40 a month ago and was using tabs this whole month. Was expecting it to be stable. When i tested today, I was able to see the dot very clearly when all the tube was full. Does anyone know what happened to it?

 

[Mdragger88]

I started SLAM. Lowered PH to 7.2 by adding 96oz of acid. Alkalinity is still 110-120. I was expecting it to go lower after I lower PH.

I added 2 pounds of stabalizer (that is all I had on hand) and some tabs which will take time to raise it.

Back to my CYA question, I adjusted it to 40 a month ago and was using tabs this whole month. Was expecting it to be stable. When i tested today, I was able to see the dot very clearly when all the tube was full. Does anyone know what happened to it?

High chlorine levels & hotter water both can degrade cya. It’s possible you still have some but can’t read it due to being below 30/20.
Re test after 24 hours of your recent addition to see where you stand.
You’re using the sock method to add cya correct?

 

[martink]

High chlorine levels & hotter water both can degrade cya. It’s possible you still have some but can’t read it due to being below 30/20.
Re test after 24 hours of your recent addition to see where you stand.
You’re using the sock method to add cya correct?

Yes, I use sock method

 

[martink]

Pool looks much better only after 1 day of SLAM. It is more blue and clear. But not crystal clear.

According to Leslie's, I have high phosphates (1687 ppb) and TDS (3100 ppm). Do I need to take care of phosphate or TDS?

Only way to lower phosphate is to use phosphate remover, but from reading about this, it is a main source of nutrition to algae and most professionals advice to control it.

Only way to deal with TDS is to partially drain, is TDS an issue that I need to take Care of?

 

[Saturn94]

According to Leslie's, I have high phosphates (1687 ppb) and TDS (3100 ppm). Do I need to take care of phosphate or TDS?

No.

You can pretty much ignore phosphates. Algae doesn’t survive in a properly chlorinated pool. Algae food, ie phosphates, is useless to dead algae. You can safely ignore TDS as well.

Our pool has always had so called high phosphates (2000ppb+), yet we never have algae because I faithfully keep FC at the higher end of the Target range (stay WAY away from Minimum!).

All kinds of good reading here ;

Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[martink]

I am not sure what did it this time, but the pool looks amazing. Very high clarity and clear blue. Might be because of the 7.2 PH I adjusted before the 2 day SLAM that adjusted alkalinity to 120 or cleaning the filters. I was away since Thursday night and I came this Saturday morning and retested everything (it is in my app). I had 2 FC, I added 64oz of bleach to give FC up at 6. I attached some pictures that show the results (water movement affecting some of the pictures). I am finally happy with the results.let me know what you think.

 

[Mdragger88]

I am not sure what did it this time, but the pool looks amazing. Very high clarity and clear blue. Might be because of the 7.2 PH I adjusted before the 2 day SLAM that adjusted alkalinity to 120 or cleaning the filters. I was away since Thursday night and I came this Saturday morning and retested everything (it is in my app). I had 2 FC, I added 64oz of bleach to give FC up at 6. I attached some pictures that show the results (water movement affecting some of the pictures). I am finally happy with the results.let me know what you think.

Looks can be deceiving- make sure you’re good by passing all 3 end of slam criteria
CC is 0.5 or lower;
You pass an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test @ at least target level for your cya FC/CYA Levels
AND
The water is clear.
(Crystal Clear w/no algae dead or alive)

Then get that cya & fc up accordingly

 

[martink]

Looks can be deceiving- make sure you’re good by passing all 3 end of slam criteria
CC is 0.5 or lower;
You pass an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test @ at least target level for your cya FC/CYA Levels
AND
The water is clear.
(Crystal Clear w/no algae dead or alive)

Then get that cya & fc up accordingly

I passed the CC of 0.5 or lower. But haven't had the change to do the overnight test as I was not home for 2 days. No visible algae dead or alive.

I want to enjoy the pool and not keep slamming it all summer. Will deal with issues when they arrise and do another full SLAM in the winter when the pool is not used as much

 

[Mdragger88]

I passed the CC of 0.5 or lower. But haven't had the change to do the overnight test as I was not home for 2 days. No visible algae dead or alive.

I want to enjoy the pool and not keep slamming it all summer. Will deal with issues when they arrise and do another full SLAM in the winter when the pool is not used as much

The idea is not to keep having to deal with it (algae)- put it bed, keep adequate fc for your cya afterwards (you’ll need some cya 30-40ppm to help) & no more dealing with it. Done Finito
You’re finally at the finish line
It’s much easier to just see it through now than have to start over in a week or two.
The title of this thread is “Help: Algae bloom I can’t control”.
Finishing the SLAM Process & maintaining target fc thereafter is how you control it. FC/CYA Levels

 

[martink]

Quick update, went out tonight to see the pool under with lights on to see any clarity or algae issues. It looks amazing.

The way I am maintaining it now is running the pump from 9:30 am to 4 pm with chlorinator full of tabs. Then run in again from 930 pm to 11pm and adding 64 oz of liquid chlorine. Testing and adjusting every 3 days.

TA is 120 which is on the high side which makes PH unstable so I will have to fix it soon.

I attached some pictures which doesn't really show how clear it is. I can see the screws in the deep end drains. No cloudiness at the lights. The SLAM worked and was really successful in turing my cloudy green pool to crystal clear blue

 

[Mdragger88]

Be careful with the tabs
Here’s what each dissolved tab does in your pool

As the cya increases so does the necessary fc level that you should maintain. When cya gets around 40 it’s time to go on the all liquid chlorine diet.
Aim for high target so you don’t risk flirting with minimum ever.

 

[SoCalPoolFool]

Looks Great! Good job! Most pros in my area charge around $600 for green to clean and you did it yourself! Saved some money and learned a crash course on how to maintain your pool. Priceless. Remember to brush weekly and a ounce of prevention is worth a gallon of cure. Don't let it slip away from you. Liquid chlorine all the way. Keep up the good work.

 

[martink]

Thanks all. I know tabs will Raise CYA. I will either replace some of the water when this happens or stop using it altogether and switch to liquid. For now it is safe to raise my CYA a bit

 

[Mdragger88]

Thanks all. I know tabs will Raise CYA. I will either replace some of the water when this happens or stop using it altogether and switch to liquid. For now it is safe to raise my CYA a bit

So long as you’re aware of the effects & monitor with testing - it’s the blind usage that does folks in.

 

[martink]

So far pool looks amazing. I attached 2 picture picture of the pool

I just added 32oz of mauratic acid to lower PH. I retested the water after 3 hours. I am having hard time reading the test and figure out If I need more acid. I attached a picture of the test. What is the PH in the attached picture?

I have hard time maintaining PH, it is always climbing up

 

[Saturn94]

So far pool looks amazing. I attached 2 picture picture of the pool

I just added 32oz of mauratic acid to lower PH. I retested the water after 3 hours. I am having hard time reading the test and figure out If I need more acid. I attached a picture of the test. What is the PH in the attached picture?

I have hard time maintaining PH, it is always climbing up

It looks like 7.8 to my eyes (YMMV )

 

[Mdragger88]

Looks somewhere between 7.8 & 8.2 (call it 8.0).
As you lower ph with acid the ta will lower too - leading to less frequent ph rise.
You can lower ta more “actively” if you wish - here’s the guide

Lower Total Alkalinity

A lower Total Alkalinity level can help a pool owner stabalize their pH increase. We'll explain how to lower TA with a little help from muriatic acid.

www.google.com

 

[JJ_Tex]

Water is looking good. On your picture the pH looks fine, but the TC looks pretty light. What is your FC level and are you keeping it in line with the recommended levels for your CYA?

I also checked your PoolMath logs and seems like you are adding 64oz of liquid chlorine on a daily basis. That only adds 2.8 FC to your pool. I bet your normal FC loss on a daily basis is 3-5, which means you are not replenishing the chlorine you are losing on a daily basis.

Here is a chart I use to help me stay in range. Your most recent CYA was 30, but you have also used some trichlor which will add some CYA. I would test your CYA, then get chlorine into the correct range. I treat the lower number of the target range as my minimum and get panicky if by FC gets near there. For example, if your CYA is now 40, I would dose my chlorine to bring my FC up to 8 or 9 so that when the FC gets used up you spend most of the day in the target FC range and stay well above the minimum.