How do clueless owners fix algae bloom?

[Mattikuss]

I have friends who are totally clueless on their pool. They bring their water in to the pool store every week and dump chemicals. It’s terrible. After opening their pool this year they had an algae bloom that I offered to help with. 8 days in, FC loss down to 1ppm overnight, and about 10 filter washes, the pool is finally clearing up. It would have been quicker had I been able to properly maintain SLAM levels but I couldn’t get there 3 times a day, and I made the mistake of bringing their CYA up to 70 prior to the SLAM (Cl had to be at 28). Today, while I was cleaning their filters, I was thinking to myself… how would they have done this without the knowledge I brought them from TFP? Seriously, would the pool people stop by 3x a day to maintain FC level, brush, and clean filters? Would they just drain the pool? How much would that cost someone? It must happen to most clueless pool owners and be super costly. What is the strategy if you don’t have TFP?

 

[Antlo]

Well, my strategy was to eventually find TFP and convert. Though I never tried paying a pool company, I imagine it's expensive

 

[Mattikuss]

Well, my strategy was to eventually find TFP and convert. Though I never tried paying a pool company, I imagine it's expensive

5 weeks ago, at that!

 

[Antlo]

5 weeks ago, at that!

Indeed, this is my first season with a pool, but previous tenants didn't use TFP (I know them personally), the pool was always swaying from green back to blue. I didn't want that, so I immediately started researching and found this website. Took me a few weeks to actually understand the advice but it's paying off!

 

[Mattikuss]

Indeed, this is my first season with a pool, but previous tenants didn't use TFP (I know them personally), the pool was always swaying from green back to blue. I didn't want that, so I immediately started researching and found this website. Took me a few weeks to actually understand the advice but it's paying off!

I’m in the same boat. Im posting threads everyday and getting better everyday as well.

 

[Newdude]

What is the strategy if you don’t have TFP?

Dump and pray.

Either from inaccurate testing, infrequent testing, or inaccurate infrequent testing.

Then the pool store has a whole wall of cures labeled exactly for what we need. PoolRX, Green to Clean, etc.

 

[Mattikuss]

Dump and pray.

Either from inaccurate testing, infrequent testing, or inaccurate infrequent testing.

Then the pool store has a whole wall of cures labeled exactly for what we need. PoolRX, Green to Clean, etc.

Sad

 

[Turbo1Ton]

What is the strategy if you don’t have TFP?

Sheer, dumb luck.

My buddy at work, refuses to buy a test kit. He uses his local Leslie's for testing about once a month. Fortunately he has a SWCG so that keeps his chlorine up. I will say the Leslie's he uses either doesn't push chems on him, or he does a great job at ignoring them. He only ever adds stabilizer, salt, or chlorine(shock) when/if he gets algae. He does not SLAM though. I am amazed at his ability to just blindly go through this, but so far it hasn't really bit him, and he's not spending a ton of money on chemicals each year. But every year, I try to get him to buy a test kit and he says he should but he does not. I'll be there for him if/when he finally decides to.

Another buddy has an above ground that he got by because he would dump so much water each winter. He would use a mix of LC and tabs all summer, and before the CYA got too ridiculous, it was time to close and he would dump a ton of water. Then when he refilled the pool in the spring, his CYA was back down. He finally bought a TF PRO test kit but he still only doses LC about once a week.

I ask myself how these guys aren't constantly fighting algae but it appears that through some lucky patch in their universe, they do not. I'm glad they don't but it doesn't make sense.

--Jeff

 

[Winger 03]

Dump and pray.

Either from inaccurate testing, infrequent testing, or inaccurate infrequent testing.

Then the pool store has a whole wall of cures labeled exactly for what we need. PoolRX, Green to Clean, etc.

This is my sister-in-law's method. My wife was over there last weekend. Pool was hazy (couldn't see the bottom of the deep end), too full (skimmer not skimming), and green. My wife suggested lowering the water a bit, so the skimmer could (you know) skim, and was met with a bit of resistance. Finally convinced her to lower the water and then she shut the pump off since she does not "run it all the time". This is a 20-year+ pool owner who dumps and prays (and pays) every year, hoping for a different outcome.

My wife asked me while visiting, "what should Karen (her sister) do for cloudy water". I told her not to bother because there is no way she will listen to us, thinking it is way too much work. I only offer advice if asked and I preface it all by telling folks "either listen to me or the pool store, not both".

Meanwhile we open in April every year and the pool is swimmable in 2 days, tops.

 

[drsipe]

I have a brother-in-law, who I try to advise, but he doesn't want to do what is needed. I help him open his pool, and his CYA is well over 100, I tell him he needs to drain/fill to get down to 60/70, he doesn't want to waste water. He claims liquid doesn't work in his pool, so he dumps in dichlor. His pool starts out very green at opening and he dumps 4 pounds of dichlor every other day + tri-chlor tablets, brushed and vacuums every day. A month after opening it's not green, but not clear, so cloudy you can't see the bottom in the deep end. Usually around mid July (2 months after opening) you can see the bottom, but still cloudy. I don't swim in his pool, and I stopped wasting testing chemicals because he won't take advice from someone with a crystal clear pool even at opening, but he'll take advice from the 16 year old kid working at Leslie's.

 

[Winger 03]

I stopped wasting testing chemicals because he won't take advice from someone with a crystal clear pool even at opening, but he'll take advice from the 16 year old kid working at Leslie's.

Well put!!!