Just moved in and need Green Pool Help please?
- Thread starter jamesworley
- Start date
I'd like to know that as well. It's nice to clarify something you say when it's not common knowledge or when it can be ambiguous.carlscan26 said:
I think most stores carry it as a sodium bromide product. Just never labeled as an enhancer, just as an algecide. I've seen very good results with it as long as its used only in green pool situation. Definitely not a regular maintenance chemical. Sorry for the vagueness.
I have had good luck with used equipment, so I would not rule that out. It is true that when buying a used filter, you take a risk that it has leaks, etc. Buying used has saved me quite a bit of money, and my read suggests that might be important to the op.thepoolman said:
I would not use sodium bromide unless CYA is high and water changes are not an option. See this thread: Using sodium bromide along with chlorinethepoolman said:
[Edited for politeness: Butterfly] I've used it countless times to clean pools that look like what the OP showed us. Once the pool is cleaned and rebalanced, it isn't any harder to take care of than one that's never had any in it.
There's more than one way to skin a cat. Just like some on here would never use sodium bromide, you wouldn't catch me dead buying a bunch of dollar store bleach to clean up my pool.
There's more than one way to skin a cat. Just like some on here would never use sodium bromide, you wouldn't catch me dead buying a bunch of dollar store bleach to clean up my pool.
Using sodium bromide will increase chlorine consumption a little for months, since it increases chlorine loss due to sunlight. It can also be very problematic if you are not familiar with using it. The percentage of people who get themselves into trouble using sodium bromide is quite a bit higher than for anything we recommend using. If you are familiar with it, or at least follow the directions closely, it can work a bit more quickly than the alternatives, and the additional chlorine consumption isn't a big deal. But likewise it costs more than the alternatives and offers no long term advantages, so why bother with it?
Using sodium bromide to clean up a green pool with high CYA levels is at best a short term fix, one that doesn't solve the fundamental problem of high CYA. It simply postpones your problems until later. Of, if you don't have a high CYA problem in the first place, it is more expensive than the alternatives and poses some risks for the unwary.
It is always a good idea to stay away from dollar store bleach. It is almost always expired, and thus a lower chlorine level than stated on the packaging, sometimes far far lower.
Using sodium bromide to clean up a green pool with high CYA levels is at best a short term fix, one that doesn't solve the fundamental problem of high CYA. It simply postpones your problems until later. Of, if you don't have a high CYA problem in the first place, it is more expensive than the alternatives and poses some risks for the unwary.
It is always a good idea to stay away from dollar store bleach. It is almost always expired, and thus a lower chlorine level than stated on the packaging, sometimes far far lower.
It has been a little while since I made my last post of my situation.
Tomorrow I will be taking pictures of what I have done and reposting.
Just for now though I will mention that I have done a repair using JB Weld on the top half of the pool pump where the crack is at.
It is not pretty but it appears to be strong as I put it on in a few different applications and pretty thick.
I also bought a brand new filter element to replace the old one that is all stopped up with algae and had sat unused for over a whole year.
I checked all of the fitting connections, cleaned the seals and put the top back onto the housing today and ran it for a few hours in order to test the motor , circulation and system for leaks.
All seems to be good this far so I will be moving on to getting it cleaned up starting tomorrow.
I will update with pictures of what I have done and where I am so far with it.
Thanks!
Tomorrow I will be taking pictures of what I have done and reposting.
Just for now though I will mention that I have done a repair using JB Weld on the top half of the pool pump where the crack is at.
It is not pretty but it appears to be strong as I put it on in a few different applications and pretty thick.
I also bought a brand new filter element to replace the old one that is all stopped up with algae and had sat unused for over a whole year.
I checked all of the fitting connections, cleaned the seals and put the top back onto the housing today and ran it for a few hours in order to test the motor , circulation and system for leaks.
All seems to be good this far so I will be moving on to getting it cleaned up starting tomorrow.
I will update with pictures of what I have done and where I am so far with it.
Thanks!
- Jan 24, 2012
- 7
All good advise. My 2 cents - Buy proper liquid chlorine from a pool store, it is over twice the strength. from your pics on pool size, add 8-9 jugs (I think your bleach added previously was not sufficient). The algea should be dead within 1-2 days. I suggest not doing this until the equipment is functional. Then you have to remove the sediment through the filter.
link removed due to conflicting advice.
Shop online for a replacement filter lid. The pool looks enclosed, so should not have too much debris in it.
This process will probably destroy a filter element, so if there is life left in the old one, destroy that one first. Good luck.
link removed due to conflicting advice.
Shop online for a replacement filter lid. The pool looks enclosed, so should not have too much debris in it.
This process will probably destroy a filter element, so if there is life left in the old one, destroy that one first. Good luck.
Never blindly add chemicals to your pool!
We always recommend testing and then adding chems.
Also, the only way to know when you've killed all the algea is to test. If you'll follow the advice in Pool School on how to kill algae and read How to turn a Green swamp into an Oasis you'll be much better off than dumping in a bunch of bleach without knowing what the outcome is.
For instance, If I were to add 9 jugs of the bleach I get from the pool store it'd raise my FC by 200 ppm. What do you think that would do to my liner? The point is, the 12.5% bleach I get from the pool store are 2½ gallon jugs. Using the pool calc and adding what's recommended here is much better and safer, and will kill the algae completely.
We always recommend testing and then adding chems.
Also, the only way to know when you've killed all the algea is to test. If you'll follow the advice in Pool School on how to kill algae and read How to turn a Green swamp into an Oasis you'll be much better off than dumping in a bunch of bleach without knowing what the outcome is.
For instance, If I were to add 9 jugs of the bleach I get from the pool store it'd raise my FC by 200 ppm. What do you think that would do to my liner? The point is, the 12.5% bleach I get from the pool store are 2½ gallon jugs. Using the pool calc and adding what's recommended here is much better and safer, and will kill the algae completely.
Yeah, you may end up adding all that chlorine anyway, but doing it over time may be more effective and definitely safer for the pool infrastructure.
Imagine if you are sick, knowing you will be sick for several days... why not just take all the advil you will need over the course of three day sickness at once and get it over with? B/C IT WILL KILL YOU! lol thats why. a little good stuff applied over a calculated period of time will get the job done guaranteed and not hurt your equipment or pool. All at once and you will be taking some risks with your stuff.
Imagine if you are sick, knowing you will be sick for several days... why not just take all the advil you will need over the course of three day sickness at once and get it over with? B/C IT WILL KILL YOU! lol thats why. a little good stuff applied over a calculated period of time will get the job done guaranteed and not hurt your equipment or pool. All at once and you will be taking some risks with your stuff.
jamesworley,
Sounds like you're getting basics under control. You got your filter working, pump working, so you have circulation and no leaks. Did you ever find or replace skimmer lid and skimmer basket? If not, you're going to want them. The basket will prevent something from getting lodged in your plumbing. The lid prevent something (or someone) from falling into the skimmer.
There has been a lot of responses on this thread, some maybe confusing. Just continue to follow the links zea gave you in the beginning and you'll be on track. Those methods are tried and true that have helped numerous people get their pools from green to sparkly. One of the nicest things about those methods, is that they are very straightforward and easy to understand.
One last bit of advice, keep a close eye on the filter pressure. It can go up really quick when clearing up a green pool. I know it says that in those links. I just wanted to reinforce it, because it can be surprising how quick it can go up.
As always, if you have questions please post them. Oh yea, we love pics here, looking forward to seeing your pool go from green to sparkly.
Sounds like you're getting basics under control. You got your filter working, pump working, so you have circulation and no leaks. Did you ever find or replace skimmer lid and skimmer basket? If not, you're going to want them. The basket will prevent something from getting lodged in your plumbing. The lid prevent something (or someone) from falling into the skimmer.
There has been a lot of responses on this thread, some maybe confusing. Just continue to follow the links zea gave you in the beginning and you'll be on track. Those methods are tried and true that have helped numerous people get their pools from green to sparkly. One of the nicest things about those methods, is that they are very straightforward and easy to understand.
One last bit of advice, keep a close eye on the filter pressure. It can go up really quick when clearing up a green pool. I know it says that in those links. I just wanted to reinforce it, because it can be surprising how quick it can go up.
As always, if you have questions please post them. Oh yea, we love pics here, looking forward to seeing your pool go from green to sparkly.
One more thing.... you REALLY need to get a leaf rake and clean out the bottom of the pool. Find the Visual Encyclopedia on this site and be sure you have a leaf rake. It looks like an oval butterfly net, mine has a hard lip on one side like a dust pan. Use it by pushing, not pulling. You must net and remove any solids from the bottom of the pool. Bleach will be consumed trying to dissolve solids which mean less bleach there for the green algae.
Step one - get equipment in working order.
Step two - remove debris from bottom of pool.
Step three - test water
Step one - get equipment in working order.
Step two - remove debris from bottom of pool.
Step three - test water
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