Losing a 2 year battle with algae

[krugs525]

I've been a pool owner for 3 years. Year one was easy, but the last two years have been a never ending battle with algae. I don't feel like it should be this hard, but I must be missing something.

Here's what I've done:

• Make sure pH and alkalinity is balanced
• CYA was high at one point, so drained some water and added new water until it was in the ideal 30-50 range
• Checking phosphates multiple times a week, using phosphate killer if it gets over 300. I use a preventative phosphate treatment weekly, but that doesn't seem to keep up, so I have to use the killer.
• Brushing the pool walls daily
• Running my robo-vacuum at least once a day
• Backwashing the sand filter daily (lots of really green water gets expelled)
• Double-shocking the pool. Kept free chlorine > 4 for quite awhile.
• Running the filter 24/7
• I try to skim the pool if it gets a lot of leaves in it, but I live out in the country and there are a lot of trees around, so I'm sure there are a lot of smaller particles that get in there.
• I haven't used algaecide since many people recommend not doing that

Despite all of this, I have new algae growing every day, and the deep end is perpetually a cloudy green-ish color. I can still vaguely make out the bottom of the deep end (9 ft) when the sun it out, so it's not completely green (probably because of my unsustainable hours of maintenance).

The best luck I have is with the phosphate killer. This gives me a pile of dead algae on the bottom (which I vacuum to waste) and the water clears up. Then it's cloudy and green again in a day or two. I feel like I have to use phosphate killer every 1-2 weeks though, which is not ideal.

Can anyone think of anything else I might be doing wrong? Are there issues with my filter (it generally seems to be working, based on the color of the backwash water)?

FWIW, in year 1 (when I was a new pool owner and everything went great), I never had to use phosphate killer, never had any sign of algae (other than when the pool was opened), and rarely brushed the walls.

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
You need to follow the SLAM Process. To do that, you need a proper test kit. I suggest the TF-100/Pro or Taylor K2006C. A proper test kit is needed to get the accurate water chemistry results needed to follow the TFP protocols.

While you are waiting on your test kit, add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine / plain bleach to your pool each evening with the pump running. This will replenish the FC lost each day to the sun and also inhibit any algae in the water from growing further.
I suggest you read through Pool Care Basics - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool

 

[kimkats]

OH I so hear you!!! This is a very common story of how we all ended up finding TFP. You are not along now! We got your back!

First thing I need to know is how are you testing your water? I am going to take a guess and say the pool $tore. That right there is a big part of your problem. SAY WHAT??? They have that fancy computer machine that is state of the art..................... AND it is free! The machine is only as good as it's last calibration. Do they clean the tubes between tests?

Well let me tell you something is it REALLY free if you walk out of the store with your arms full and your wallet empty? Nope They are a business that needs to make money.

Here at TFP we don't sell you anything! We don't even accept ads to keep our advice free of prejudice of any kind. What we do is show you the different test kits that are available as having YOUR OWN TEST KIT is the only way to go. Test Kits Compared BUT Kim those are a bit of money..............How much was the bill when you walked out of the pool $tore the last 4 times you walked out of it AND how does your water look? Here is a link to show you what YOUR water can look like when we beat the algae monster in your pool: How Clear is TFP Clear?

Here is how we care for our pools on a day to day basis: Pool Care Basics

Now with you having algae you will need to SLAM your pool as seen here: SLAM Process Please note this is a process instead of a one time thing. It is time proven and backed by science. I can share the scientific papers if you are interested.

So here are your steps to clearing your pool and keeping it clear:
-Find TFP=DONE
-Order your own test kit=working on
-Add chlorine to your pool each day until your test kit gets there.

LETS DO THIS!

 

[Lilypad]

Your story sounds like mine before I found TFP. I never knew that several years of using pucks and
"shock" would leave me with green algae ridden water. Nothing I did would raise the chlorine level
or maintain it. The "Aha moment" was learning the chlorine in every puck is used up, but the CYA stays and
builds higher until you need a ridiculous amount of chlorine to stay ahead of the algae and sanitize
your pool. Pool care has never been easier, my pool water beautifully clear and wayyyy less money
spent thanks to TFP.

Get your test kit so we'll all know exactly what’s in your pool and how to get it turned around
for you.

You're in the right place. Welcome!

 

[Pauls234]

2 years of algae, uggggghhhhhh! Those dang pool stores.....

The advice above has you covered. Once you get that test kit we'll start SLAM and get you cleared up. It could take 4 or 14 days but we will get you there for sure in less than 2 years!

Yours is a common path to arrival here, follow TFP methods and you'll have a trouble free pool.

Post up a pic of your pool to further inspire us and fill out your signature with your pool info.

 

[foxbody]

As stated in other responses, you need to perform a proper SLAM as advocated here. Chlorine of >4 isn't going to cut it. In addition to getting a good test kit and following steps advocated for here, I downloaded the Pool Math App, which takes a lot of the guess work out of the process. It's around $8/year. Now, anytime I run into trouble, instead of guess work and trusting a pool $tore, I refer to this site and use the pool math app.

 

[ttroglio]

So here are your steps to clearing your pool and keeping it clear:
-Find TFP=DONE
-Order your own test kit=working on
-Add chlorine to your pool each day until your test kit gets there.

And adding to this list: Download PoolMath app. Get familiar and use. It's so simple

 

[kellyfair]

Believe it or not, you don’t have to use phosphate killer. Ever.

What you do have to do is get enough chlorine in your pool to eliminate algae. When you have a test kit that gives you numbers you can trust, you will know exactly how much chlorine you need.

Let‘s pretend that your CYA level is actually 40 (but truly, you won’t know until you can test it yourself). Did you know that with CYA of 40, your target range for chlorine is between 5-7? So if you have been focusing on 4, and your CYA is 40 or even higher, you haven’t nearly had enough chlorine in your pool. For years.

So follow the advice above. Get one of the recommended test kits and while you wait, do as Marty says above and add 5ppm of liquid chlorine daily.

Read the Pool School articles - they are great! And lastly, take a look below - that is going to be you when we get this pool under control.

How Clear is TFP Clear?

 

[Bperry]

I've been a pool owner for 3 years. Year one was easy, but the last two years have been a never ending battle with algae. I don't feel like it should be this hard, but I must be missing something.

Here's what I've done:

• Make sure pH and alkalinity is balanced
• CYA was high at one point, so drained some water and added new water until it was in the ideal 30-50 range
• Checking phosphates multiple times a week, using phosphate killer if it gets over 300. I use a preventative phosphate treatment weekly, but that doesn't seem to keep up, so I have to use the killer.
• Brushing the pool walls daily
• Running my robo-vacuum at least once a day
• Backwashing the sand filter daily (lots of really green water gets expelled)
• Double-shocking the pool. Kept free chlorine > 4 for quite awhile.
• Running the filter 24/7
• I try to skim the pool if it gets a lot of leaves in it, but I live out in the country and there are a lot of trees around, so I'm sure there are a lot of smaller particles that get in there.
• I haven't used algaecide since many people recommend not doing that

Despite all of this, I have new algae growing every day, and the deep end is perpetually a cloudy green-ish color. I can still vaguely make out the bottom of the deep end (9 ft) when the sun it out, so it's not completely green (probably because of my unsustainable hours of maintenance).

The best luck I have is with the phosphate killer. This gives me a pile of dead algae on the bottom (which I vacuum to waste) and the water clears up. Then it's cloudy and green again in a day or two. I feel like I have to use phosphate killer every 1-2 weeks though, which is not ideal.

Can anyone think of anything else I might be doing wrong? Are there issues with my filter (it generally seems to be working, based on the color of the backwash water)?

FWIW, in year 1 (when I was a new pool owner and everything went great), I never had to use phosphate killer, never had any sign of algae (other than when the pool was opened), and rarely brushed the walls.

Just echoing the advice above. You just need a test kit and chlorine.