Need Help Getting Rid of Algae

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Henry121083

Silver Supporter
Aug 10, 2018
125
Newtown
Recently took my water to get tested (I'm new to pool maintenance)

FC: 0
TC: 0
Cyanuric Acid: 0
Total Alkalinity: 70
pH 7.4
Copper: 0
Iron 0
Total Dissolved Solids: 400
Phosphates 500

Was told phospahtes were too high - so bought PhosFree and dumped the correct amount into the skimmer and let the filter run for 48 hours according to the instructions and the pool place.

When that was done - I backwashed, added DE - and about 2 hours later I shocked the pool (4pm yesterday) - I let the filter run overnight after shocking.

When I woke up the pool was no better.

I have a minimum of 3 chlorine tabs in there at all times - not sure why chlorine levels are so low when the water was tested.

We have had a lot of rain the last few weeks...

Am I not giving the shock enough time to kill algae? I was told not to vacuum the pool until most of the algae is gone.

What should I do? Pic of pool below


Thanks
 
Welcome to the forum! :handshake:

Algae is a chemistry problem. Vacuuming it up does not do anything.

You will need to follow a procedure called SLAM Process. To do that, you need your own proper test kit.

This forum advocate’s owner water testing using a proper kit. I recommend the TF-100 Test Kit â„¢ as it was designed for residential use and has more of what you will use when testing your residential pool.

A SpeedStir is also recommended as it makes testing much easier.

While you are waiting on your test kit add liquid chlorine/bleach to put 5 ppm FC into your pool each evening.

Let us know when you get your test kit and post up the results.

I suggest you read Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Trouble Free Pool School book.
 
Welcome to TFP...

Great advice given above ^^^

Its a process that takes time just stay away from pool store chemicals!
 
mknauss said:
Welcome to the forum! :handshake:

Algae is a chemistry problem. Vacuuming it up does not do anything.

You will need to follow a procedure called SLAM Process. To do that, you need your own proper test kit.

This forum advocate’s owner water testing using a proper kit. I recommend the TF-100 Test Kit â„¢ as it was designed for residential use and has more of what you will use when testing your residential pool.

A SpeedStir is also recommended as it makes testing much easier.

While you are waiting on your test kit add liquid chlorine/bleach to put 5 ppm FC into your pool each evening.

Let us know when you get your test kit and post up the results.

I suggest you read Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Trouble Free Pool School book.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the response -- Im unsure how much more chlorine to add since I shocked it yesterday. I actually used more shock than what's called for I used 3lbs for a 25,000 pool

Should I still add liquid chlorine? If so, how much should I add? Ordering the test kit as I'm typing this

Thanks
Henry
 
Add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine/bleach each evening until you get your test kit.

Using PoolMath, it will take 312 oz of 6% bleach to put 5 ppm FC into your 30000 gallon pool.

Use only plain, no scent, not splashless, no fabric protection bleach. Or get liquid chlorine/shock from Walmart, Home Depot, pool store, etc. The concentration of that could be 10% or 12.5%. Adjust PoolMath for what chlorine you use.

No solid chlorine products. Only liquid chlorine or bleach.
 
mknauss said:
Add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine/bleach each evening until you get your test kit.

Using PoolMath, it will take 312 oz of 6% bleach to put 5 ppm FC into your 30000 gallon pool.

Use only plain, no scent, not splashless, no fabric protection bleach. Or get liquid chlorine/shock from Walmart, Home Depot, pool store, etc. The concentration of that could be 10% or 12.5%. Adjust PoolMath for what chlorine you use.

No solid chlorine products. Only liquid chlorine or bleach.
Click to expand...

So I used the bleach yesterday afternoon and left the pump running - it's been maybe 20 hours since. Still looks the same -- any advice? I'm at a loss here. any other advice?

I will test the pool later - wouldn't it at least clear up a little bit?
 
You have to follow the SLAM procedure. It's not a one time addition of chlorine. Do you have a recommended test kit (TF-100XL or K2006C) yet? If not, just keep adding a gallon of the strongest liquid chlorine you can get everyday until the test kit arrives.
 

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Henry121083 said:
I added 3.5 gallons of 6% liquid bleach last night - just so I'm clear - when the chemicals are balanced, is the algae supposed to just die and disappear?
Click to expand...
You must follow the SLAM procedure to eliminate the algae. Regular daily FC levels will not do that.

Please take the time to read through the SLAM Process procedure.

Also, it would be very helpful to read through the ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry.
 
Note: A number of folks have referenced the SLAM procedure, just wondering if you have noted that the word SLAM in their postings, is in a different color? If you click on one of those is will take you to the SLAM procedure page. I mention this because on my computer the coloring is very subtle and I missed it when I first started working with these folks.
 
Henry121083 said:
I added 3.5 gallons of 6% liquid bleach last night - just so I'm clear - when the chemicals are balanced, is the algae supposed to just die and disappear?
Click to expand...

When the chemicals are at appropriate levels, you should not get algae but in your case that ship has sailed. You've got algae and now you have to kill it faster than it can grow. For example, let's say you throw in a whole bunch of chlorine and it quickly half the algae in an hour or two, now you have no chlorine (because it was used up killing the algae) and half as much algae as you started with. 20 hours later the remaining algae has double in population and you're right back where you started, with no chlorine and the same amount of algae. Moral of the story is read up on the SLAM process, it describes exactly how to get your chlorine level up to shock level and maintain that level until all the algae has been killed. Dead algae can make a pool a little cloudy and/or settle to the bottom, largely whatever kind of filter you have will filter out dead algae.
 
Henry121083 said:
hey thanks, I read the link and I haven't started the SLAM procedure yet - I was just curious if I should see a noticeable difference after adding bleach last night.

Still waiting for my test kit
Click to expand...

The suggestion to add 5 ppm FC worth of bleach each day is to try and keep the algae from getting worse. When you get your test kit, then you can follow the SLAM Process procedure after posting your initial test results here and letting us provide guidance on any chemistry items that need adjusting prior to the start of the SLAM.
 
mknauss said:
The suggestion to add 5 ppm FC worth of bleach each day is to try and keep the algae from getting worse. When you get your test kit, then you can follow the SLAM Process procedure after posting your initial test results here and letting us provide guidance on any chemistry items that need adjusting prior to the start of the SLAM.
Click to expand...

ok great - i had some cheap strips so here's what I'm starting with

https://ibb.co/cRtsJK
 
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