Need some advice

[M.A]

Hi

I've had this pool for 10 years. It has been easy maintenance except for when it rains hard. Even when it rains just for a few hours. After a we receive a decent amount of rain, the pool water immediately begins to turn green (see picture of pool after only 30 minutes following a 2 hour rain). If unattended it will turn into a swamp in just a few a days (see 2nd pic). I can prevent this and keep it clean and clear by immediately adding the typical chemicals, brushing and vacuuming. However, I seem to be the only one in the neighborhood having this extreme change when it rains. After ruling out equipment and chemicals (as the chemicals can be perfect when it begins to rain and it still turns green in just a few hours). I think it is caused by the muddy rainwater run-off from the grass which flows over the concrete directly into the pool. We have french drains but they may not be enough. However, I'd like to know if anyone else has this issue and what they think the root cause might be? Pic 1 = 30 min after hard rain (deep end turning green, spa still clear but will turn green if untreated asap) | Pic 2 = 2 days after hard rain if unattended | Pic 3 = normal clear water

 

[Thasista]

New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

I suspect you have algae but I’m no expert. Much more experienced TFPers will chime in. I’d start by posting a full set of test results and the details of your pool in your siggy.

Your pool and yard are beautiful!

 

[jblizzle]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

Welcome to TFP!!!

Please define "chemicals can be perfect" and "adding the typical chemicals"
We can't help based on generic statements like that. We like data ... specifically test results that you perform using one of the Recommended Test Kits.

Even without all the test results, I can guess (with 90% certainty) why the pool turns green. It is because your FC level is below the minimum for your CYA as listed in the [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA].

Do you fertilize the lawn? If you get runoff from the grass into the pool, the fertilizer can make your pool more "reactive" to allowing algae to start.

 

[M.A]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

Thank you for the quick reply and compliment on the yard! This occurs even when my chemicals are perfect and there is no algae. Just wondering if others have had a similar issue when pool water is perfect and the yard rainwater has a quick and severely impact.

- - - Updated - - -

Thank you. Sorry for trying to stay high level. Was just hoping that someone had the same issue and could help without needing the details. I completely understand detailed chemical infor will be required if no one has encountered the same issue when all chem data is normal.

- - - Updated - - -

 

[jblizzle]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

Again, though, what is "normal" for chem data.

The pool store's idea of "normal" is very different that what we at TFP consider good.

Until you can provide facts in the form of test data, we are only guessing.

 

[pookiesunshine]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

M.A, have you SEEN runoff from yard into the pool or just guessing? It might be junk from the trees getting washed into the pool. Search for a recent thread by bobandsherry. nothing definitive but the suspected cause is debris from the screen enclosure. just a thought.

 

[scdaren]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

If you are getting runoff from your lawn, and particularly if you are fertilizing your lawn, then you could be increasing the nitrate and phosphate level of your pool water. For most folks following TFP, that is not really an issue because a pool that is properly sanitized with chlorine will not allow any algae to grow. If there is not sufficient chlorine, the algae can get a start, and the elevated nutrient levels will make it grow fast.

Your definition of perfect chemical levels may be very different than ours. Read Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry to start.

For example, do you know your CYA level? If you have been using non-liquid forms of chlorine, it could be high. In that case, you need to have a much higher level of chlorine than you might think to properly sanitize your pool, because the CYA (aka stabilizer) would bind up a portion of that chlorine.

People here will be happy to help you figure out the cause of this problem and solve it, but can only do that on the condition that you are following TFP recommendations of chemical levels and testing methods that we know work. After you read that ABC's article, read the Pool School book to learn about what we do. Then get your hands on a test kit that can properly test your CYA levels and chlorine levels, such as a TF-100 from tftestkits.net (I use and highly recommend this one plus the speedstir), or the Taylor K-2006C which can be ordered from Amazon.

 

[M.A]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

Thanks pookiesunshine! I have SEEN runoff from the yard many many times (not guessing). Not much "junk" drops into the pool from the palm trees, a few dry palm frond pieces which are cleaned out same day. I'm pretty confident it is the dirty/muddy water running into the pool. I'll wait a little longer to see if anyone has run into the same issue. If not, I will install a good sized (width & length) perimeter drain to prevent the dirty run off water from entering the pool. I think this will solve the problem. If not, I've eliminated a HUGE variable in this equation.

 

[jblizzle]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

Seriously?
Instead of looking at the pool chemistry you are just going to wait and see ...
... and hope someone shows up and says, yup I have seen this with some magic cure?

Here is a hint ... the magic cure IS THE CHEMISTRY!!!

 

[M.A]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

Thank you scdaren for the good advice. Will come back with chemical levels if the problem still remains after I eliminate the dirty run off water from entering the pool. I completely understand and agree there is a whole discussion required to review the detailed chem levels. For now, I was just trying to find someone on this forum that has a similar run off issue and solved it with a "one-time non-chem" solution such as drains, re-grading, etc.

 

[Donldson]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

Well so far every single person has pointed out that your chemistry is almost certainly not perfect and that the green is almost certainly algae. Seems you couldn't ask for a much better consensus.

If you are just here to find the one person to say "yeah, you're probably right" then I'm afraid you have found the wrong pool forum. We are here to help people fix their pool problems, not just tell them what they want to hear.

I wish you all the best, but our time and your time is valuable. We are just wasting time if we try to help without getting test information. If you feel that giving us test information is wasting your time then there is no path forward that isn't wasting someone's valuable time.

 

[scdaren]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

Thank you scdaren for the good advice. Will come back with chemical levels if the problem still remains after I eliminate the dirty run off water from entering the pool. I completely understand and agree there is a whole discussion required to review the detailed chem levels. For now, I was just trying to find someone on this forum that has a similar run off issue and solved it with a "one-time non-chem" solution such as drains, re-grading, etc.

I think you are missing my point. The very fact that the runoff is causing a problem, assuming it is a runoff problem, is that your water is not properly sanitized. Even if you fix the runoff issue you will still have water that is not properly sanitized. Clear water does not equal clean water. You want to have clean sanitize water.

for example, if my pool had the runoff issue that yours does it would still not turn green because it is properly chlorinated.

In other words, you are trying to solve the symptom and not the problem.

 

[M.A]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

jblizzle, thanks for taking the time to provide your reply. I am not using a wait and see approach. As I mentioned, I do not have a problem keeping the pool crystal clear and algae free until we get a hard rain as the grade of my yard is not good and runs into a large area of my pool - instead of away or around. I've worked with my local pool pro's who have helped me get the chemistry correct for my pool and also what to do when it rains to get it back to clean asap. I test it daily and bring into my local pool pro weekly or bi-weekly to double check. However, I was hoping to reach a wider audience through this forum to find someone who had correct chemistry and still needed and found a "one-time non-chem related" solution.

 

[jblizzle]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

Well, we generally do not trust pool store testing or the "local pros" who often have an agenda to sell.

What are you testing with daily? Why hold out on providing the data?
As much as we do not trust it ... post up the pool store results if that is all you have. I bet the problem is obvious from them.

Again Again ... "get the chemistry correct" is meaningless to us.

Here is the "correct chemistry":
ABCs of Water Chemistry
Recommended Pool Chemicals
How to Chlorinate Your Pool
Recommended Chemistry Levels
And follow the [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA]

 

[scdaren]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

You say that your pool is normally free of algae. But I can tell you that is not the case otherwise it would not be blooming so quickly when you get rain runoff into it. By the time your pool turns green from algae you already have billions of algae spores that are living in your water that you can't see. You are confusing a pool that looks clean with a pool that is clean.

Listen to what your wider audience is telling you.

 

[zea3]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

M.A. if you don't share what your version of "perfect" chemistry is via test results, then how is anyone going to know if they have the same chemistry you have? Like we said our version of correct chemistry is very different from the industry standard. You are reaching a very wide audience. As I type this we have 916 users online reading and posting in various threads. Within 24 hours you have had 6 people read your thread and request test results which are vital for any meaningful troubleshooting to take place. Water runoff is a problem, but I doubt it is the problem. Storm water runoff increases the chlorine demand in any pool. A pool that has a low chlorine to CYA ratio will quickly exhaust the available chlorine and not be able to meet the demand, then the pool will start to turn green. When we have test results we will know if this is the situation with your pool. People want to help you solve this issue, but they can't do it blind. We need your current test results.

 

[kimkats]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

Hi and welcome!

Let me ask you something.............don't you think it would be cheaper and easier to tell us what test kit you are using and what your findings are than it will be to hire someone (or do it yourself) to dig and lay the drain?

At good test kit costs $70 or so and is easy to use. We even have videos and written directions to help you out.

I would like you to look at the view count on this thread. As you can see many people have seen this thread and not commented...........it has reached a very wide audience.

I hope you take what has been said above to heart. The only thing any of us want is for YOUR pool to be clear and Trouble Free!

Kim TFP MOD

 

[pookiesunshine]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

... I'm pretty confident it is the dirty/muddy water running into the pool. ..... I will install a good sized (width & length) perimeter drain to prevent the dirty run off water from entering the pool. I think this will solve the problem. If not, I've eliminated a HUGE variable in this equation.

the dirty runoff may not be the entire problem but i'm confident it is A problem. definitely fix that in any case. good luck

 

[M.A]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

pookiesunshine - agreed. Thank you.

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks to all who have responded. And thanks everyone who seem to generally care! However, what most on this forum have failed to recognize is that I know (and have acknowledged several times) chemistry is critical and must be correct. Given that, I can/will work with local experts to get/keep the chemistry correct. So, for the purposes of this forum, I was hoping to get beyond that fact and hear from others who have had "correct chemistry" and who may have also experienced a similar issue due to excessive rain/yard run off into their pool. If you do not have experience with this exact scenario, please do not waste your time or mine to provide an opinion about chemistry. If you do, I'd love to hear what you did - in addition to making sure your chemistry was correct. LOL!

 

[jblizzle]

Re: New to the forum but have had a pool for 10 years - Need Some Advice - Thanks!

If your chemistry was correct (At all times, not just in sunny weather), you would not be having a problem. End of story.

I guess your local experts are better with the chemistry than the 150k+ members here.