New pool has turned bright neon green!

[noturbizniss]

So we closed on a house 3 weeks ago and I imagine I am doing a lot of somethings wrong here.
Pool is 20x40 with a spa. Previous owner maintained the pool himself and it was always beautiful.
I have been adding 4 chlorine tablets to the skimmers each week (2 in shallow, 2 in deep) as per prior owner. For the first 2 weeks the pool was doing well, chlorine tested normal (3 ppm or so). Last week we cut down 2 pine trees that were dropping needles in the pool. I noticed at that point the chlorine levels were testing at low to non-existent. I added 4 more chlorine tabs in the floaters. At the end of last week the weather got really hot. On Sunday I added more chlorine tabs when the skimmer ones were shrunk down and the levels were still close to zero. Yesterday I tested again and still close to zero. The pool was then somewhat green. Today the pool is bright green. The filter is running about 20 hours a day with the pressure showing about 20 psi.

I am having a pool cleaning company come in the next few days to clean it out and teach me how to maintain as I am clearly missing something.
I had a Polaris 9550 for the first 2 weeks and just switched ot the maytronics M400 this week. I have them running every day.

My question is: Is this just algae and I need to put in algaecide? Is it likely my filter is clogged, hence the low chlorine levels? I see water running through the pumps and filtration system, so I imagine it is not.

Thanks!

 

[JohnT]

You'll never keep up with algae with tablets, and tablet use is probably the reason you got the algae to start with. You need to SLAM Process the pool, but to do that you need a quality test kit. Pool School - Test Kits Compared

I would highly recommend you completely ignore anything a pool service tells you about pool chemistry.

 

[noturbizniss]

You'll never keep up with algae with tablets, and tablet use is probably the reason you got the algae to start with. You need to SLAM Process the pool, but to do that you need a quality test kit. Pool School - Test Kits Compared

I would highly recommend you completely ignore anything a pool service tells you about pool chemistry.

Thanks I'll look at the link. I k owl the prior owner used tablets and seemed to be ok...

 

[AftonJeeper]

It would be best for your pool and cheaper for you to stop using the tablets. Use only unscented plain old chlorine bleach. You can buy it at many places at a higher concentration 10-12.5%, but normal grocery store stuff is either 6% or concentrated 8.25% is fine too. If you can get a test kit that tells us what your numbers are one of us can set you up with a plan of attach.

 

[noturbizniss]

It would be best for your pool and cheaper for you to stop using the tablets. Use only unscented plain old chlorine bleach. You can buy it at many places at a higher concentration 10-12.5%, but normal grocery store stuff is either 6% or concentrated 8.25% is fine too. If you can get a test kit that tells us what your numbers are one of us can set you up with a plan of attach.

Gotcha. Im starting to read through the forums now tha i know what i am looking for.
I just ordered a TF-100 from poolsupplywold. should come late next week.

So basically, ditch the tablets and I would just pour in a certain amount of the highest concentrated bleach i can find? Can you point me to a thread that explains the pour in process? i.e. do i pour in daily? weekly? (i assume the amount will be based on the test results).

Given the PSI of my Jandy DE filter and that I am seeing a nice flow of water through the filter I assume it is working (might just need a backwash/cleaning). Are you saying that the reason the chlorine is low is simply due to the heat and that tablets are garbage, no matter how many i put in?

 

[Sfpat]

The problem with tablets is they add "conditioner" or CYA to the water along with the chlorine. As explained elsewhere in this site, some CYA is needed, but too much CYA ultimately neuters the effectiveness of the chlorine, thus resulting in algae and green pools. Read through pool school (tab above) for a better explanation. I was a tablet guy for a long time and constantly fighting algae. Since switching to the method taught here, I have had nothing but crystal clear water to enjoy.

 

[AftonJeeper]

Many on here are adding chlorine daily, I do it 2-3 times a week. My pool is covered when it is not in use so the sun doesn't take my FC. Every pool and situation is different, you will learn a schedule that works for you and the pool.

To pour chlorine I slowly pour it in front of a return jet, slow enough that the return can blast it out into the pool and it doesn't fall tot he bottom of the pool. It can take up to 2 minutes to pour a full jug.