New user

[mkaufman811]

Hi all,
I have been reading a lot of forum posts and the articles on the site, and I just ordered my TF-PRO with SLAM addon. I'm in Canada and used the Shoppsy method, which means I won't get my kit for at least 2 weeks. Here's the issue: I'm pretty sure I have algae and quite possibly the nasty-to-remove yellow kind. The water has been cloudy in the deep end for awhile. I've tried granuled shock, then 3 jugs of liquid chlorine, then algecide, and I just put another granuled shock pouch in tonight. I vacuum up the yellow "dust" whenever I see it accumulate on the walls and ridges, but the deep end continues to be cloudy.
This is the annoying thing -- it's been perfect all season! This just started about 2 weeks ago, and I've been battling it and reading LOTS ever since. Here's the other catch: I have a massive party in two weeks, on Aug 10, and the pool is supposed to be a central feature of that party. I figured with the exact numbers from the TF-PRO, 2 weeks wouldn't be an issue. But now I won't get the kit until after the party! So I'm having to bumble along and figure out how to get the pool clear again before the party, and just have the PRO kit for afterwards and for regular maintenance.
I've filled in my signature with details. I'll get more equipment details tomorrow and update the signature.
In looking at the CYA/FC matrix, it's looking like I'll need FC in the 15-20 range. But with the crappy strips from canadian tire, they top out at 10. So .... how do I go about SLAM'ing my pool with insufficient and inadequate strips, so I can have a clean pool for the party in 2 weeks!?!?
Thx for any help
-Mike

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum.
Without a proper test kit you have limited options.
I would suggest adding 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine each day. You might get lucky and that will suppress the algae enough to make the pool presentable for your party.
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

 

[mkaufman811]

The pool actually looks kinda better today! I went and got some test strips that actually measure CYA (my existing ones didn't), and it shows that the CYA level was low. I think I figured out what happened.
We had a big pool party a couple of weeks ago. Then the rains came. Over 8 inches spread over 2 weeks. I had to bring my water level down TWICE, one week apart. Then the cloudiness showed up. I think my CYA levels went down with the rain + drain, plus whatever residuals from the pool party previously, means I didn't have enough FC and bazinga -- algae growth.
Does this make sense to all y'all experts??

Knowing that, I dropped 3 more pucks into the skimmer (I know I know .. pucks are evil, but I have a bucket full of them and may as well use them to raise my CYA), and now will be testing 3 times a day (even with crappy strips) to keep the FC level up. I'll also be getting in and scrubbing as much as I can, and vacuuming each day.
Question: can dead algae come back to life!? Like, once I kill it all and get the water pristine again, won't there be little microscopic bits of dead algae floating around, and in the filter? I don't have a problem with any 'ick' factor, I really don't care about that. I just wonder... once I've had an algae bloom.. does that make me susceptible to future ones??

Thanks for the advice @mknauss but just one question .... how do I know how much liquid chlorine equates to 5 ppm FC ?? Is it a whole jug? 2 jugs? 1 cup? I didn't see this is the pool school section (unless I totally missed it). Is it a formula or ratio to the volume of water?

 

[TinFoilHat]

Put the pucks into a floater so they don't damage the pool equipment. Download the PoolMath app and load your pool particulars into it. The gallonage is important.

 

[mknauss]

I stand by my initial recommendation. Add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine each day. No pucks.
Use PoolMath
For an 80000 liter pool, add 4 liters of 10% liquid chlorine each day. Pump running. Brush the pool well. Vacuum when you can.

 

[mkaufman811]

Put the pucks into a floater so they don't damage the pool equipment. Download the PoolMath app and load your pool particulars into it. The gallonage is important.

thank you!

 

[mkaufman811]

I stand by my initial recommendation. Add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine each day. No pucks.
Use PoolMath
For an 80000 liter pool, add 4 liters of 10% liquid chlorine each day. Pump running. Brush the pool well. Vacuum when you can.

Thank you for the numbers! I had to dig in pool math to figure out how to get it to tell me that.
So, if all I add is liquid chlorine, the FC will go up, but the CYA won't change, correct? So if it's low, it'll stay low? Shouldn't I be looking to increase CYA as well?
It also looks like the PH is a tad low. My gf says that's normal, cuz the super high concentration of chlorine alters/affects the PH. I was about to go buy some PH+ to raise it, but now thinking I should not bother it till I get the algae cleaned up, then let the FC come down to normal levels, then balance everything? Sound like a plan?