Newbie to the SWG world now have yellow algae present and getting worse

[Bperry]

Started at under 1. I put 100 drops and it kept getting almost red! Never went clear. Idk what’s the issue but I Stopped at 100. I’ll try again in the am and see where it’s at. Water isn’t overly cloudy. Ph is high of course

Make sure there’s only 10ml of water in the tube.

 

[Mdragger88]

Try again with either a 5ml or 10ml sample.
using 5ml sample each drop = 1ppm
using 10ml sample each drop = .5 ppm

 

[unbrokenlink]

Ok it’s back to earth today. Hovering around 38/40. Did a good brushing. Will see where it is later this evening.

 

[Mdragger88]

Your addition should have added 33ppm fc in that pool volume.
Something is off.
Either your chlorine was stronger or your pool volume is less

Definitely get that figured out & be sure to do all the things ….
For a successful SLAM Process
you need to continue to MAINTAIN Slam level fc for your cya as often as possible (multiple times per day is best) until you meet ALL 3 end of slam criteria-

You are done when:

CC is 0.5 or lower;
You pass an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
AND
The water is clear.
(Crystal Clear w/no algae dead or alive)

Do ALL the things
*Check & scrub every nook & cranny where algae may hide {light niches, steps (inside & out), drain covers, ladder handrails, skimmer throats/weirs, abandoned lines, autofill, overflow drains, seam flaps, etc.}
*If water can go there, algae can thrive there.
*Run slam level water through all water features & lines for at least a couple hours a day during the SLAM Process.
*Brush & or vac daily (this breaks up biofilms that algae uses to protect itself from chlorine)
*Backwash/clean filter when pressure rises 25%over clean pressure.
Slam ON

 

[unbrokenlink]

I was most definitely only about 1 or under before I put in the 5 gallons. Either way it is already coming down. I will get to 33 and then keep going. My question is, how long do I maintain that level? How far down do I let it fall?

 

[Mdragger88]

I was most definitely only about 1 or under before I put in the 5 gallons. Either way it is already coming down. I will get to 33 and then keep going. My question is, how long do I maintain that level? How far down do I let it fall?

You maintain your slam level of 28ppm as often as possible until you pass all 3 end of slam criteria.
Aiming for multiple times a day if you can. The more often you test & dose the faster the process will go. If you’re home, every 2 hours during waking hours would be great. If not aim for 3-4 times a day. The fc consumption is high at the beginning but it will slow down & you can get away with a couple times a day towards the end usually.
After you meet all 3 criteria you can then proceed to the Mustard Algae protocols for 24 hours as listed in the article.

 

[proavia]

I was most definitely only about 1 or under before I put in the 5 gallons. Either way it is already coming down. I will get to 33 and then keep going. My question is, how long do I maintain that level? How far down do I let it fall?

You maintain as close to SLAM Process as possible - testing multiple times per day - until you pass ALL 3 criteria outlined in the SLAM Process.
No short cuts .... follow the SLAM process to the letter.

When you test and the FC is below SLAM level, use PoolMath to determine how much liquid chlorine to add to get back to SLAM level.

 

[unbrokenlink]

Ok, will do my best, it is a bit confusing to me! But thank you all for the help!

 

[Bperry]

Ok, will do my best, it is a bit confusing to me! But thank you all for the help!

I would recommend trying to figure out why it appeared to be too high, either testing error (with too much water in the tube), pool volume is wrong, test reagents expired). Huge delta between expectations and reality mean something is off. Maybe take some pictures or video of the test process and see if someone’s can spot problems with that or pictures and dimensions of your pool and we can roughly estimate/double check pool volume.

 

[unbrokenlink]

I would recommend trying to figure out why it appeared to be too high, either testing error (with too much water in the tube), pool volume is wrong, test reagents expired). Huge delta between expectations and reality mean something is off. Maybe take some pictures or video of the test process and see if someone’s can spot problems with that or pictures and dimensions of your pool and we can roughly estimate/double check pool volume.

I’m not sure how. The agents are new, just got. Def doing it right. The pool is 30x15 with 4.5ft average depth or so. It can’t be that far off. I’m really not sure. I put algacide in previous to starting this. Can that throw it off?

 

[Mdragger88]

I’m not sure how. The agents are new, just got. Def doing it right. The pool is 30x15 with 4.5ft average depth or so. It can’t be that far off. I’m really not sure. I put algacide in previous to starting this. Can that throw it off?

Oh no - what kinda Algaecide?
Show us the package/ingredients.
Also, Maybe your bleach is just stronger. Been known to happen recently.

 

[unbrokenlink]

Oh no - what kinda Algaecide?
Show us the package/ingredients.
Also, Maybe your bleach is just stronger. Been known to happen recently.

Here’s the link to the chlorine. Pretty sure 10%? And here’s a pic of the algaecide

HDX Chlorinating Liquid for Swimming Pool Shock, 1-Gallon (3-Pack) 30128HDX - The Home Depot

Keep your pool clean and sparkling with 3 Gallons of Chlorinating Liquid. It quickly dissolves so your water isn't cloudy and it can be used as a super-chlorinator, shock or sanitizer. This liquid can

www.homedepot.com

 

[unbrokenlink]

Here’s the link to the chlorine. Pretty sure 10%? And here’s a pic of the algaecide

HDX Chlorinating Liquid for Swimming Pool Shock, 1-Gallon (3-Pack) 30128HDX - The Home Depot

Keep your pool clean and sparkling with 3 Gallons of Chlorinating Liquid. It quickly dissolves so your water isn't cloudy and it can be used as a super-chlorinator, shock or sanitizer. This liquid can

www.homedepot.com

 

[Lake Placid]

The HDX chlorine is listed as 10%, so something else is awry in your testing/volume.

The algaecide is copper based which can lead to other issues with continued long term use. Don't use it.

 

[unbrokenlink]

Noted on the cide. But I am pretty sure I’m testing everything else right and only used about 4.7 gallons so I have really no idea. I’m gonna test the levels again in about an hour or two when it stops raining

 

[JJ_Tex]

+1 on not using any more of the algaecide.

Usually, when we see people's chemicals registering higher than expected, it is due to their pool volume being smaller than they think. The good news is that is an easy fix. There are several online pool size estimators that you can plug in your dimensions to estimate the # of gallons of their pool.

You can also play around with pool math's "effects of adding" and see if you can figure it out. For example, if you add a gallon of 10% bleach to a 15k gallon pool, it will raise your FC by 6.7. If you see FC increase by 8 instead of the 6.7, that would point to your pool being 12,500 gallons.

 

[unbrokenlink]

just tried a few calcs and physically measured, all say about 14500 gallons

 

[unbrokenlink]

ok just did another test. CYA is closer to 60 really and the FC still 40+...the calc is telling me that I am to be at 24. So I have a few days I would assume to go to get there and keep at that level for the big three to occur.

 

[mgtfp]

Do you have the units in PoolMath right? Make sure it's Gallons and not Imperial Gallons or Litres.

Could be something like Pool Volume unit switched accidentally to Imperial Gallons and/or bleach volume to Litres.

 

[unbrokenlink]

Yes correct. I have checked multiple places. It is 30x15 with 3.5 to 6 max depth