Remove Phosphates...When?

[TinFoilHat]

That's a venturi skimmer but it won't be causing your algae.

 

[Saturn94]

Everyone always wants to blame everything under the sun except the one cause. The 2 easiest ways to fail are infrequent testing and unreliable testing.

…and I would add trying to keep FC as close to minimum as possible.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Don't you mean as close to the high end rather?

 

[Saturn94]

Don't you mean as close to the high end rather?

I mean trying to keep FC as close to minimum as possible, in addition to what @Newdude mentioned, is a recipe for failure.

 

[Newdude]

+1. I get it, it's human nature to want to do the minimum, but in this instance everybody needs to be above and beyond.

Most don't drive their cars around sucking on fumes, but they do with their pools. Then they rely on a busted fuel gauge too instead of an accurate measurement.

 

[Newdude]

Just seems like that bag could be a source for algae growth.

If it's sitting in 20k gallons of properly chlorinated water that's also circulating, it's a non issue.

 

[reggiehammond]

Actually, I had intended to delete the part about my pool skim, since I am focused on raising my FC. That said, it is still a curiosity, considering the way it works to catch floating bugs and organic debris. It doesn’t connect to a suction port, but just the opposite. It connects to a return, drawing debris into it and trapping it in a bag. I think I’ll err on the safe side and clean the bag a few times a week, rather than just once. Just seems like that bag could be a source for algae growth.

Just to be clear: no - the skimmer has zero to do with algae. If the skimmer device was not installed, then that junk would be in the pool just the same as if it was in the bag.

Can you remind us why you think you need the extra skimming? Are your skimmers not working properly? More detail about how you run your pump, how the skimmers are working, if you have main drain etc would be helpful.

 

[rcortesim]

Just to be clear: no - the skimmer has zero to do with algae. If the skimmer device was not installed, then that junk would be in the pool just the same as if it was in the bag.

Can you remind us why you think you need the extra skimming? Are your skimmers not working properly? More detail about how you run your pump, how the skimmers are working, if you have main drain etc would be helpful.

I have a skimmer down at the deep end, but my variable speed pump running at 1750rpm doesn't pull all of the small surface, e.g., bugs, pollen, general dust, etc. Also, whatever it does pull in goes into the skimmer basket and the weir door prevents it from going back into the pool. This new skimmer is installed near the middle of the pool and connects to a water return. It has been doing a fine job of removing surface debris and the small suspended particles just beneath the surface, but those bits are capture in a bag that is in the pool, not behind a weir door.
I have a main drain and also run a crawler for small leaves that make it to the bottom.

 

[Newdude]

I have a skimmer down at the deep end, but my variable speed pump running at 1750rpm doesn't pull all of the small surface, e.g., bugs, pollen, general dust, etc

With the slightest breeze from any direction but the perfect one, skimming all but stops.

 

[reggiehammond]

I have a skimmer down at the deep end, but my variable speed pump running at 1750rpm doesn't pull all of the small surface, e.g., bugs, pollen, general dust, etc. Also, whatever it does pull in goes into the skimmer basket and the weir door prevents it from going back into the pool. This new skimmer is installed near the middle of the pool and connects to a water return. It has been doing a fine job of removing surface debris and the small suspended particles just beneath the surface, but those bits are capture in a bag that is in the pool, not behind a weir door.
I have a main drain and also run a crawler for small leaves that make it to the bottom.

Can you valve off your main drain? Drains do very little and by closing it off (95% or so) you'll direct all flow to your skimmers. You'll be shocked what the skimmers can do...

 

[rcortesim]

Can you valve off your main drain? Drains do very little and by closing it off (95% or so) you'll direct all flow to your skimmers. You'll be shocked what the skimmers can do...

I'll check into that. It could be that it is already partially closed, since I rarely see any leaves collecting around it.