Hi All,
I've been lurking for awhile after cutting ties with suspect pool person and then pool store inconsistencies. Have been learning my new TF Pro test kit and think I have the basics understood. Thanks for all the fantastic info and confidence to try and take this on.
Believe we have mustard algae as there is discoloration in deep end but NOT directly where water fall hits the bottom. Also have a little discoloration on walls that eliminates pollen/dirt possibility. Most of it brushes off fairly easily but some require much more work, so much so that the stainless steel reinforcements just arrived. Upon removal of the Ledge Loungers, green algae was scrubbed off the underside. Since my water is clear, is this mustard algae or could it be some mix of different algae? Some spots appear to be more dark while others fit the mustard yellow/green bill. This will require a major intervention either way and I am getting my pH under 8.2 in preparation for SLAM. However, I began to wonder with all the issues I am facing (CH 1100?), when is it time to drain (full/partial) to scrub and refill with fresh vs SLAM? Pool is 4.5 years old and wasn't too expensive to fill in the first place and there is obviously a cost to SLAM and the time involved in scrubbing under water vs out. If I get a good filter to remove local calcium hardness, am I a good candidate to drain, scrub and refill now or better to SLAM, then mustard algae slam, then maintain?
Here is all the relevant info, please let me know any more info to add to my signature if its lacking:
22,098 gallon in ground mini pebble tech finish
stackstone waterfall runs off single pump
SoCal desert near Palm Springs so water temps have just gotten under 80 for first time in 5+ months
Salt cell broke just out of warranty and I've switched to liquid chlorine at beginning of summer
Pentair Intelliflow VCF pump
Cartridge filters
Atlas Polaris pool vac runs every day
Current testing (about to add more MA)
FC 8
CC .5
CH 1100
TA 110
pH 8.2+
CYA 60 (has been 50 so whichever number/trend makes more sense as I learn the black dot test)
Lastly, this discoloration/algae appeared at the end of summer when I backed the pump off from 12 hours a day to 8 and the water temps backed up to over 85. Simultaneously, pool vacuum hose began to unravel and pool went about a week and a half without vacuum as I navigated different hose replacement options. No discoloration before then while keeping the FC around 2-4 (which I've learned here is not correct).
Thanks for your thoughts and wisdom.
peter
I've been lurking for awhile after cutting ties with suspect pool person and then pool store inconsistencies. Have been learning my new TF Pro test kit and think I have the basics understood. Thanks for all the fantastic info and confidence to try and take this on.
Believe we have mustard algae as there is discoloration in deep end but NOT directly where water fall hits the bottom. Also have a little discoloration on walls that eliminates pollen/dirt possibility. Most of it brushes off fairly easily but some require much more work, so much so that the stainless steel reinforcements just arrived. Upon removal of the Ledge Loungers, green algae was scrubbed off the underside. Since my water is clear, is this mustard algae or could it be some mix of different algae? Some spots appear to be more dark while others fit the mustard yellow/green bill. This will require a major intervention either way and I am getting my pH under 8.2 in preparation for SLAM. However, I began to wonder with all the issues I am facing (CH 1100?), when is it time to drain (full/partial) to scrub and refill with fresh vs SLAM? Pool is 4.5 years old and wasn't too expensive to fill in the first place and there is obviously a cost to SLAM and the time involved in scrubbing under water vs out. If I get a good filter to remove local calcium hardness, am I a good candidate to drain, scrub and refill now or better to SLAM, then mustard algae slam, then maintain?
Here is all the relevant info, please let me know any more info to add to my signature if its lacking:
22,098 gallon in ground mini pebble tech finish
stackstone waterfall runs off single pump
SoCal desert near Palm Springs so water temps have just gotten under 80 for first time in 5+ months
Salt cell broke just out of warranty and I've switched to liquid chlorine at beginning of summer
Pentair Intelliflow VCF pump
Cartridge filters
Atlas Polaris pool vac runs every day
Current testing (about to add more MA)
FC 8
CC .5
CH 1100
TA 110
pH 8.2+
CYA 60 (has been 50 so whichever number/trend makes more sense as I learn the black dot test)
Lastly, this discoloration/algae appeared at the end of summer when I backed the pump off from 12 hours a day to 8 and the water temps backed up to over 85. Simultaneously, pool vacuum hose began to unravel and pool went about a week and a half without vacuum as I navigated different hose replacement options. No discoloration before then while keeping the FC around 2-4 (which I've learned here is not correct).
Thanks for your thoughts and wisdom.
peter
