streaks of bright green algae

[wpturner05]

I had a new liner put in this year. So, obviously, I got new trucked in water. I added the salt while the truck was filling the pool. I let the water circulate for 24 hours, got a full set of numbers and then did a SLAM for added security. It passed the first night but I did a second night for good measure. Since that time I have maintained incredibly steady numbers as follow
ph7.4-7.8
FC4.5-7 (I trend high because I have consistency high bathing load)
CC - 0
TA 70-80
CYA 50 -60
I maintain salt about 3200

This past week and a half - two weeks I had the solar cover on and just didnt give the pool attention and nobody was swimming. I had been SO SO SO stable all summer. When I rolled off the solar cover this morning there were streaks of bright green algae that had settled into the crevices and creases of the liner. They brushed off VERY VERY easily. Also - there was probably about 10-15 leaves that had settled into the deep end.

Here are my questions - Why? Was this simply because I did not brush or vacuum? Am I off on where my number should be? I have educated 5 other pool owners to TFP and its methods which they all use and they reference this site. I feel like I am well versed in what needs to be done but I must be missing something.

 

[kimkats]

Take a look at this chart: Chlorine / CYA Chart - Trouble Free Pool Note the MINIMUM FC for your CYA of 60 (best to round up for this kind of thing). I think the FC was a bit too low for a bit so the algae got a toe hold. Time to do a SLAM as seen here: SLAM Process If you are even a little low on regents go ahead an order some more now so you will not run out.

Take a pic and share it here so we can watch as you clear this up!

 

[YippeeSkippy]

I am a believer in that pool water needs to "breath" and let the sun burn off any CCs that get trapped under the cover. When we use our autocover I still open it up every two days or so to let the water "breath" a bit. Trapped gasses do build up.

Any chance you had a power outage and the SWG was offline?

Your test results look fine. So basically I dunno what happened but your chemistry got "confused" and allowed the algae to grow. SLAM process time, ok? <sorry!>

Maddie

 

[wpturner05]

I'll buy that. The cover had been on for over a week - likely longer so I will go with that. Add to it that I did not vacuum or brush and no bathing load.

I look at my equipment every single day - SWG, filter pressure and I check my skimmer basket - no outages.

I am still learning as I go - now I know - remove that cover and run the vacuum/brush at least weekly.

I think I go so confident because it was SUCH a smooth summer. The smoothest to date.

SLAM started this am. praying for a quick turn around.

Thanks for your feedback - much appreciated.

Take a look at this chart: Chlorine / CYA Chart - Trouble Free Pool Note the MINIMUM FC for your CYA of 60 (best to round up for this kind of thing). I think the FC was a bit too low for a bit so the algae got a toe hold. Time to do a SLAM as seen here: SLAM Process If you are even a little low on regents go ahead an order some more now so you will not run out.

Take a pic and share it here so we can watch as you clear this up!

Kimkats - I thought SWG pool with 60 CYA minimum and target were 3 and 4 respectfully ... not sure I am looking at things wrong - I have a salt water pool. Thank you for your feedback!!

 

[kimkats]

Ahhhhhhhhh I did not catch the part about the SWG..........you should have been fine with that! Sorry about that.

 

[Dirk]

Your pool will be fine using TFP guidelines until it isn't. They are only guidelines and can't possibly cover every pool in every situation. Bather loads impact those guidelines, as does available sunlight, etc. Your pool is telling you what it needs, and that supersedes the guidelines. Mine spoke loud and clear to me this summer when I got a little lazy. Now I know where my algae threshold is. And now you know yours. Even your CYA test results, which can be tough to get as you know, might be part of the equation. Maybe you're really at 70, not 60. And if not, your 50-60 is a bit low for an SWG. The chart says 70-80 for SWG. Maybe your FC is not as protected as it should be. Bump up your FC a bit higher than you were running it (increase both minimum and target levels). Don't let it get anywhere near your "revised" minimum and keep it near the high end of your revised target range. Consider adding some CYA. Let it breath a bit more. Brush it a bit more. It's letting you know it was feeling a little neglected, under appreciated. Best to listen!

 

[wpturner05]

Your pool will be fine using TFP guidelines until it isn't. They are only guidelines and can't possibly cover every pool in every situation. Bather loads impact those guidelines, as does available sunlight, etc. Your pool is telling you what it needs, and that supersedes the guidelines. Mine spoke loud and clear to me this summer when I got a little lazy. Now I know where my algae threshold is. And now you know yours. Even your CYA test results, which can be tough to get as you know, might be part of the equation. Maybe you're really at 70, not 60. And if not, your 50-60 is a bit low for an SWG. The chart says 70-80 for SWG. Maybe your FC is not as protected as it should be. Bump up your FC a bit higher than you were running it (increase both minimum and target levels). Don't let it get anywhere near your "revised" minimum and keep it near the high end of your revised target range. Consider adding some CYA. Let it breath a bit more. Brush it a bit more. It's letting you know it was feeling a little neglected, under appreciated. Best to listen!

Dirk - awesome! Thank you for that. Small tweaks and dont neglect - fair enough!!
Thank you for taking the time to respond. Truly appreciated.

 

[Dirk]

My "event" was a perfect storm. I had a perfect track record for years with TFP. A very hot week and a pool party full of kids and a skipped test resulted in a tinge of green on one wall. For me, the guidelines were dead on. I was in the habit of never allowing FC to get near my minimum of 3, and tried never to let it go below my target of 5. Those are my TFP numbers. To give myself some room for slip-ups, I was dosing chlorine as though my minimum was 5, and that worked. When I checked on "the green" my FC had slipped to 2.5. So I learned my MO (of the "revised minimum") was a good strategy, and that my actual minimum of 3 was very real for my pool. It just takes a while to figure out your pool's optimum numbers. Chances are, they will be what TFP says they should be, but if they are not, it doesn't mean there's anything wrong with that, or your pool.