The Black Lagoon

[KarltonKrill]

Sometimes it is fun to see how gross people’s Pools become over winter. Here’s some encouraging photos from my opening this past weekend.



Opened the pool Saturday, April 20. Gross. Never had algae this bad. I assume two major contributing factors: A new pool cover that was not as dense of a weave as my previous unit, allowing a lot of dust debris and sunlight in. And last winter I closed the pool myself for the first time. I did not use any algecide at closing.

I started by vacuuming to waste to get up as much muck as I could and just get it out of the system. Then a lot of brushing. I ran to the store to pick up 12.5 % liquid chlorine and started slamming Saturday evening. Here we are 24 hours later, Sunday April 21:



And here we are today, 48 hours later, Monday April 22:



Water is still in the mid 50’s so we won’t be swimming anytime soon, but maybe by this weekend the water will clear up and I can let the chlorine levels drop.

 

[ajw22]

How much CL did you go through?

 

[kimkats]

Poster child a of SLAM well done!!! SWEET!!!

Kim

 

[KarltonKrill]

How much CL did you go through?

So far I’ve used 10 gallons of “Pool Splash” brand 12.5% Liquid Chlorine which I picked up at my local home and garden store for $4 per gallon. I initially used 5 gallons Saturday evening, then 3 on Sunday, then 2 yesterday.

Last night around 10pm I tested 24 and this morning at 7am I tested 22. My official pool math target is 18, but I have not been letting it dip below 20 if I can help it.

 

[Texas Splash]

It's that time of year here in the states. Starting to see lots of "lagoons". Nice work!

 

[ajw22]

Good for others going through this to hear how long it is taking you and how much CL it is taking.

 

[KarltonKrill]

Tuesday midday and I can see the pattern on the floor of the shallow end. The deep end is still pretty cloudy and turquoise but I can see the drain faintly, which I could not yesterday. Vacuumed over my lunch break and shot this pic.

Brushed the pool and added one more gallon of 12.5% this evening to bring my total to 11 gallons so far. Cloudy all morning, but gave way to sun this afternoon and I lost more chlorine than I anticipated I would.

 

[KarltonKrill]

One week today. Been using 2 gallons of 12.5% daily, 1 in the morning and one in the evening. Vacuum once or twice daily depending on my availability to do so. Still a slight cloudiness but improving daily:



I can see the drain in the deep end clearly, although there is still a slight cloudy tinge of turquoise:

 

[Texas Splash]

Right on! No more Lockness monster.

 

[BuckeyeMac]

Wow, what a difference in a week! Nice work!

 

[KarltonKrill]

Thanks guys! Latest update .... things cleared up nicely after about 10 days. We had a solid week of overcast skies are periodic torrential rainfall, so I didn’t snap any pics. I guess the benefit of the lack of sunshine is my chlorine took its time drifting back down to normal range. This evening I added 2 quarts of chlorine ... the first I have added since last Monday April 29. I have used 20 gallons of 12.5% to get to this point.

I snapped these latest pics Saturday prior to brushing.





This time of year is a struggle to keep the pool clean due to all the debris and pollen from the surrounding trees. We’ll be lucky if the water is warm enough to swim by the end of May, but we open it and SLAM it in mid April so we can get everything cleared up and running smoothly by June.

This fall I may look into an algecide to help minimize the amount of cleanup when opening in the spring.

Seemed a little daunting two years ago when I bought my first TF-100 test kit ... but a couple seasons down the road my CYA is finally where it should be and maintaining the chemistry has become routine.

Thanks Trouble-Free Pool forum, Pool School, and the Pool Math app! Probably the most useful app on my phone.

 

[Oly]

Wow nice transformation.

 

[splashpad]

This fall I may look into an algecide to help minimize the amount of cleanup when opening in the spring.

The biggest thing is don't close too early (close after water temp stays under 60F) and we usually run shock level about a week or so before we "close her down" for winter (we go til the week before the first freeze). Have not opened to a green pool in 2 winters with TFP Only liquid chlorine here We usually open with a faint amount of chlorine still registering! (FC not CC's lol)... Our friends & neighbors cannot say the same

 

[KarltonKrill]

The biggest thing is don't close too early (close after water temp stays under 60F) and we usually run shock level about a week or so before we "close her down" for winter.

Good tip ... I did close kind of early last fall ... my first ime closing the pool myself. I failed to monitor the the temp closely, but instead just picked a Saturday when I had time.

 

[splashpad]

Good tip ... I did close kind of early last fall ... my first ime closing the pool myself. I failed to monitor the the temp closely, but instead just picked a Saturday when I had time.

We have lives, it happens Just an idea since we're fairly close in climate type

We generally close mid-Oct, depending on the forecast. But our pool is above ground, so it is a little easier. With IG, you definitely want to beat the first freeze!