What are we doing wrong?

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pollyAnna

Active member
Jul 15, 2019
37
Princeton NJ
Hi
We live in NJ so only have our pool open for ~3mth per year but during this time it causes us no end of head ache with the continual fight against algae. This year we replaced the liner (in ground vinyl ~29k gallons), Pump; Pureline variable speed and converted to SWG - again Pureline.
We hoped we had cracked it with the SWG as free Cl was being constantly maintain around 7ppm, yet this weekend we saw haze and greenness so we're in the middle of another SLAM.

Typical readings outside of SLAM:
FC 7-8ppm
CYA 60
pH 7.6-7.8
TA 70-80
pump is running 6hrs on, 6hrs off, etc SGW around 48%. Filter in / out is at water level, one place in center of pool. We do not have a bot that carwls around the pool on a regular basis. we use the pool heavily on weekends but less so during the week.

What else are we missing? why do we still get algae???
 
That would be frustrating. Since you have a variable speed pump, have you tried running it 24/7 at a low speed? Are you confident in your testing numbers and that FC doesnt dip below range after heavy use? What type of filter do you have, and is it working properly?
 
We have a sand filter - I know nothing more than that off hand. The steps/stairs are molded plastic - solid - at the shallow end and stainless steel (I guess?) ladder at the deep end.
The default setting on the pump was 4hr high speed, 4hrs medium speed, 8 hrs low speed, 8 hrs off. We thought with the low speed setting we would not be getting good circulation around the stairs & chair area so switch to 6 on/6 off at high speed
 
Polly, if there is any chance the previous SLAM was not performed correctly and/or thoroughly, then that's an easy answer. The algae from before was still active somewhere resulting in today's SLAM.

But if your water was algae-free and this is a completely new/unrelated algae issue, then consider the following:
1 - Hiding places for algae (behind lights, inside ladder rails, steps, folds in the liner). These type of places not only receive poor circulation, but also don't get brushed very well and becomes stagnant.
2 - Was the sand filter even deep cleaned? If not, you may have a mess in there. Material may be trapped and/or teh sand "channeled" and not filtering well. Consider looking at the Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter page and doing a good filter deep clean.
3 - Testing accuracy/consistancy. If not already, make sure to obtain water samples from the same area and time each day if possible so you see a consistant 24-hr pattern.
4 - Water circulation can be weak in some pools requiring additional effort to stir-up organics to the chlorine. If you suspect you have some dead-spots in the water, give those a little more attention via brushing throughout the week.

Let's see if any of those ring a bell on your end to help the situation.
 
Texas Splash said:
Polly, if there is any chance the previous SLAM was not performed correctly and/or thoroughly, then that's an easy answer. The algae from before was still active somewhere resulting in today's SLAM.

But if your water was algae-free and this is a completely new/unrelated algae issue, then consider the following:
1 - Hiding places for algae (behind lights, inside ladder rails, steps, folds in the liner). These type of places not only receive poor circulation, but also don't get brushed very well and becomes stagnant.
2 - Was the sand filter even deep cleaned? If not, you may have a mess in there. Material may be trapped and/or teh sand "channeled" and not filtering well. Consider looking at the Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter page and doing a good filter deep clean.
3 - Testing accuracy/consistancy. If not already, make sure to obtain water samples from the same area and time each day if possible so you see a consistant 24-hr pattern.
4 - Water circulation can be weak in some pools requiring additional effort to stir-up organics to the chlorine. If you suspect you have some dead-spots in the water, give those a little more attention via brushing throughout the week.

Let's see if any of those ring a bell on your end to help the situation.
Click to expand...
Possible that previous SLAM did not fully solve this issue however we passed the overnight FC loss test, had zero CC and water was clear
1& 2 are options - we back wash the filter regular, but have never done a deep clean - also we switch from backwash to filter without the rinse step (embarrassed face) which leaves us with hiding places. How frequently should we be dismantling the light fitting / lift the ladders ?
In fact (embarrassed face again) how frequently do you recommend brushing the pool?
 
Since you have never done a deep clean, I would consider that. Or ........ with only about a month or so left anyways, just ride this out and when you close for winter, empty that thing, clean it really well, and store until next spring. You definately want to use the rinse setting. Always turn-off the pump ehwne changing settings. Then go from backwash to rinse and leave it on rinse for 30-60 seconds. Watch the dome-shapped site glass for when the water being rinsed turns clear. Then you can turn it off and go back to filter. As for dismantleing and looking behind fixtures, I would recommend the beginning of each year minimum and during a SLAM. As for brushing, at least weekly. If you have poor circulation in an area or two, run the brush along those areas at least a couple times a week. What happens to a pool is just like our teeth of we don't brush. It gets a slimy film on it that needs to be broen-up so the cleansing agent (chlorine) can get in there and sanitize everything. Pools, like pets, are great to have, but they require a little "TLC" each day. We feed them each day, check the skimmer, etc, then each week we may to give them a little extra attention.
 

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Is your CYA high enough for your SWG? You posted it was 60.
 
duraleigh said:
So then how often do you vacuum and how? That is an essential part of pool care if your are not vacuuming/cleaning very regularly.
Click to expand...
Sporadically, when we notice it needs it (realizing it should be a weekly activity at least). We use a flat head/plate with wheels on the end of a long pole which gets up solids. We have a vaccum head with a brush but have found the suction so strong it clings to the pool bottom and doesn't move. Again starting to realize reducing the suction and having the brush & vac together would probably be a better option - break up the film and get rid of the bad guys in one go?
 
I noted you said you only keep your pool open 3 months out of the year. I am not that far from you and we have our pool open 7 months out of the year. Late opening and early closing could be making it difficult to manage your pool as you will be closing it when the water is still warm and opening when it is warm which is going to mean you will be fighting alge each spring.
 
It sounds like you need to devise a more thorough cleaning schedule. Of course a robot is the best idea but a good manual vac head can have wheels (to keep it from sticking to the floor) and a brush both.........that may solve your algae issue.
 
I am in NJ and open my pool towards the end of April and close it the third week in October before the leaves begin falling.
 
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