Trying to remove algae from pool

[bowman316]

This pool has been sitting for about 2-3 years, unused and covered. And the algae was pretty bad, there was a 1/4 inch of algae on the bottom of the pool. So I assume the phosphate levels are very high.

So Do i just shock the pool a lot, or do i first need to take the phosphate levels down? I think they say to take the phosphate levels down last. The Ph was also low, and I added some soda ash.

But can the algae get so bad that you have to drain the pool, and clean it?

 

[4JawChuck]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

Hopefully it hasn't stained the liner, my buddy had a house with a similar pool issue and he had to replace the liner after trying everything to remove the green stain.

 

[RepoMan207]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

Find your nearest BioGaurd dealer, they will test the water for you for free, and tell you your best coarse of action. If it is salvageable they will print you off a list of what to do and when to do it. However, I'm thinking DJ is on the right track, but your better off weighing your options with the proper information.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

i guess i will try to vaccum up all the algae, then put the phosphate killer in it. i do have a sample jar, that i got from the pool store. but that will just tell me that i have a lot of algae in the pool.

 

[RollingWanderer]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

Drain the pool, clean out the algea and start over.

+1...been there and had to do this in a similar situation. If you use a nice effluent pump that will pump some decent size solids (look at Zoeller pumps) to pump out the pool, you can get a fair amount of the algae to be pumped out also. Be aware whereever the algae goes is going to leave a nasty, slimey green trail.

-RW

 

[bowman316]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

why does hooking the vaccum up always mess up the pump? I can't get all the air out of the hose, so I just let the pump suck the air out, then the air comes out the filter.

After a half hour of vaccuming up the algee, the pump lost all suction. I removed the hose from the skimmer, and tried to get more air out of the filter, primed the pump, and nothing would get it pumping again.

The whole time i was vaccuming I had the pump on waste, and sometimes on rinse. It does the same thing on my pump. The outlet was nerver working on my pump, it was pumping water out of another hose comming off the side of the pump, above ground.

so what is the deal with vaccumes messing up my pumps, I have the worst luck with them.

 

[RepoMan207]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

so what is the deal with vaccumes messing up my pumps, I have the worst luck with them.

First fill the entire hose with water. Dunk the whole think under water and work all the air out while keeping it submerged. Next keep it under water. I suspect you were sucking massive amounts of junk up, clogging the line slightly enough to cause resistance and therefore causing air pockets. Not good for a pump. Go very slow to avoid this from happening again. I think your on the right track using waste, that's how I would do it anyway. Run a hose to get the water level up high before you begin and let it run while you vac.

Is this an above ground or an in ground pool?

 

[bowman316]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

this is an inground pool. maybe 30 ft by 15. and 9 ft in the deep end, 4 in the shallow.

 

[RepoMan207]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

this is an inground pool. maybe 30 ft by 15. and 9 ft in the deep end, 4 in the shallow.

Water in the hose is key. Also adjust the inlet diverter 3/4 to skimmer. This will give you more pulling power from the skimmer rather then the main drain while keeping a steady flow of water if you inadvertently grab air with the vac head somehow. It will obviously still cause air infiltration, however it will allow for a quicker recovery while not endangering the pump as much.

A clear elbow on your pump setup as well as a clear lid on your secondary trap is good for keeping a visible eye on water vs air flow while you vacuum. As you may have guessed, I learned the hard way once.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

ok, i figured out today that there was a second retun line, still capped. I took the cap off, and now, water returns thru this one line, and the other return line does nothing.
Maybe the second line is collapsed?

I found the de filter in the basment. A pool tech came out today and set me straight.
Today the water turned from green to opage blue. I put about 24 lbs of shock in it today.

I think I vaccumed up most of the algae. But the water is still not clear.

 

[DJ]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

24# of SHOCK!!!! Whoa!

I wouldn't get in that water until about July.

Your water is going to be saturated. I think you may have a very hard time getting any chemical balance.

I hope it works out.

 

[RepoMan207]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

Most likely your DE filter will need to be broken down and cleaned.

You have 2 return lines......but only one is working.?.? That's not good. Can you feel anything coming out of it....or worse, going into it? Check for a selective valve, typically there isn't one for water going in, just coming out.

24 LBS all at once? I suppose, it will burn off. It's not like time is an issue for you. Get a sample tested in a few days time. I suspect your other levels are going to be way off, thus contributing to your water color. Some algaecide will be your friend.....alot of it LOL.

To get it back to it's right condition, I would suspect your looking at $300 - $500 in chemicals without a doubt :redface:.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

i already spent 300. 200 bucks for 100 lbs of shock.

i didn't put 24 lbs of shock in at one time, i did 12 lbs, then another 12 4 hours later.

i think i need to clean the grids manually, instead of backwashing it.

the psi after backwash is around 5, and after 30 mins it goes up to 15- 20 psi

and the only valve is to select if you want to suck from the skimmer, or the bottom of the pool.

the return line junction is under ground.

maybe a collapsed pipe? but if i'm not loosing water then who cares, right?

 

[JustJason]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

If your pool is gunnite, and the water isn't shocked so much that you bleach your hair and skin, i'd jump in with a high psi gas powerd pressure washer wand in my hand and start blasting. It will lift the algae off the bottom and then you can start skimming it out in chunks and let the filters catch the small stuff.

ps~ disinfect yourself afterwards.

 

[rbh]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

Would a "soft" bristle scrub brush and borax in warm water work to clean the liner???

 

[RepoMan207]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

If your pool is gunnite, and the water isn't shocked so much that you bleach your hair and skin, i'd jump in with a high psi gas powerd pressure washer wand in my hand and start blasting. It will lift the algae off the bottom and then you can start skimming it out in chunks and let the filters catch the small stuff.

ps~ disinfect yourself afterwards.

High pressure WHAT!?!?! Only if you want to replace a new liner at the tune of $8000 and up. Even on glass or crete you'd do more damage then good.

Would a "soft" bristle scrub brush and borax in warm water work to clean the liner???

Soft scrub and Borax are bad news for a liner. It will scratch itself into the liner and will make a home for further algea & other growths that you won't be able to get at later. Then there is always the chemicals...It will eventually start to deteriorate from that point on.

They sell liner cleaners and special white scotch type applicators at the pool stores.....yeah I know, just that much more you have to dish out. I used 3 different brands once to no avail, Bio Guard has one that looks like red dish detergent in a bottle. That stuff works great.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

High pressure WHAT!?!?! Only if you want to replace a new liner at the tune of $8000 and up. Even on glass or crete you'd do more damage then good.
[\quote]

Yep, but I specifically said only if gunnite.
You start with the lowest psi/wides spray nozzle and work your way up as needed.
I don't have algae, but i do my pool and patio every year that way, beats scrubbing.

 

[skargo]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

I've found the best thing you can do with a pool is back up a cement truck to it and let her rip!

 

[bowman316]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

so jason, you drain your pool every year, or do you shoot the power washer under water?

what is gunnite?

granate? like stone?

my pool water went from dark green to light blue after 24 lbs of shock. but it is still not clear

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

I haven't drained my pool in the 8 years I've owned it. 24x30 Kayak pool with 7' hopper liner.
I'm thinking the green to blue is in the right direction, backwash the filter twice a day if you have to, the key is removing all the dead algea.
But then again I've never let mine get so bad good luck with it, sometimes you put more money in chemicals than just paying for a water truck.