Trying to remove algae from pool

[RepoMan207]

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.
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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.

I know you said gunite, it is a form of crete though. Hense why I said what I did. Although after researching the stuff a bit further it doesn't share some of the down fall traits as it's sister mix.....specificly, it hardens 22% more then most cretes and in fact is able to be pressure washed....although I think if it were me, I would tone the pressure way back, or as you said use aggressive bits as you go.

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

Gunite is a form of concrete but is more stable when wet and is slightly stronger when it dries. The finish texture is also about the same, however with the increased set time, much more options come into play.

As the others mentioned, I would also back flush a few times a day being sure to add 2 sccops of DE to the skimmer every time. You've essentially killed all the algae, but it has taken on another form, so filtering it from the water is the next step. I bet your Alkaline is through the roof at this point. Do you use test strips at all?

 

[JustJason]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

You got it Repo... Gunite is just plastered over form of concrete. I take the whole wand in the pool with me, blast it underwater. I get just a close to the walls as i need to, and use the gentlest tip as I need to, and it works great. I was under the assumption the OP had a layercake of algae in his pool, thats why I suggested it.
If you go into the deep end though, your going to need a weight as the wand creates thrust, and will push you around the pool if your floating. I did a buddys pool a few years ago that was baaaad. I was under water for 2 hours with scuba tanks.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

will backwashing and rinsing the filter clean all the algae off?

or do i need to take the grids out and wash them by hand?

 

[RepoMan207]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

will backwashing and rinsing the filter clean all the algae off?

or do i need to take the grids out and wash them by hand?

I just went back and re read your post on preasure.....you really should break it down and clean it. I apologize if I'm telling you stuff you already know, but.......Make sure to separate the fins from the assembly bracket and inspect them for holes and tares. It will also give you the opportunity to get rid of the old disgusting DE that is caked in between. The pressure should be 20 and above under normal circumstances...getting down to 12-15 is bad enough, but 5 isn't doing anything but working against you unfortunately. I backwash when I get to 15 or below or every week, which ever comes first. Typically I only see 15 at the beginning of the season upon start up (we winterize every September to May up here in the north).

As far as washing, I use a hose supplied by a hot water line until they are DE free, then I use the cleaner and a everyday car wash brush, thorough rinse and then you can fight the whole damn thing getting it back together. I thought it was worth the $45 for all new fins last year and brought the brackets to the pool store so they could assemble it....it's almost worth replacing them every year so I don't have to screw with it .

 

[bowman316]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

well the pressure is only at 5 for the first 20 minutes, then it shoots up to say 15 or 20.
I thought you were supposed to backwash when the pressure starts climbing, not dropping?

So right after I backwash, if i took the grids out, will they be clean? or does that not get it all?

 

[RepoMan207]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

well the pressure is only at 5 for the first 20 minutes, then it shoots up to say 15 or 20.
I thought you were supposed to backwash when the pressure starts climbing, not dropping?

So right after I backwash, if i took the grids out, will they be clean? or does that not get it all?

ahhh, now I gatta really think, it's been a long winter. I'm drawing a blank, but I recall it's within 10-15 psi from your starting pressure (completely cleaned and fresh DE all around).

In regards to the grids...back wash, then remove the grid assembly after closing the valves and draining the tank. snap a picture of it if you want and post it, but I'm willing to bet it's time for atleast a fresh start. Hose um off even and flush the tank, start it up again and add...I think it's 5 scoops at first, then an additional 2 every 12 hours for 2 days with NO backwashing for 72 hours after completion. If you have a bag of DE kicking around, it should tell you right on there, if not on your filters manual.

Now that I think about it, you may just want to continuously back wash and add a scoop of DE after each flush until you get the water's PH and Alk. up to where it's suppose to be. Then you can clean the system completely out after. Just a thought.

 

[DJ]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

Backflushing WILL NOT completely clean your grids. 15 psi is too high. It should run about 5-10.

As suggested, take the filter apart, completely hose out the grids and start over with fressh D.E.

 

[oldskool7_11]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

i clean pools for a living. to get the pool clean you need to clean that filter a least once a day. when i do a green to clear i normally go every day clean the filter and add chemicals. i have been cleaning pools for about 5 years and have never used shock. liquid chlorine is all that is necessary about (2.5 gals a day). you do not add de without 1st getting old de out.(backwash or tear down). you should take it apart to clean it so you know you are starting with the best possible. put in 1/2 of the manufacture recommended de (the filter will clog so quickly more than that is a waste). backwash when you get a 10-15psi increase from clean(every day till clear). it you are getting a decrease in psi then most likely the trap is getting clogged. once the water is clear then try to very slowly vacuum to waste. i can normally get a pool clear in less than a week using these methods. don't worry to much about the water chemistry until the pool is clean. once the pool is clean balancing the chemicals will be a lot easier

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

I typed an answer to this the other day, but it doesn't seem to be here now.


As a pool guy for 20 plus years in an earlier life, I would say check the ground water level and drain about 1/3 of the water out and then fill it again. Do this a couple of times to get most of the gunk out and replace some of the old water, its far cheaper than using chemicals and you typically end up doing it to get the water balanced after going the chemical route anyhow.

I normally used a trash pump to get the worst of it off the bottom because it can easily plug the impeller on a pool pump.

As you drain it, don't let the scum dry on the exposed surface or it will be very difficult to remove.


Do not drain the pool if the water table is high, it can crack, bulge the sides, or even pop out of the ground. Draining 1/4 to 1/3 is normally safe if you know the water table is below that level.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

well the pool water is light blue now, but still cloudy.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

Cloudy can be from the extra calcium in the water from shocking it with that much chlorine (calcium hypochlorite). With calcium the warmer the water, the less will stay dissolved, that's why heaters will get a build up on the heat exchanger.


Draining part of water and refilling is the only good answer to lower the TDS (total dissolved solids), high TDS will make it hard to balance the water.

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

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.

Just throw the hose in the pool and connect it up to the vac head. Lower the vac head into the pool and hold the pole so the head stays at the bottom (or at least below the water surface). Now take the open end of the hose and put it in front of the return line. The water jet will fill the entire length of hose and expel all of the air in just a few seconds. The vac head will try to rise so hold it down. When no more air escapes the head, plug the hose into the skimmer and start vacuuming.

 

[jharwell]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

You should definately shock the pool. You might also want to add an algaeside. Then scrub the sides of the pool with a brush and scoop out any large clumps of debris. Then you will want to run your automatic pool cleaner. This should continue removing the debris. You might have to shock the pool several times to completely remove the algae. Try to do it at night becuase that is when the chlorine is most effective.

 

[rentprop1]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

sorry to bump a month old topic, you're probably swimming by now, but some pools need to be drained and power washed, I wasn't going to swim in water that had been siting for 2 years ....here are some pics of my nightmare pool, drained it, pressure washed and acid washed it, total cost was about $ 180 including pump purchase, acid and start up chemicals...... water is free we have a well
.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

you took 20,000 gallons out of your well?

your well must be 500 ft deep.
i would think that would run most wells dry.
but i guess the water table in fl is really high.

 

[skargo]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

you took 20,000 gallons out of your well?

your well must be 500 ft deep.
i would think that would run most wells dry.
but i guess the water table in fl is really high.

I used to fill my old pool at our old house in Hickory with our shallow ell, never ran dry. I'd not fear filling it with our current, 350' well at our new house either. But I am done with pools, we enjoy our hot tub much more these days!

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

As an X pool guy (General contractor and did major renovations on pools), DO NOT drain a pool unless you know its safe to do it. A large % of my business was repairing pools that had been crushed or popped up out of the ground when they were drained. Ground water can exert a tremendous amount of pressure on the sides of a pool and create all kinds of problems.

Every spring after the first nice weekend I would get calls from people that had drained their pool thinking they would give it a good cleaning. Some would say they drained the pool every year on this date to clean it and had never had a problem, all it takes is a wet spring or even just some rain earlier in the week to have the water table high enough to cause damage. Another cause can be from pumping the water out onto the lawn next to the pool, it needs to be discharged as far away from the pool as possible.

 

[rentprop1]

Re: Trying to remove algae from pool

its 18,000 gal, pretty good guess

my well is at 110 feet and 1/3 of this county is wet so ??? filled about half the first day, then 1/2 the next day

I've never really believed all that hype about pools popping up, while I have since drained this pool 2 times, in the past, I have also drained 2 other pools, while I have personally seen popped pools, I keep watch on the water table ( well local rain ) and never leave them empty for long