Archived Thread

NFT: Any pool experts? Need help with a green pool.

Jerz44 : 5/18/2018 7:13 am

This is my first year of 'pool ownership' and I'm trying to do it myself and save some $ but thus far it's not going so well...

I had the service people over last week to open it. The pool was pretty green and gross looking, but they told me just to keep the filter running and 48 hours later it should clear up.

2 days later, it looked the same so I went to the store with a sample and they gave me some green gone and shock. I followed the instructions and 2 days later it looked the same. Brought another sample in and was told all my chlorine was bound up, so they gave me some oxidizer and told me to use that, then follow up with chlorine 24 hours later.

I did that, and it did get a bit better but still no where near 'clear.' So I went back 48 hours later and gave them another sample. This time, they told me to dump more shock in there.

And again, about 24 hours later, it's about the same. The shallow end is clearish and I can actually see the bottom now, but the deep end is mostly unchanged.

I'm going to go back tomorrow with another sample and to see what's up, but just wondering if there's something else I should be looking for.

Backwash

Big Blue Hokie : 5/18/2018 7:23 am : link

Have you backwashed? In the first week or two your filter clogs up fast with all of the stuff from over the winter. It may be overkill but it works for me is that I backwash almost every three days when I first open. If you do decide to go throw route, if you have a DE filter, don�t forget to add the DE back in.

Other things I have used are Ultrabrite by Leslie Pools and shock the heck out of it.

Good luck

What kind of pool/filter

pjcas18 : 5/18/2018 7:56 am : link

is it a salt water pool with a cartridge filter?

Or regular pool with a DE or sand filter?

Shock, then shock some more

WideRight : 5/18/2018 8:04 am : link

Back flush filter, shock some more

Replace filter, shock again

You're good

Definitely backwash

figgy2989 : 5/18/2018 8:10 am : link

And if you have a DE filter, make sure after the backwash you are putting plenty of new DE in. What type of horsepower pump do you have and what size pool? If you have a 1 HP pump or lower,you may have to run the filter for three or four straight days. You may also want to check the filter itself. If the inside �gasket� hasn�t been cleaned in a while, you might see a significant build up. Just spraying with a garden hose will do the trick.

Shock the shit out of it

Chef : 5/18/2018 8:19 am : link

run it, clean the filter, which ever one you have. I have an element so I just take it out and hose it down. Run the filter some more, do the same with the filter. adjust the pH chlorine,and total alkalinity to optimal levels ( I use the test strips) and it will turn milky then start to clear... then it will be hazy... then it will be clear but not crystal.. then it will clear up.. will take some time. If you take the water to the store for testing they are likely gonna sell you a bunch of shit. Pools have to be one of the most things that people over think.

Kleen Pool is amazing

Steve L : 5/18/2018 8:33 am : link

Get it and follow the instructions. You have to get the balance to a certain rate then use this stuff. It will be fine pretty quick.

If this is just year 1

pjcas18 : 5/18/2018 8:55 am : link

and you're going through this you might want to consider converting to a saltwater system.

I am going on year 5 with my pool and I open my pool every year, pool water has always been clear, some dirt/sand and leaves but I skim or vacuum them out and that's it.

once every two weeks i hose off the cartridge in the filter and I now have a robotic vacuum and it requires no other maintenance.

I do bring my water to get tested every few weeks to the pool shop, most of the time they tell me the pool water is safer and cleaner than tap water and I require nothing.

Occasionally they'll tell me the metal content is high and i could use some metal out ($8).

I grew up with sand filter and traditional pool so I saw how much work and maintenance went into it so I was pleasantly surprised with the saltwater pool being so maintenance free.

You should talk to you local pool expert and get a cost, I think it's $1500 or so. Maybe $2,000, but in the long run might be worth it.

figgy2989 : 5/18/2018 9:17 am : link

Every year i say I am going to convert and something else around the house will pop up that requires the money. I am opening up on Sunday and will probably get so frustrated that I just might do it.

Everyone raves about the saltwater systems and how much better it is, not only for the kids, but preserving the liner and other equipment. I really need to do it.

RE: PJ

pjcas18 : 5/18/2018 9:28 am : link

In comment 13967277 figgy2989 said:

Quote:

Yeah, it's easy to say when it's not my money, and as an adult my only pool is a salt pool, so it's easy for me to say.

If you have a local pool maintenance company you trust I'd get their opinion, but I can't say enough good things about them.

Couple suggestions

bhill410 : 5/18/2018 9:29 am : link

1 - make sure you have a brush and are scrubbing the bottom of the deep side, you can run the filter all you want but if there is algea or whatever down there its not going to get it up. You can also use a vaccum as well.

2 - if you are converting to salt be careful if you have gunnite as it can eat away at the stone. Not the case always but just something to consider. I have a DE filter and I havent minded it too much.

As everyone else said

aimrocky : 5/18/2018 9:29 am : link

keep shocking it and running the filter. Eventually it will clear up.

I have a mesh cover and a raised attached jacuzzi

Keith : 5/18/2018 9:52 am : link

so I cannot stop leaves from getting in throughout the offseason. When I open, my pool is dark green with some leaves in the deep end. You need to run the filter for 24 hours a day and shock the crap out of it. I usually put in a 5 gallon liquid jug at the open and then run the filter for 3-4 days, backwashing twice per day. Once that's done, I take the filter apart and clean the grids. Be careful when cleaning the grids, you don't want to rip them. Once you put everything back together, you start the process over shocking it again. You'll probably need to do this twice before it clears up, usually takes 1-2 weeks for me.

Also,

Keith : 5/18/2018 9:52 am : link

make sure you are brushing the walls and floors consistently to get all the crap floating so the chlorine can kill it.

Just live with it and call it a pond

Jim in Fairfax : 5/18/2018 10:48 am : link

Green water can also

winoguy : 5/18/2018 11:51 am : link

be caused by iron in the water. product called Pool Magnet works very well in removing metals. Has the water been tested for this or are you just checking chlorine levels and ph?

What I do

uther99 : 5/18/2018 8:08 pm : link

I try to get the majority of the algae out before shocking the crap out of it.

1 - algaecide to kill algae
2- wait a day or two
3 - vacuumm using waste setting to get algae out without passing it through filter
4 - now add DE to filter, shock and run 48 hours.
5. - use robot vacuum or pool vacuum as needed

Metals

go-big-blue : 5/19/2018 6:13 am : link

I'm with winoguy... Are we sure it's algae and not metal? There may be iron or copper leaching from somewhere else like groundwater. A chelating agent clears it up but I would be more interested in knowing the source of the problem. If it is algae, just like in an aquarium you need to starve them. If you can block light with a cover and also work on bringing down phosphates they will die but then the filter must work overtime to clear the dead organisms otherwise they just add more nutrients into the water for future algae.