Nifty
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Post by Nifty on Jul 23, 2021 21:19:01 GMT 1
Pool maintenance advice sought.
Preferably this evening.
I am looking after a small above ground pool.
It forms a greenish algae like deposit on the bottom very quickly.
I am wondering whether it would be a good idea to keep the pump running this evening in the hope that overnight filtration will help clear it, or, if I should switch the pump off tonight ( as I have been doing ) and give the pool bottom yet another vac tomorrow when some of the algae has sellled on the bottom of the pool?
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exile
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Massif Central
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Post by exile on Jul 23, 2021 21:38:16 GMT 1
With a not dissimilar problem today; I have left the pump running. Stirred up the algae. Added Chlor choc - in my case concentrated Javel.
In the past this has cleared the green but often left the pool cloudy which then needs a flocculant.
I should add this is a summer pool only so gets drained each autumn - permanent pools may need a different treatment.
I will check the Chlorine and Ph levels tomorrow - some might suggest I should have done it before intervention - and then adjust as needed
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Post by manonthemoon2 on Jul 23, 2021 21:46:49 GMT 1
If it's any help nifty, during the last week of hot temperatures our pump is running 24/7.
Have you checked Ph levels? If Ph isn't right it affects how the chlorine works. Have you also tried chlor choc?
Have you vacuumed the pool and backwashed the filter?
If we start with a yellowish tinge we also add hypercal, seems to clear it in a couple of hours.
I'm no expert, just a few suggestions but our daughter works in a pool shop part time and her partner owns it, so I get good advice.
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Nifty
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Post by Nifty on Jul 24, 2021 4:19:54 GMT 1
Thanks for those replies.
It seems to me that high temps = more rapid use of chlorine.
The system used is a floating container thingy that holds the tablets in. The chlorine levels seem to decline very quickly. I will investigate if there are any other products in the pool locker tomorrow.
yes, filter backwashed.
I take it that filter does not need backwashing while the needle on the gauge on the filter unit remains in the low zone and wonder if the system will work very much more effectively if it is backwashed more often.
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ibis
Banned Member
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Post by ibis on Jul 24, 2021 5:50:32 GMT 1
Maybe add another tablet or scoop of powder in the floating thing while it is hot.
A backwash should be done after every vacuum or in my case when I start to see the fine sand from the rains coming out of the blow hole(s) in the side of the pool while I am vacuuming - sorry, cannot think of the name. The sand in the filter needs changing also periodically, 2 years maybe, again I looked this up last year but have forgotten. It starts to become rounded and loses it filtering ability. You can purchase some very expensive, new age sand that doesn't require changing but every 5 or more years.
Is the green gunk in one area or all over the bottom? All over is probably a chlorine problem, in one area might mean bad circulation.
Thats my opinion. Hope you find a solution or cause - if not, it is just about time (Sept) to start raising trout.  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2021 7:14:44 GMT 1
We used to have that problem with our old pool. Now we have a 7 metre above ground pool and we changed it to salt system with an Intex chlorinator. In the 4 years with salt system not had any problem.
When we did have a problem I would suck out all the green muck using a syphon system and waste the water (i.e. not via the pump) then shock it with chlorine and leave the pump on 24/7 as has been suggested.
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Post by rabbit on Jul 24, 2021 8:37:39 GMT 1
Thanks for those replies. It seems to me that high temps = more rapid use of chlorine. The system used is a floating container thingy that holds the tablets in. The chlorine levels seem to decline very quickly. I will investigate if there are any other products in the pool locker tomorrow. yes, filter backwashed. I take it that filter does not need backwashing while the needle on the gauge on the filter unit remains in the low zone and wonder if the system will work very much more effectively if it is backwashed more often. The first thing you should do is check the PH level. If the PH level is out no other remedy will be successful |
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Post by manonthemoon2 on Jul 24, 2021 8:44:44 GMT 1
Thanks for those replies. It seems to me that high temps = more rapid use of chlorine. The system used is a floating container thingy that holds the tablets in. The chlorine levels seem to decline very quickly. I will investigate if there are any other products in the pool locker tomorrow. yes, filter backwashed. I take it that filter does not need backwashing while the needle on the gauge on the filter unit remains in the low zone and wonder if the system will work very much more effectively if it is backwashed more often. The first thing you should do is check the PH level. If the PH level is out no other remedy will be successful Yes that's correct, as I said earlier. Also regarding changing the sand in the filter there is a product that can be used that completely cleans the sand to avoid changing sand. This should be done every year, although we don't do it yearly |
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Nifty
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Post by Nifty on Jul 24, 2021 9:09:32 GMT 1
I didn’t mention it previously but the ph is at optimum level.
It is not our pool and the owners have told us that they do not expect us to maintain the pool. It is just that oh likes to use it and I think it would be nice to hand the property back to the owners in better condition than when we handed the keys.
oh informs me that the hot weather is not due to return for the rest of our time here and Ithink that that initiated the problem
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Post by rabbit on Jul 24, 2021 10:53:26 GMT 1
When the external temp gets above 30c the algae is more likely to occur as the pool water warms. If the PH is good clean up as much algae as you can from bottom and sides then leave pump on for 24 hrs as first step. If it is improving keep pump running. If it doesn't improve then chlore shock.
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FFS
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As usual, in front of my laptop when I'm here
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Post by FFS on Jul 24, 2021 10:55:13 GMT 1
Where's tim17 when you need him? |
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Nifty
Member
Posts: 5,482
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Post by Nifty on Jul 24, 2021 11:43:08 GMT 1
I think that the sand, or, whatever in the filter, may be past its best as when I vac the algae from the bottom of the pool the visibility through the water seems considerably worse. Not really my problem, as owners have said that they are not too bothered about the pool, or mowing the lawn I am not going to loose any sleep over it, but, as the weather is more bearable trying to clear the pool gives me something to do and a reason to move when I am not doing anything else.
edit
I have only just found this. It is a very similar set up to the one that is causing me problems. It is the same make but looks newer than the one I am concerned with.
it gives a good explanation of how the system works.
Unfortunately, I does not give instructions to clear an airlock in the pump which is what I intend to do but can not find a simple guide on how to do so.
If anybody knows of a link that is relevant please post it on this thread.
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