*SIGH* Looks Like I Have da' Mustard

[Tom.B]

Oh... How many Kem-Tek's should I get? I suppose I should wait to see the results of the municipal water test. If PO4 is high, I guess I need to have a few bottles in reserve to use when I refill. Otherwise, maybe just one or two if it will REALLY lower it 1000ppm/qt./10,000g. Seems a bit lofty to me.

[PoolDoc]

Yeah, let's see where you are, and what you're putting into your pool, before you start ordering.

Regarding the forms, I don't have anyone to work on them right now, but that will change, hopefully next week.

[Watermom]

Thanks for the subscription!

[Tom.B]

Yeah, let's see where you are, and what you're putting into your pool, before you start ordering.

As suspected, municipal water has nearly 500 ppb of PO4. The PHOS-free appears to not have had any affect on the phosphate level over the last 24 hours. Currently, the FC level is 15 and the CYA is up to 60.

Recommendations?

[PoolDoc]

Actually, 500 ppb is not bad; the water here has over 2,000 ppb!

If you'd like, go ahead and pick one of the removers (Orenda PR-10000 or the Kem-Tek product), purchase it, and take the phosphates below 125 ppb. BUT, keep your chlorine up. Low phosphates weaken, but do not kill algae.

-- I assume you aren't using any products that would ADD phosphates, like stain removers, United Chemicals products, etc.? --

How's your pool looking, or more specifically, how is the mustard algae looking?

[Tom.B]

Good assumption... No other products being used. I also just ordered four quarts of the Kem-Tek to give it a whirl to lower my PO4. Looking forward to not spending $50 per bottle on the stuff at the pool store.

The pool looks fabulous currently. The water has cleared up quite a bit and is what I would consider crystal clear. The algae seems to still be there, but is less than before (unscientific). It still appears at the seams of the liner and on the steps, however, we are keeping it brushed every-other day or so. I just wen out and had to backwash the sand filter. The pressure had jumped and there was no visible output from the jets. When I did, the water was very green coming out of the waste hose. Normal?

I have also raised the FC level up to 19ppm as of the test just a few minutes ago. I finally got to Wally World and bought 12 gallons of their 8% Great Googly-Moogly Bleach. Unfortunately, someone beat me to the 20 Mule. Oh well, live to fight another day.

I actually have another question(s): What is the upper limit for chlorine with a vinyl liner? With a CYA of 55-60, I hesitate to run to the +SHOCK+ FC level to 30 as noted in Best Guess, much less 70ppm! Where should I raise it to and how long should I leave it there to kill off the algae?

[PoolDoc]

I just went out and had to backwash the sand filter. The pressure had jumped and there was no visible output from the jets. When I did, the water was very green coming out of the waste hose. Normal?

No, that's an indicator of algae. If you can, put a few tabs in the skimmer, which will raise the chlorine level in the filter, without raising it so much in the pool.

I actually have another question(s): What is the upper limit for chlorine with a vinyl liner? With a CYA of 55-60, I hesitate to run to the +SHOCK+ FC level to 30 as noted in Best Guess, much less 70ppm! Where should I raise it to and how long should I leave it there to kill off the algae?

Unfortunately, that's a question without a good answer. It varies from liner to liner, even within brands. I've been told that dark blue tends to be the color most susceptible to bleach-out, because of the pigments or dyes usually used.

Having a liner you're concerned about is an even better reason to try the phosphates. I probably should let you know I have entirely selfish reasons for wanting you to try phosphate removal: this is a perfect test case, for VALID use of phosphate removers:
=> You clearly have chlorine resistant algae -- the backwash is almost absolute confirmation of that.
=> You have a legit concern about 'mustard shock levels' of chlorine.
=> You're behaving predictably from our point of view and seem to testing reliably . . . so the 'data' we get from you is likely to be meaningful..

But . . . I really do hope it works. It would provide us a very useful additional tool with which to help people.

[Tom.B]

No, that's an indicator of algae. If you can, put a few tabs in the skimmer, which will raise the chlorine level in the filter, without raising it so much in the pool.

A few... Meaning three at once? Isn't that going to shoot my CYA thru the roof? With it currently at 60, I can keep a SHOCK level FC without breaking the bank or killing the liner.

Having a liner you're concerned about is an even better reason to try the phosphates. I probably should let you know I have entirely selfish reasons for wanting you to try phosphate removal: this is a perfect test case, for VALID use of phosphate removers:
=> You clearly have chlorine resistant algae -- the backwash is almost absolute confirmation of that.
=> You have a legit concern about 'mustard shock levels' of chlorine.
=> You're behaving predictably from our point of view and seem to testing reliably . . . so the 'data' we get from you is likely to be meaningful..

But . . . I really do hope it works. It would provide us a very useful additional tool with which to help people.

Why does this make me feel dirty? :-D

It the backwash REALLY a clear indicator? Wouldn't the regular brushing cause the algae to get caught in the filter and clog it up? Moreover, at the apparent "concentration" of it as it left the waste hose just have it be green anyway?

Chlorine level has only been high for two days. Define "chlorine resistant". Are we saying that removal is impossible with SHOCK levels of chlorine, and that because it's a liner pool, +SHOCK+ level are unrealistic and/or unobtainable?

I will have my phosphate remover in a few days, what is the plan? To get them to zero? Problematic only because of the municipal supply I have. In fact, evaporation this week already has me needing to add more in the next few days. **EDIT** Amazon just emailed and the expected date I will get the PO4 remover is TOMORROW! YAY!

I hope we can figure this out. How's your track record? ;-)