White slimy stuff foating on top of my pool water.

[Scrapple]

Unable to get good pics of the goo. I ordered a good test kit today. I shocked the pool again today hoping to kill everything. Tested my water (with my basic test kit), chlorine reads off the chart. The kit only goes to 3 (as opposed to 11 ).

Recent chemicals added to pool:

Sodium Dichloro-s-Trianzinetrione Dihydrate
Calcium hypochlorite
Sodium carbonate
Copper ethanolamine complex
Staintrine (no ingredients listed)(I'm scared)
Pool Perfect (again, no ingredients listed)

The last three listed have only been used once. I managed to skim some of the slime off. Still looks like I have a clear oil slick on the top of my water. Hoping for better results tomorrow. Supposed to have nice weather this weekend (finally) and I would like to be able to use the pool. Hopefully I can kill whatever is alive and trash vac before weekend.

Thanks for the help

Kevin

[PoolDoc]

1. Run your filter 24/7. Clean as needed, but NOT more than that.

2. Make SURE you have no chemicals, feeders, or devices between the skimmer and the filter. If you still have cal hypo, regular small doses with that IN THE SKIMMER will help capture copper that may otherwise stain the pool.

3. Your chems, in order, are:
+ dichlor
+ cal hypo
+ soda ash (pH UP, washing soda)
+ chelated copper algaecide (chlorine releases it to form stains)
+ HEDP (chlorine resistant metal chelant -- eventually breaks down and forms phosphates)
+ mystery enzyme -- probably doesn't hurt anything.

[Scrapple]

Thanks for the info!

So, run the filter until the slime is gone, then resume the normal schedule? I have no chemicals between the skimmer and filter and I don't use tabs. How small is a "small dose?" Half the recommended dose for a pool my size? And how regular should I be dosing? I always add dichlor and cal hypo directly to skimmer.

My pool is 15x30 above-ground btw. My pump is a 1 HP Hayward ProFlow XL that sounds like its on its deathbed. Just had a new pump seal and impeller installed. Looking back, I probably should have just replaced it.

Thanks

[PoolDoc]

+ 1/2 the normal dose would be good.

+ If you add BOTH dichlor and cal hypo via the skimmer, make SURE to clean up any granules that don't make it. Cal hypo reacts badly with EVERY other form of chlorine, except maybe bleach. (But I haven't tested that)

+ Sounds like you need the "Sight-flipper" -- it turns hindsight into foresight. My understanding is that they are rather rare, unfortunately.

[Scrapple]

I didn't know about the reaction between the two. I am careful to make sure that all the granules make it through the skimmer.

So it is still ok to add dichlor several hours after adding cal hypo?

When is it ok to shut the pump off? I can see stuff floating near the bottom of my pool that gets stirred up when the pump is turned on. I have another pump question, but will ask in the appropriate forum.

[PoolDoc]

+ An hour separation time is fine IF the pump is ON.

+ Don't turn the pump off during clean up.

[Scrapple]

Best direction to point the flow nozzle in the pool? Mine is pointed toward the surface and toward the wall to get counterclockwise flow to the skimmer.