Why is my pool cloudy?
Why is my water green yet I smell chlorine?
Why is my water clear but has a green tinge?
Black, green or yellow patches on surface?
Why is water rust color (reddish brown)?
How do I stop Black Algae?
What about Yellow Algae or pollen?
Why is my family having skin irritation?
When do I perform filter maintenance?
:: Why is my pool cloudy?
If your pool is cloudy and you don't know why, you first need to check the following levels:
:: Stabilizer levels (cyanaric acid levels)
:: pH levels
:: Calcium Hardness levels
:: Free chlorine levels
If any of these levels are incorrect this will cause cloudiness. Raise to proper levels per your Use & Care Guide.
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:: Why is my water green yet I smell chlorine?
Chlorine could be locked out due to over chlorinating. You need to take a water sample to be tested for high levels.
:: Drain pool way down and refill with fresh water to unlock the chlorine.
:: Test the pH and adjust as needed according to your Use and Care Guide.
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:: Why is my water clear but has a green tinge?
Check chlorine reading then shock pool as needed. Check out the alkalinity first.
:: Low alkalinity will cause metal fallout. Adjust your alkalinity as needed.
:: Be sure and add a sequestering agent to pool.
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:: Black, green or yellow patches on surface?
Most non-metal based algaecides will correct this problem. Simply follow the directions on the bottle.
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:: Why is water rust color (reddish brown)?
This is a sign of iron in the water.
:: Use sequestering agent in water and run filter 24 hours.
:: Don't shock pool until gone.
:: If stained use metal out and have patience as it will work after time.
:: Check pH and alkalinity as needed.
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:: How do I stop Black Algae?
Black algae are one of the hardest algae to fight.
:: Brush area with nylon brush.
:: Shock with calcium hypo-chloride.
:: Circulate one-half hour then shut down filter for 24 hours.
:: Re-brush turn system on for 8 hours then clean filter after 24 hours.
:: Check your pH and alkalinity.
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:: What about Yellow Algae or pollen?
We have two types of yellow-looking algae going on. One is just pollen that falls in the spring, and the other is an algae that sticks to the walls of your pool.
Yellow Pollen - Do Not shock your pool to treat this, it will not work! Pollen will float on the pool surface and then fall to the bottom of the pool.
Yellow Algae - This grown on the walls and when using your nylon brush it will dust up into a cloud. This is distinguishing between the two types.
:: Brush your pool surface with nylon brush.
:: Add a pound of granular shock per 10,000 gal. At the same time put in several capfuls of yellow treat. (There are several brands on the market, yellow out, yellow treat etc.)
:: Circulate for half an hour then shut pool filter off for 23 hours.
:: Brush again before turning filter back on.
:: After filter has run for 24 hours CLEAN YOUR FILTER. (If you don't clean your filter, then the algae will re-infect your pool water and you will have to start all over again!).
:: Use a good non-metal based algaecide and this will help prevent yellow algae.
:: After using any kind of yellow out, yellow treat etc., be sure and do new test reading of your chemicals and readjust as needed.
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:: Why is my family having skin irritation?
There are several possibilities.
:: High Chlorine
:: To low / high pH
:: Alkalinity is to low/high
:: LOW CALCIUM
If your pH is too high, add liquid muriatic acid or granular sodium bisulfate. To increase your pH add soda ash. If your pH is low, test the alkalinity before the water’s pH. If the alkalinity is low adjust this first, and then retest pH the next day Too low calcium also effects the pH & alkalinity. Adjust the CALCIUM FIRST as required in the Use and Care Guide. Then adjust the pH & Alkalinity to proper levels. (This may take from 24 to 72 hours).
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:: When do I perform filter maintenance?
DE Filter -
When your pressure gauge reaches 25 you need to give immediate attention to your filter and back wash filter. If you take the filter apart and the diatomaceous earth inside is hard as concrete, then take the garden hose and remove it. Then take the grids and put in a tall plastic garbage can and soak with muriatic acid in a solution of 10 parts water to 1 part acid. Soak overnight. Rinse with clean clear water and then re-assemble your filter. If you see any holes in the fabric then you need to replace that particular grid.
Cartridge Filter -
The typical life span of a paper cartridge is approximately 1.5 years. You need to replace if older to get maximum capability. Ideally you should have 2 cartridges on hand. One spare to have on hand, and one in use. If you want to do a deep cleaning with your cartridge filter then follow this guideline.
:: Take a plastic tall garbage can put some Dawn dish soap (this is a degreaser) in the garbage can and your cartridge. Plunge up and down several times and then let soak a couple of hours.
:: Now rinse off with clean clear water.
:: Empty the Dawn soap mix from your container and now put in 10 parts water and 1 part muratic acid. (Usually 1 gal of acid to a tall garbage can). Now submerge the cartridge and leave for 24 hours.
:: Take cartridge out of mixture and take a high pressure garden hose and hose between all the pleats.
Tip: Some people use two large plastic garbage cans with lids and save the mixtures to use over again!
Sand Filters -
The typical life span of the sand in your filter according to the manufacturers is 5 to 7 years. What happens to the sand in the filter after time is that it becomes hard as concrete and causes an affect that is called channeling. When this occurs what is happening is that the water is going through holes that have been made by the water and is not actually going through the sand. You can do the following to help this situation.
:: You can try using a filter aid or sand filter cleaner. (They sell many different brands.)
:: Call your local pool service and have then change the sand.
:: If you want to try yourself, use a wet and dry vacuum and be very careful not to break the laterals inside the tank.
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