Pool Owners Help! Green Pool!

[HeatherC]

Well...we did it...went and bought a 27' round Above Ground Pool last summer. It's been great. No problems at all last year.

This year we opened it about a week ago. We have a salt water chlorine generator and got our salt level up to where it was supposed to be. Bought a new clear solar cover...warmed up the water. Then...yesterday....GREEN!!

I shocked it and put in algacide per the pool stores instructions. Today it's still green and I have to wait for the store to open to get the water tested.

The person from the company we bought the pool from thinks it is from metal in the water...so that's why I'm also heading to the store to get a metal sequestrant.

My question is: if I have the algae gone...which I think I do because the water is really clear...just green, how long does a metal magnet take to work?

Can kids still swim? Chlorine level is fine.

Just curious what others have experienced and I'm killing time till the store opens!

Thanks!!

 

[Bren's Mom]

We have a 27' pool as well. We bought the house 2 years ago next month. The first summer is was crystal clear all summer. Last year we bought a solar cover, and had nothing but problems with algae. We stopped using the cover and made sure to combat the algae problem before closing it. It's open now, and gorgeous, but we're afraid to use the expensive (and much needed) solar cover!

So I can't say the problem is algae, but it could be. And I'll be watching for any suggestions anyone comes up with because I'd love to be able to use our cover!

 

[SpecialK]

We've had our pool for five years and have used a solar cover for all of that time. Three years ago we added a heater. We had algae for the first time last year. Pool store guy said a lot of people were having problems because it was such a cold summer. Pools weren't being used as much and the weird weather caused a lot of problems.

My husband opened the pool a few days ago and the water was clear. He added a 90 day algaecide, put on the solar cover and the water has stayed clear.

We've never had any experience with metal in the water so I have no clue about that. Good luck.

 

[DawnCt1]

We have an inground pool. We have never had green water in 15 years but last year we had cloudy water (algae) and the chorine levels were also "fine". The problem? "CHORINE LOCK". We had to shock the heck out of it to break 'the lock". Google it and ask your pool company if it could be that.

 

[HeatherC]

Thanks guys! Just back from the pool place. Looks like it might be metal (iron) in the water. This would definitely explain it because we had to use the hose to top off the pool when we opened it and we do have iron in our water.

Yesterday I shocked it like crazy and put in algacide. No algae today. Water is crystal clear but green....like Kool Aid green.

All of our levels seem to be ok so they told me to add a metal removing agent and wait two days. But...they also said it is perfectly safe for the kids to swim. Thank goodness because it is over 80 degrees today and they were asking about it before school today.

Keeping my fingers crossed it will be clear again soon.

 

[disneyaddicted]

We have an obove ground 27 by 15 pool. We fill our pool using our creek water. But when we bought the pool we were also talked into getting what's called the nature 2. It's a cartridge that hooks up to the whole filter system right before the automatic chlorine feeder. It takes all the work out of a pool. It has something in it that can read what the water is like as it passes through and it makes the automatic adjustment. Aside from the chemicals we need to initially open the pool, we never have to add anything (except chlorine) all summer. No testing the water evey few days, no green water. it's been great.

 

[PghLybrt]

I was going to say what you described was metals. Do not use the 90 day type of algecides if that is a problem that you have ( most of them are copper). Make sure your ph is 7.4 (chlorine works best) and check to see your stabilizer level.

Chlorine lock...it happens. Maybe 1 out of every 1000 customers I have a season. It is a pain in the behind but manageable.

 

[BunsenH]

We have an inground pool. We have never had green water in 15 years but last year we had cloudy water (algae) and the chorine levels were also "fine". The problem? "CHORINE LOCK". We had to shock the heck out of it to break 'the lock". Google it and ask your pool company if it could be that.

We've had an in ground pool for about 15 years also. Every few years we've had the cloudy water syndrome. Sometimes a high dose of chlorine fixed the problem, but most recently is was a pH imbalance due to (acid) rain. By August. when it happened, 40-50# of pH increaser was required!

Bring a sample to a supplier with a good reputation for analysis. If they suggest chlorine, ask for the liquid, it is less costly than powdered shock and just as effective (for us).

If you Google "Chlorine Lock", be prepared for differing opinions. Some consider it a real problem, and others think it is a "sub-urban myth" used as a quick, expensive explanation.

ETA: We have clear but green tinted water right now with some rust colored areas. Three bottles ($35) of 'metal magnet' will go in the pool tonight.

 

[formill]

I always thought if you shocked the pool you were bringing the chlorine levels WAY up and that they need to stay way up for a few days to kill the algae (we fill from our pond so always have green pool in spring and I shock it and keep the chlorine level really high for about a week and watch it go through stages of dark green to light to perfect)......so your kids should not be able to swim if you get the levels high enough to work.... have you confirmed the salt water cell is working and continuing to create chlorine......we often get a build up on it caused by metals in the water and then it stops working- have to remove cell and clean it-I've bought the stuff supposed to prevent that seems a waste of money still have to remove and clean. This is a good site I have been on several times when we have had trouble http://www.askalanaquestion.com/pool_navigation_page.htm

Good luck at least you have yours open- just working on ours today!

 

[HeatherC]

Well...it must have been the metal like they said. I've been running the filter 24/7 and woke up this morning to a clear pool. Just in time for the long weekend. Yippeee!!!

Just have to put some stabilizer in later today and we should be good to go.

Hope all of you enjoy your pools this summer!!