Green bathtub ring around pool, CYA too low but TA too high

[JenniferMarie90]

Hey friends. I’ve neglected my pool a bit the last couple weeks due to work and lack of motivation due to some anxiety. Anyway We did a refill back in April to lower the calcium and I’ve struggled with my chemistry since so I’m coming to the experts. I’ve got this weird green bathtub line around my pool and some mossy looking stuff in one spot on my step. See attached pics. I can scrub the line with the rough side of a sponge and it goes away but comes back pretty quick. Here’s my pool chemistry, I obviously need to raise CYA but I read that increases TA and mine is so high already, I’m having to add muriatic acid almost daily to get my pool below 8.2 PH.
PH after adding MA 7.2
Chlorine 1.5
TA 140
CYA 20
I’m embarrassed I let it get so bad but I’ve struggled with my mental health but we’re back at it now so any help is really appreciated.

 

[an1vrsy]

I hope you have gotten assistance for your mental health needs. The pool is secondary in relation.

From my view of your photos and the limited test kit results, you do have one of the recommended test kits, right? You’ll need to SLAM. It shouldn’t take that long because your water still looks clear. You mentioned a mossy looking stuff which means that’s visible algae. Raise CYA to 30 then raise the FC to 12 and maintain it at the level by testing and adding more liquid chlorine.

Hang in there @JenniferMarie90

 

[JenniferMarie90]

I hope you have gotten assistance for your mental health needs. The pool is secondary in relation.

From my view of your photos and the limited test kit results, you do have one of the recommended test kits, right? You’ll need to SLAM. It shouldn’t take that long because your water still looks clear. You mentioned a mossy looking stuff which means that’s visible algae. Raise CYA to 30 then raise the FC to 12 and maintain it at the level by testing and adding more liquid chlorine.

Hang in there @JenniferMarie90

I am working through it thanks, a lot of things went by the way side though ugh. Yes I have the test kit which is what I used. I have a SWQ but I also have liquid chlorine, should I use the liquid to bring the FC to 12? And should I only bring the CYA to 30 or all the way to the recommended spec of 60? Also sorry how long to maintain that 12 FC for? Thanks for you quick reply.

 

[Burke_B]

@an1vrsy is recommending you conduct a SLAM

The article (and video) will walk you through the steps. Lowering your PH to 7.2 before starting the SLAM is recommended in the article.

You maintain SLAM level FC until you pass all three completion criteria:

• CC is 0.5 or lower;
• You pass an OCLT
  https://www.troublefreepool.com/blog/2019/01/18/perform-the-overnight-fc-loss-test-oclt/
• And the water is clear.

You raise it to SLAM level as often as you can - up to every hour if possible. The more you maintain at SLAM the faster the process will go.

I am fairly new here but I think most will tell you to not raise your CYA above 30 until after you complete the SLAM. Raising it now will require you to use more chlorine to maintain SLAM level per the FC/CYA chart.

 

[JenniferMarie90]

@an1vrsy is recommending you conduct a SLAM

The article (and video) will walk you through the steps. Lowering your PH to 7.2 before starting the SLAM is recommended in the article.

You maintain SLAM level FC until you pass all three completion criteria:

• CC is 0.5 or lower;
• You pass an OCLT
  Perform the Overnight FC Loss Test (OCLT)
• And the water is clear.

You raise it to SLAM level as often as you can - up to every hour if possible. The more you maintain at SLAM the faster the process will go.

I am fairly new here but I think most will tell you to not raise your CYA above 30 until after you complete the SLAM. Raising it now will require you to use more chlorine to maintain SLAM level per the FC/CYA chart.

Great thanks, I have the TF test kit, is that what’s needed for the chlorine tests mentioned in the SLAM article?

 

[an1vrsy]

Yes… fill with pool water to the 10 mil mark, 1 heaping scoop of the powder, then count the drops till clear this is your FC. Then immediately test for CC.

 

[wireform]

Yes… fill with pool water to the 10 mil mark, 1 heaping scoop of the powder, then count the drops till clear this is your FC. Then immediately test for CC.

Divide the drop count by 2 =FC

 

[JenniferMarie90]

Thanks friends! So I got my CYA up and according to pool math needed one 128 oz jug of 10% ch

@an1vrsy is recommending you conduct a SLAM

The article (and video) will walk you through the steps. Lowering your PH to 7.2 before starting the SLAM is recommended in the article.

You maintain SLAM level FC until you pass all three completion criteria:

• CC is 0.5 or lower;
• You pass an OCLT
  Perform the Overnight FC Loss Test (OCLT)
• And the water is clear.

You raise it to SLAM level as often as you can - up to every hour if possible. The more you maintain at SLAM the faster the process will go.

I am fairly new here but I think most will tell you to not raise your CYA above 30 until after you complete the SLAM. Raising it now will require you to use more chlorine to maintain SLAM level per the FC/CYA chart.

ok friends so I got my cya right at 30 and used pool math which told me to add my entire 128oz jug of 10% hypo chlorite. I did that and tested about an hour or so later and it only got the free chlorine to 6ppm. I added another half of jug before bed and woke up this morning and the free chlorine is only 5ppm. This is my first SLAM so I must be doing something wrong and before I go out and buy more chlorine I wanted to check in with you guys.

 

[Mdragger88]

1 gallon of 10% liquid chlorine should add about 7ppm of fc to your pool based on the volume listed in your signature.

You need to add enough to reach SLAM Process fc level for your cya FC/CYA Levels (switch the slam toggle on in poolmath)
& MAINTAIN it there until u pass ALL 3 end of slam criteria. This will require multiple additions per day - Algae is a hungry beast. The more often u test fc & replenish slam level the faster things will go. Every couple hours is ideal but at least 3-4 times per day.
If u are not getting the expected rise from your dose when testing after 30min of adding- you could have degraded liquid chlorine- adjust subsequent doses with that batch as necessary.
Be sure to check date codes when buying liquid chlorine to help ensure u have fresh stuff as it degrades over time.

Chlorine Date Code Decoder - Further Reading

www.google.com

You are done when ALL 3 are true:

CC is 0.5 or lower;
You pass an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
AND
the water is clear.
(Crystal Clear w/no algae dead or alive)

*Check & scrub every nook & cranny where it may hide (light niches, drain covers, ladder handrails, skimmer throats/weirs, etc.)
*Run slam level water through all water features & lines for at least a couple hours a day during the SLAM Process.
*Brush & or vac daily (this breaks up biofilms that algae uses to protect itself from chlorine)
*Backwash/clean filter when pressure rises 25%over clean pressure.

 

[wireform]

Or your pool volume is actually bit more then what you think it is so it can fall short for that too.

 

[JenniferMarie90]

1 gallon of 10% liquid chlorine should add about 7ppm of fc to your pool based on the volume listed in your signature.
View attachment 434488
You need to add enough to reach SLAM Process fc level for your cya FC/CYA Levels (switch the slam toggle on in poolmath)
& MAINTAIN it there until u pass ALL 3 end of slam criteria. This will require multiple additions per day - Algae is a hungry beast. The more often u test fc & replenish slam level the faster things will go. Every couple hours is ideal but at least 3-4 times per day.
If u are not getting the expected rise from your dose when testing after 30min of adding- you could have degraded liquid chlorine- adjust subsequent doses with that batch as necessary.
Be sure to check date codes when buying liquid chlorine to help ensure u have fresh stuff as it degrades over time.

Chlorine Date Code Decoder - Further Reading

www.google.com

You are done when ALL 3 are true:

CC is 0.5 or lower;
You pass an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
AND
the water is clear.
(Crystal Clear w/no algae dead or alive)

*Check & scrub every nook & cranny where it may hide (light niches, drain covers, ladder handrails, skimmer throats/weirs, etc.)
*Run slam level water through all water features & lines for at least a couple hours a day during the SLAM Process.
*Brush & or vac daily (this breaks up biofilms that algae uses to protect itself from chlorine)
*Backwash/clean filter when pressure rises 25%over clean pressure.

Hey there thanks for answering. I started at 4ppm FC so adding the gallon I expected it to get closer to 11 ppm after that gallon but it only went to 6ppm. I just went and bought 4 brand new jugs yesterday but at this rate I don't think that will even last a day. Is there a different more concentrated product I should consider?

 

[an1vrsy]

Walmart keeps their 10% Pool Essentials brand chlorine inside. So it shouldn’t be degraded by the extreme heat. Walmart also stencils the date code on their chlorine jugs, the first 5 digits to look at is the year then the day of the year so you could see 22192 which would translate to todays date, 07/11/2022. If you’re lucky it might be 22162, which would mean it is only 30 days old which is pretty good.

If you’re anywhere near Eastern and Windmill, Fresh Pool Supply (pool store) has 12.5% LC stored inside, too. It’s too far away for me unless I’m in the area. 5 digit date code applies wherever you buy chlorine. If you don’t see a date code or if it’s older than 60 days, I don’t buy it.

 

[JenniferMarie90]

Walmart keeps their 10% Pool Essentials brand chlorine inside. So it shouldn’t be degraded by the extreme heat. Walmart also stencils the date code on their chlorine jugs, the first 5 digits to look at is the year then the day of the year so you could see 22192 which would translate to todays date, 07/11/2022. If you’re lucky it might be 22162, which would mean it is only 30 days old which is pretty good.

If you’re anywhere near Eastern and Windmill, Fresh Pool Supply (pool store) has 12.5% LC stored inside, too. It’s too far away for me unless I’m in the area. 5 digit date code applies wherever you buy chlorine. If you don’t see a date code or if it’s older than 60 days, I don’t buy it.

Thanks for the advice, I'll check the jugs I bought from Lowes if they're degraded I'll return and go to walmart. Maybe thats my issue. I appreciate that.

 

[Mdragger88]

Also try calling pool stores, many offer refillable jugs for a deposit- generally fresher stuff & stronger than 10% often cheaper too.

 

[an1vrsy]

I haven’t searched lately here in Las Vegas, but pool stores are limited. The one I mentioned up thread is the only pool store I’ve found not named Leslie’s which is on every other block, it seems. There must be a distributor here somewhere but they may not sell to the public.

 

[JenniferMarie90]

1 gallon of 10% liquid chlorine should add about 7ppm of fc to your pool based on the volume listed in your signature.
View attachment 434488
You need to add enough to reach SLAM Process fc level for your cya FC/CYA Levels (switch the slam toggle on in poolmath)
& MAINTAIN it there until u pass ALL 3 end of slam criteria. This will require multiple additions per day - Algae is a hungry beast. The more often u test fc & replenish slam level the faster things will go. Every couple hours is ideal but at least 3-4 times per day.
If u are not getting the expected rise from your dose when testing after 30min of adding- you could have degraded liquid chlorine- adjust subsequent doses with that batch as necessary.
Be sure to check date codes when buying liquid chlorine to help ensure u have fresh stuff as it degrades over time.

Chlorine Date Code Decoder - Further Reading

www.google.com

You are done when ALL 3 are true:

CC is 0.5 or lower;
You pass an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
AND
the water is clear.
(Crystal Clear w/no algae dead or alive)

*Check & scrub every nook & cranny where it may hide (light niches, drain covers, ladder handrails, skimmer throats/weirs, etc.)
*Run slam level water through all water features & lines for at least a couple hours a day during the SLAM Process.
*Brush & or vac daily (this breaks up biofilms that algae uses to protect itself from chlorine)
*Backwash/clean filter when pressure rises 25%over clean pressure.

I used the new chlorine I bought and that did the trick except I’m a little too high now at 16 ppm…hopefully that’s ok, I’ll maintain 12 once it gets back down. Man this is a much harder process than I anticipated.

 

[Mdragger88]

I used the new chlorine I bought and that did the trick except I’m a little too high now at 16 ppm…hopefully that’s ok, I’ll maintain 12 once it gets back down. Man this is a much harder process than I anticipated.

You’ll get it -
Having fresh chlorine is important & an unfortunate variable but the testing fc & dosing only takes a few minutes each time.
Be sure to brush that waterline good so it gets exposed to the chlorine.
Brush or vac the whole pool daily-
Do u have a pool cleaner/robot u can employ to assist?
Also the PoolMath app is great- it’s even better with the subscription so u can keep logs permanently it’s $7 or $8/yr & totally worth it in my opinion. You can also toggle on sharing in the settings & we can see your logs if we click on your profile avatar here. You can try mine if u like. It’s really helpful when u have issues so folks answering have a full picture of what’s been going on.
Btw - it’s safe to swim w/ fc anywhere between minimum & slam level for your cya FC/CYA Levels so long as u can see the bottom of the pool for safety purposes.
I much prefer to scrub whilst in the pool - it makes it less of a chore & more fun

 

[JenniferMarie90]

You’ll get it -
Having fresh chlorine is important & an unfortunate variable but the testing fc & dosing only takes a few minutes each time.
Be sure to brush that waterline good so it gets exposed to the chlorine.
Brush or vac the whole pool daily-
Do u have a pool cleaner/robot u can employ to assist?
Also the PoolMath app is great- it’s even better with the subscription so u can keep logs permanently it’s $7 or $8/yr & totally worth it in my opinion. You can also toggle on sharing in the settings & we can see your logs if we click on your profile avatar here. You can try mine if u like. It’s really helpful when u have issues so folks answering have a full picture of what’s been going on.
Btw - it’s safe to swim w/ fc anywhere between minimum & slam level for your cya FC/CYA Levels so long as u can see the bottom of the pool for safety purposes.
I much prefer to scrub whilst in the pool - it makes it less of a chore & more fun

I use the app but didn’t realize I could do a paid version! Is it ok for the pool to be at 16?! I’m sure it’ll burn off but it scared me. And yes I do have a robot, I’ll throw him in and have him do some work too. I’m waiting for the sun to go down just a bit more before I start to scrub. I like the heat but 112 is even a little too much for me.

 

[wireform]

No worries there with 16 as it'll disappear in front of your eyes in a short time. Keep it up.

 

[Mdragger88]

It will probably be much lower when u check it again. It’s ok & not an extreme overdose- mustard algae slam level is 18ppm so no damage done.
High fc levels burn off at a higher rate so overdoing it mostly just wastes fc to the sun Do your best to maintain slam level.
Be sure to re check your cya level tomorrow during the day (outdoors is best) since it’s now had plenty of time to fully dissolve & adjust slam level if necessary.