Hi All There are 3 main types of algae that are usually found in pool and spa water: 1. GREEN ALGAE - This type of algae floats in the water or forms on the sides of the pool or spa as Green Dust. The water can become so cloudy or turbid that it is unsafe because you can't see the bottom. 2. YELLOW ALGAE - Also called "Mustard Algae" because of the mustard color, appears as yellow powder deposits usually on the shady sides of the walls. 3. BLACK ALGAE - This type of algae also appears as a Blue-Green color and forms very adhesive dime to quarter size spots on pool and spa surfaces. Algae does not form in the presence of adequate levels of free chlorine. Algae is an indication of poor chlorine level maintenance. However, once established, algae may become chlorine resistance in concentrations up to 5 PPM Free Chlorine. The best algae prevention is prudent maintenance of free chlorine levels. Algaecides can also be used to control algae but they do not destroy the organic waste nor do they sanitize the pool after an algae bloom. However, they can be used to make up for sloppy chlorine maintenance. (See Problem Solver Topic: Algaecides)
TREATMENT: Once algae is established you must treat the water with 30 PPM of Free Chlorine. This kills the algae and destroys the organic waste left behind. * Add Sodium Hypochlorite Liquid Chlorine to 30 PPM Make sure the pump, filter and Chlorinator are working properly. Run pump continuously for 24 hours and then sweep thoroughly. Do not use the Pool or Spa until all chemical levels are back to normal and the water is crystal clear. PREVENTION: Maintain proper levels of chlorine. Follow Basic Routine Maintenance Schedule. Algae Problems ALGAECIDES Algae does not form in the presence of adequate levels of free chlorine. Algae is an indication of poor chlorine level maintenance. However, once established, algae may become chlorine resistance in concentrations up to 5 PPM Free Chlorine. The best algae prevention is prudent maintenance of free chlorine levels. Once algae is established you must treat the water with 30 PPM of Free Chlorine (Triple-Shock). This kills the algae AND destroys the organic waste left behind. Algaecides can be used to make up for sloppy chlorine level maintenance. There are 3 main types of Algaecides: Block quote start 1. Quats - Short for "Quaternary Ammonium Chloride Salts" or just "QAC" contain between 5% and 10% active ingredients. These are the least expensive algaecides but they usually cause foaming of the water. This can especially be a big problem in a spa where the jets mix air and water. 2. PolyQuats - These usually contain between 30% and 60% active ingredients (Poly[oxyethylene(dimethyliminio) ethylene(dimethyliminio)ethylene]dichloride). PolyQuats are generally more effective and less foaming than Quats but they are much more expensive. 3. Copper Salts - These are very effective algaecides for ponds but SHOULD NOT be used in pools and spas because they stain surfaces. READ THE FINE PRINT ON THESE PRODUCTS! Chlorine Odor Free Chlorine at levels up to about 15 PPM has no detectable taste or odor and it causes no irritation. Free Chorine that reacts with ammonia, bacteria and other waste products is converted into Combined Chlorine or Chloramines. Ammonia is a normal by product of the body from waste and sweat. Combined Chlorine has a strong offensive smell which is what most people smell when they complain of a strong chlorine odor. Combined Chlorine also causes eye and skin irritation. Combined Chlorine can be eliminated by adding enough chlorine product to bring the free chlorine up to 10 times the combined chlorine level. This is referred to as "Breakpoint Chlorination" or "Superchlorination". There should be NO Combined Chlorine in your water! Total Chlorine minus Free Chlorine equals Combined Chlorine. TREATMENT: Test both the Free and Total Chlorine levels. Add enough chlorine to bring the Free Chlorine up to 10 times the Combined Chlorine. Example: If the Combined Chlorine is 0.2 PPM, you will have to add 20 PPM Free Chlorine. If you don't test for both Free and Total Chlorine, just do a normal Shock treatment of 10 PPM but you take a chance if the Combined Chlorine is over 0.1 PPM. Chlorine Test Turns Orange The chlorine is too high for the range of your test kit. Discontinue adding chlorine and don't use the Pool or Spa until the level returns to normal. If you need to know the actual amount of chlorine, try diluting the test sample with distilled water. For example: Mix 1 part of test sample water with 4 parts of distilled water. Test the sample again and multiply the results by 5. Clogged Filter PAPER OR CLOTH FILTER CARTRIDGE TYPE: These will have to be removed and washed. If this doesn't help you can try soaking the filter overnight is Tri-Sodium Phosphate (TSP) available from hardware stores. If all else fails you will have to buy a new filter cartridge. SAND FILTER: Try backwashing the filter first. If this doesn't help, you may have to take the filter apart and inspect it for a clogged membrane. You will have to replace the sand and possibly the membrane. See a pool professional. DIATOMACEOUS EARTH (DE) FILTER: Try backwashing the filter first. After you backwash, you'll have to add DE powder in the amount recommended by the manufacturer. If this doesn't help, you have may have a problem with filter membrane. See a pool professional. Cloudy, Smoky or Hazy Water This can be caused from a number of problems. Here are some possibilities: - Clogged Filter or Poor Circulation - Algae - Excessive Organic Waste - Low Sanitizer - Improper Water Balance TREATMENT: 1.) Inspect pump and filter to verify it's working properly. 2.) Test all water factors and balance water. 3.) Double-shock pool by bringing free chlorine up to 20 PPM (Double-Shock). Don't use the pool or spa until the chlorine level returns to normal. 4.) Maintain proper levels of chlorine. Verify that the chlorinator is working properly. 5.) If algae is a problem, see Algae Problems 6.) Follow Basic Routine Maintenance Schedule Corrosion Corrosive water causes etching of plaster pitting of concrete and dissolving of grouting. Plastic liners wrinkle and crack. Pump and filter equipment corrode, rust and eventually freeze up or leak or both. This is caused by improper water balance. TREATMENT: Test all water factors and balance water before it is too late. See Problem: Water Balance/Saturation Index. Eye and Skin Irritation This can be caused from a number of problems. Here are some possibilities: - PH Too Low or Too High - Improper Water Balance - Combined Chlorine - Excessive Organic Waste - High Total Dissolved Solids - Algaecides - Algae - High Chlorine (above 10 PPM) TREATMENT: 1.) Test all water factors. Balance water. See Water Balance/Saturation Index. If water tests Perfect and looks Perfect, shock pool to 10 PPM free chlorine to remove any traces of organic waste. 2.) Spas should be drained periodically due to build up of chemical additions and organic matter. High Chlorine Consumption This can be caused by a number of things. Here are some factors which contribute to high chlorine consumption: - High bather load - High water temperature - Use of Un-Stabilized Chlorines or Stabilizer Level is Low - Improper Water Balance - High pH TREATMENT: 1.) Test water for all factors (including stabilizer/conditioner) and adjust to balance the water 2.) If the pool is exposed to sunlight, use a stabilized chlorine or add stabilizer/conditioner (cyanuric acid). Initially add enough to bring the concentration up to 30 PPM. 3.) Verify that the chlorinator is working properly. The proper level of chlorine is 1 to 3 PPM for pools, 3 to 5 PPM for spas. High Chlorine Reading This can be caused by a number of things. Here are some factors which contribute to this: - Pool recently Shocked (this will dissipate by itself) - Automatic Chlorinator Needs Adjustment - Reduced Bather Load (lower usage requires less sanitizer) - Reduced Water Temperature (lower temperatures require less chlorine) TREATMENT: Adjust the automatic chlorinator. The chlorine level will reduce by itself. Don't use the Pool or Spa until the chlorine level is back to normal. pH Bounce pH is a measure of the amount of acid or base in solution. Adding acid lowers the pH. Adding base raises the pH. Adding too much acid one day may require adding base or pH Down the next day. This up and down cycle is referred to as "pH Bounce" Total Alkalinity buffers or absorbs both acid and base in pool water preventing "pH Bounce". Therefore, increasing the amount of Total Alkalinity can improve this situation. The exact amount of Total Alkalinity depends on the Saturation Index, type of sanitizer, temperature, whether it's a spa or pool, stabilizer and other factors but normally it should be somewhere between 60 and 180 PPM TREATMENT: Test all water factors and balance water. See Water Balance/Saturation Index. Pink Slime Pink Slime is a form of bacteria usually brought into the pool or spa by another swimmer who picked it up around a lake or ocean. TREATMENT: Shock the water using double the normal shock rate of chlorine (20 PPM free chlorine). Salty Taste This is normally caused by a high concentration of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). TDS is an accumulation over time of all of the chemicals you've added to the water. Generally, TDS should be kept below 2,000. You can have this tested at a pool supply company. Spas should be totally drained and refilled as recommended by the Personalized Maintenance Schedule to prevent a build up of TDS. TREATMENT: Drain water and refill with fresh water of lower TDS. You can reduce the TDS to half by draining 1/2 of the water and refilling with fresh water. Sudsy or Foamy Water This can be caused by a number of things. Here are some factors which contribute to this: - Algaecides - High Total Dissolved Solids - Soap Residue in Swimmers Clothing - Improper Water Balance TREATMENT: 1.) Test all water factors and balance water as necessary. 2.) If using algaecides, switch to a non-foaming type. 3.) Spas should be drained periodically based on bather load Scale Formation A minimal amount of scale formation that looks like a fine dust is OK. Excess Scale forming on pool surfaces or equipment is an indication of too high a Saturation Index (greater than 0.5). This is caused from improper water balance. See Problem Water Balance/Saturation Index. TREATMENT: 1.) Test water factors and balance water before it is too late. See Problem Water Balance/Saturation Index. 2.) If all factors test Perfect, see a pool professional about Scale Inhibitors. Stains Water which causes stains on the pool, spa or metal surfaces is caused by either improper water balance or heavy metals in solution. Metals can come from the source water. Metals such as manganese and iron are common is some water supplies. DO NOT USE COPPER ALGAECIDES as they are also a source of metal staining. TREATMENT: 1.) Test water and input all results into the main screen Total Alkalinity adjustments will be recommended if needed. 2.) See a pool professional about Stain Inhibitors or Sequestering Agents. 3.) See a pool professional about draining the water and Acid Washing the surfaces to remove stains. . ********************************************************************** This message and its attachments may contain legally privileged or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not disclose or use the information contained in it. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail and delete the e-mail. Any content of this message and its attachments which does not relate to the official business of Eraring Energy must be taken not to have been sent or endorsed by Eraring Energy. No warranty is made that the e-mail or attachment(s) are free from computer virus or other defect. ********************************************************************** [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] To listen to the show archives go to link http://acbradio.org/handyman.html or ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday The Pod Cast address for the Cooking In The Dark Show is. http://www.gcast.com/u/cookingindark/main.xml Visit The Blind Handy Man Files Page To Review Contributions From Various List Members At The Following address: http://www.jaws-users.com/handyman/ Visit the new archives page at the following address http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man list just send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blindhandyman/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blindhandyman/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
