"oreo123" wrote in message
...
low alcilinity (sp?). I assume that is why the pool is a bit green. I
installed some chemical to raise it last night. Its above ground 4 feet
deep. I cannot see the bottom and keep vacuuming up leaves from the
bottom.

1. is it a waste to place that chemical in there if there are still a few
leaves at the bottom?

2. cholorine is low. Just shocked. Will shocking affect the alki level?

TIA.

Green color comes from algae. It can also be brown or yellow. It can be
killed by adding algaecide, or superchlorinating. Either way, clean your
filter afterward, because all the dead algae will be in there. It will just
change color, and if you leave it in there, it will turn an ugly shade.
Dead stuff is dead stuff and it behaves just like roadkill. Just gets riper
and riper.

You say you have leaves and stuff. They are prime carriers of algae and
green gook. Keep the pool as clean as you can by emptying the skimmer
regularly, and using a pool strainer to pick up all the surface stuff.
Vacuum, or get a Hayward automatic vacuum.

YES! You are wasting time and money to add chemicals to a pool that has
organic materials in it unless you want to start a composting toilet. That
stuff rots, and to neutralize it would require so much chemicals that you
wouldn't be able to swim in it without it eating your protruding body parts
off.

If you concentrate on keeping your pool clean, your problems will go down
dramatically. Get a stabilizer test kit, and stabilize your water. This
keeps the chlorine from just evaporating into the air. It keeps more
chlorine working in the water, so that it lasts longer, bringing the cost
down.

Alkalinity (ph) is easy to treat. Algae can be a REAL booger it if gets
concentrated enough to cause you to acid wash it, or change your liner.

Concentrate on keeping the gook out of it. Do you use a cover? Sounds like
you need to if you are getting that much leaves in it. Test often so that
it doesn't get too far out of whack. If your pool is green, you have not
been taking care of it and checking it as often as you should.

No offense.

Steve