Need some help. Just moved into a new home Memorial Day. Around that time the pool had a bad algae outbreak. I did a heavy treatment and got rid of it and have kept up weekly maintenance treatments since. The water quality in the pool was bad overall when we moved in but I've now got the CYA, chlorine and PH at stable, ideal levels.

Despite all this, I'm now on my third round of bugs. Water boatmen and backswimmers. Each time I've done a heavy shock and algaecide and they go away, only to reappear a week later. I know the boatmen eat algae but there is no visibly algae in the pool.

What am I not doing right?

Stop using trichlor tablets (CYA buildup) and algaecide (copper buildup). Visit troublefreepool.com and start reading. Get a decent test kit like a Taylor K-2006c (if not done already).

Keep your chlorine levels high for a few days like troublefreepool recommendeds instead of a traditional "shock". Scrub and vacuum the pool during this time. Also make sure your pump filter basket has been cleaned and depending on filter type it probably needs to be broken down and cleaned.

Algae needs low chlorine levels, warm water and a food source to survive. The water temp is right for it. I am sure your chlorine levels are good but there is probably a small food source hidden somewhere in your system.

The SLAM
https://www.troublefreepool.com/blog/2018/12/12/slam-shock-level-and-maintain/

Check your phosphate level too, try to get them as low as you can.

As mentioned, get a good rest kit and do SLAM. Be willing to do a partial drain and refill as odds are high your CYA is elevated and making your chlorine less effective. They sound like a big deal, but you can rent a sump pump and hose from HD for about $50 and get the thing drained and refilled in the course of a day. It will really help set you down a good path long term and is something I would do most springs after getting lazy over the winter.

Just use your pool pump and set it to drain if you have a multi port valve. Drained my pool last summer in a few hours.

Gotta love the dichlor/trichlor trap. Gotta keep the pool service and stores in business.

Anyone having any luck sourcing liquid chlorine to avoid CYA buildup?

you can just use regular bleach

RynoAg said:

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Anyone having any luck sourcing liquid chlorine to avoid CYA buildup?

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Pinch a Penny Pool Supply

What do you guys run your CYA at? I recently bumped mine to about 50 ppm because I literally could not keep chorine in the pool.

Cya is at 70 but I run a saltwater pool. FC usually adding 4-5 with CYA at that level.

Troublefreepool.com Pool Math app is your friend!