Green Pool - AARRGGHH

For anything to do with the garden and pool
Clexane
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Green Pool - AARRGGHH

Post by Clexane »

Just got a call from my guests that the pool seems to be turning a shade of green. PANIC STATIONS .... We are off site ... ring the caretakers who cleaned it yesterday morning and noticed nothing. Now we hear that it does have a touch of green to it. :shock:

Our caretakers swear that they have been putting the clorine in, taking the PH and even put anti-algae last week. So what has gone wrong ...

We hit it with the chloroshock and its on the comeback.

What do you guys think went wrong ... is it just the chlorine? How do you get your pools maintained and how much do you pay. We paid our caretakers extra but not sure we can trust them to do it anymore or do you think its part of a learning curve.

How do we make sure this doesn't happen again. We really pride ourselves for providing a five star standard property that is impeccably clean and just can't have this sort of thing happen :oops:
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Alan Knighting
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Post by Alan Knighting »

Clexane,

I live on-site so it is probably unfair for me to answer but that has never stopped me so far.

I test and, if necessary, balance my pool every morning. I use multi-function slow dissolving tablets all the time. Amongst other things they contain chlorine and anti-algae. In times of heavy use and/or times of hot weather I also shock treat about once every two weeks and, rarely, add some anti-algae. Seems to the trick.

I can only assume that your pool is not getting enough frequent attention.

Regards

Alan
la vache!
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Post by la vache! »

We have had similar problems in the past with our pool. If you have done the chlor choc treatment and it is still green, the the chlorine isn't working. Please have a look at the following link from the Living France forum, there is some advice there as people always seem to be having similar problems with their pools!
http://forums.livingfrance.com/shwmessa ... eID=191504

For my part, I got fed up of the ph and chlorine levels always being OK on the test, but algae still appearing. The trouble is chemical treatments are self perpetuating, the more choc and algaecide treatments you use, the more you have to then keep using them until the level of chemicals gets so high you eventually have to drain the pool and start again.

I have gone for a new automated method of pool hygiene, which I have been using for several weeks and the pool has never looked better. It is a mineral sanitizer, called PoolRX which cost about 140€ and lasts 6 months. It controls the algae by using minerals such as copper. A huge advantage for me is that you use much less chlorine, up to 75% less, SO the pool is really nice to swim in, no stinging eyes!
Here is the link to the website if you are interested in having a look.

http://www.poolrx.com/PoolRX/poolrx/guide.html
Fraise
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Re: Green Pool - AARRGGHH

Post by Fraise »

[:

Our caretakers swear that they have been putting the clorine in, taking the PH and even put anti-algae last week. So what has gone wrong ...


How do we make sure this doesn't happen again. We really pride ourselves for providing a five star standard property that is impeccably clean and just can't have this sort of thing happen :oops:[/quote]



I don't know what you can do but I pay some guys to come twice a week to do the pool.We have a chart that my husband devised to tick at every stage.Everthing ticked,great...no.They had been trying to keep the chlorine levels much too high,so loads of chlorine being used,loads of PH minus.Luckily this happened in the 2 weeks I had vacant in June so I was going round checking things out.Because I was around I was able to sort it ,sheer good luck! I look after our pool here.It is now sorted and they are putting the right amounts of everything in.,Do your caretakers know what they are doing? Our people had got it wrong,they were doing it from memory.If they don't really know what they are doing you'll need to employ a pool specialist who does!! If you get an automated system that makes life easier-we're having one put in that pool for next year (about 2,500 €),and your caretakers might manage a bit better!!! Another long ramble,sorry :?

www.thepetitmanoir.com
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Ciapolin
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Post by Ciapolin »

Not that this helps you much, but we had a pool in the UK. Whenever there was a thunderstorm, it turned a 'beautiful' emerald green. What's the weather been like where you are?!
Carole-Anne
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Clexane
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Post by Clexane »

Thanks for the links and advice.

There has been uncharacteristic late storms lately after really hot days in Provence so maybe this is contributing to this.

I have the caretakers rewatching the 'how to do it' video and I think I might try Susans product if it is available in france???
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la vache!
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Post by la vache! »

Hi Clexane,
PoolRX it is available in France, I got it from my swimming pool installer Desjoyaux, who have always used it in their pools. If you do a search on Google, you will find suppliers. It is so easy to use, just a device put into the skimmer baskets. Previously, I wasn't able to swim more than twice a week before, due to a chlorine allergy, but now only one slow release chlorine gallet in the basket is required, there is much less chlorine in the pool and I can swim every day with no skin problems.
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Alan Knighting
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Post by Alan Knighting »

Susan,

As the owner of a "standard" chlorine pool I look with a little envy at some other owners who have different maintenance systems. Most of them have salt pools but there are also newer products such as the Philips UV system. They share two features, they are relatively expensive to install but they are automatic and involve much less intervention from the owner.

The PoolRX system appears to be a very attractive alternative. It is not expensive, it does not require the installation of new equipment, it is economical in its use of chemicals and it cuts down on regular maintenance. Sounds good to me and I think I will give it a try.

Like Clexane, Joan and I really pride ourselves for providing a five star standard property that is impeccably clean and that applies equally to the pool. We frequently get compliments about the condition of the pool but it can be very time taking to keep it that way.

Guess at what I was doing at 7.00 this morning. You got it in one - cleaning the pool before the sun gets too hot. Air temperatures in the shade are in the mid-30's this week.

Regards

Alan
Clexane
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Post by Clexane »

Thanks Susan,

Desjoyaux installed our pool as well. So I think its time to get the caretakers to pay them a visit. Thanks!

Alan,

I envy you. One of the things I love to do when I visit my villa is clean the pool. I know this may sound absolutely nuts but compared to my lifestyle in central London where a pool is a mere dream it is a great stress relief and makes me really get that holiday feeling.
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la vache!
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Post by la vache! »

Alan,
I don't know if you are still in regular contact with your pool supplier, they may be able to give you more advice on the PoolRX. It is in a way an added expense, 140€ for 6 months, but then you do save on the amount of chlorine and other chemicals required for maintenance. I just found that no matter how hard I tried to follow the rules on pool maintenance, it still went (nearly) green at least twice during the season. It sounds like you have no such problems! It is though, I have to say, lovely to swim in a pool with no noticeable chlorine.
You have my sympathy on the temperature front, it is too hot here in Brittany for me today, so it must be very difficult further south! Still, it makes for happy holidaymakers, which is the important thing.
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Alan Knighting
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Post by Alan Knighting »

Clexane,

I take an optimistic view on life so cleaning the pool or sitting on the grass cutter I call therapeutic, not boring. Sad, isn't it?

I don't have the problems but that it a direct result of the constant attention given to the pool. I am sure, if I relaxed for one moment, the problems would manifest themselves. Similarly, there is no evidence of the presence of chlorine in my pool unless someone has a chlorine alergy - constant attention again. What I would like is to maintain the status quo but cut down on my personal time involved.

Regards

Alan
Clexane
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Post by Clexane »

Susan,

I have contacted Desjoyaux and they did not know what I was talking about when I asked for PoolRX. Is it called something else in France. If not what branch of Desjoyaux did you call so I can get our local office to contact them.

Thanks
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la vache!
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Post by la vache! »

Clexane,
My Desjoyaux pool was supplied by Societé Kopec in Rennes, tel. 02 99 41 57 46
They should be able to help you if you give them a ring. I'm sure there are several internet sites where you can purchase it too, all over Europe. It is called PoolRX in France, the name is no different.
Susan
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Alan Knighting
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Post by Alan Knighting »

A Google search "PoolRX + France" will give you plenty alternatives.
Clexane
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Post by Clexane »

Alan, Susan

Just found out you can order from the states and it cost US$89. They seem to offer free delivery to France which sems odd. I will probably call them on Monday to see if its actually the case - if so it seems a much cheaper way to go about it.

This would not be unusual as I find that very often you can get the same product or service at lower cost using an alternate gateway through another country.
So you wanted a holiday home in france ...

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