Biguanides - Soft Swim, Baquacil, Revacil; this is water chemistry that works well, but you must follow the rules.

Question:
Looks like we have created an algae monster.  We have in in-ground heated exercise pool 5 feet wide, 10 feet long, sloping from 3 to 5 feet and deep end.  Our pool poured concrete and part of our foundation INSIDE our covered screen porch – never any sun –we both have skin cancer problems.  The pool is fiberglass coated.  It is now covered with a yellow coating that we thought was due metal in our well water.  It isn’t. It has an unpleasant odor, so we decided to drain and clean it with stow-away.  As it was draining, I rubbed the yellow, and some came loose.  I smelled my finger – and realized the smell was from the coating.  After getting to your website for advice, we realize we have a “chronic” problem.  So we will use Stow-away on all surfaces, and flushing the stowaway water through the system.  We will also pressure clean the surfaces.  Is there anything else we need to do before we refill? 

Can we use softened water from our well when we refill, or is it ok to just use well water?

Response:
Let's start with the easy question first.  Softened water is OK if you're topping up OR if you have LOTS of heavy metals or minerals present.  If these minerals (not addressing the metals right now) are NORMAL or LOW, don't waste the softener.  If you choose to NOT use the softener, then add a maintenance dose or BioGuard Pool Magnet AND BioGuard Scale Inhibitor.  Those products are probably a good idea anyway especially if the water is kept warm.

Now on to the yellow film.  Your pool sounds very similar to one of local customers.  Indoor, about 2000 gallons, for exercise/therapeutic use, Soft Swim.  Here's what we have successfully prescribed for his chemical regimen.

Maintain Soft Swim "B" at no higher than 30 ppm.
Maintain Soft Swim "C" at a higher level - between 60 -80.
Keep the water well balanced - pH 7.4 - 7.6, TA 125, CH 200.
Use Optimizer Plus at a maintained level of 60 to 80 ppm.  Initially add about 8 to 10 lbs. Optimizer Plus over 3 days.  Adjust the pH as necessary.  The Optimizer will do a good job at preventing algae & allowing the "B" & "C" to do a better job & most likely last longer.  On top of that, the water will stay better balanced & the water will feel even softer & nicer.
Test the water weekly.  Brush the pool surface a couple of times per week.

If you notice, I didn't say anything about "A".  I presume that you folks have a jet swim or Badu Jet unit.  If you do, adding any algaecide will create a LOT of foam (don't want).
We want to prevent White Water Mold & Pink Slime as well.
 

Question:
Hi, I live in Utah and so I can't come in....  My local pool store doesn't seem to have an answer to my question so I thought I would try you.  I use Softswim in my 4500 gal. pool and I can't stand the taste... I can't explain the taste except like my grandkids say, "it's yucky".  It stays with you long after swimming.  It also makes your hair feel really yucky also.  I know that I'm not local but if you have any suggestions I would surely appreciate it.

Response:
If you have that taste, sort of nutty-ish, it means that your "B" level is too high.  Don't add any for at least 7 to 10 days or wait until the level goes down under 30 ppm.  At that point top up ONLY to 30 ppm.  For right now, you can try adding a couple of inches of water, that will help dilute it down a bit.

Be sure to shock the pool every month with a full gallon of "C".  That should take care of your problem.