Copper??? Nooooo!

[shadowman]

I just got back from the pool store with a new solar blanket. I happened to mention that my old one only lasted 4 years. After telling the guy that I left it on with some rather high chlorine levels due to mustard algae and high CYA, he advised me to use copper algecide for mustard algae next time. This would, he assured me, prolong the life of the cover.

I am so thankful for the years I have been reading this forum so I can benefit from all the horror stories. Needless to say, I left without the copper.

I think I am actually going to be able to swim tomorrow :D The earliest season in 5 years!

[chem geek]

If you want to have minimum FC levels (relative to CYA), then there are some options without side effects that you can do. One is to use PolyQuat 60 weekly, but of course that's extra ongoing cost (around $2-3 per week for a typical pool).

Another option is to use 50 ppm Borates since they are a mild algaecide (algistat). We don't have enough experience to know if they will help keep away mustard/yellow algae, but it does seem to inhibit green algae growth at least somewhat. The Borates would mostly be a one-time cost, with some additional for making up for dilution.

Richard

[shadowman]

Thanks CG. The only algae I have ever had in the past two years is mustard algae. I will probably get some polyquat soon because I really got tired of shocking last year. So far this year my water has been pristine but it has also been cold. Now that it is warming, I am getting nervous.