Mustard Algae continued...

Hey,

I have been keeping my chlorine at 15 ppm as much as I possibly could all week since getting back home on Saturday. I want to add another bottle of polyquat 60 algecide, and thought about letting my FC drop to 3ppm, before adding, and then going back to shock levels for a few days. I believe there is some skepticism about adding poly/60 algecide with high chlorine levels. If that is true, and I drop to 3ppm and then add qt of algecide, and then shock, is that basically going to put me back at square one eventually, as if I added the algecide at shock values in the first place?

If anyone knows which I should do at this point, please advise!

Thanks,
John

My advice would be to keep the chlorine levels high. Chlorine remains the best tool to combat algae. Polyquat is a second line treatment/defense. Most people here use it as a preventative more than as a treatment. If you feel you must add it, I would keep the chlorine at shock levels.

JMHO,

EricF

CUTURHAIR I was having a similar issue as yours, mustard algae on the sides, shelfs, etc. My problem is now gone. I held chloring at 16-20PPM for 2 days, kept pump running and put in a quart of polyquat and brushed sides. Then I let the chlorine come back down. So far it has not returned and I am doing maintenance doses of polyquat.

Polyquat is usually used as preventative but it does seem to kill algae as well. I have large fountain with a pump that is always getting algae in it. Just for kicks I threw in some polyquat and it cleared up the algae and also made the water in the fountain incredibly clear, I was shocked how well it did.

good luck,
-- john

Ok, I must still be battling mustard algae. I dropped from 15ppm to 11ppm overnight, last night. We did get a lot of rain yesterday, so that could be part of it, but I feel like I am still seeing small traces of the mustard algae. I didn't add a second quart of poly 60 algecide yet. It has been about 9 days of trying to keep chlorine at 15, since returning from vacation. There were some days when I couldn't stay on top of it, but for the majority of it, I am checking and dosing at least 3 or more times throughout the day.

So, do I just keep doing this longer I assume? I am going through bleach like crazy! Brushing and vacuuming as well.

My Ph is 7.5
Alk 90
CYA is about 35 now

Anything else I need to be doing/changing?

Thanks,
John in NC, TIRED of the mustard battle!!

John,

Are you sure it is still algae? I have had a large amount of "crap" blow in my pool with all of the rain. It won't hurt to add some more of the poly 60 as well, at least maintainance dose levels.

Joe

I was fooled as well with the rains...I thought for sure mine was back....but it was just gritty dirt.

I am really not sure at this point! LOL! There was very little in the pool this morning. A lot of what I did see was from the rains/wind, etc. I have tried to shock about 15 several times over the last few days (like 17), at night, and around 15 throughout the day, and today did look like the least amount I have seen, so I am going to keep doing this routine and see what happens after the rain STOPS!

I will keep y'all posted! I PRAY this stuff is gone! I will also add more poly 60, but am not sure if I should let chlorine drop down closer to like 3 and then apply another quart or just add it at shock levels?

Thanks,
John in NC