HELP dealing with mustard algae!

[shannon2014]

Having hard time finding DE product - the stuff I found Watermom said not to use - I have gone to both Home Depot and Lowes - would they sell it at a pool store?

[Pappy]

Pool stores will have it. Many of the local walmarts (Dallas Tx area) carry this
http://www.walmart.com/ip/HTH-D.E-Fi...10-lb/20434370

The description is correct, picture is INCORRECT.

[shannon2014]

Here are my readings for today...what do I do next>
FC 30
CC 0
pH 7.6
TA 110
CYA 60

Took same sample to pool store to see what they said..they tried to sell me Balance Pak 100, pH reducer, stabalizer and Balance Pak 300
FC 15(highest can read)
pH 7.8
TA19 with Adj TA 3 (range 80-125)
CYA 54

[Watermom]

Have you passed the overnight test to see if you can go from sundown one evening to sunup the next morning without losing more than 1ppm of chlorine? Is the water clear?

I'm assuming you didn't buy any of that stuff. You need none of it.

[shannon2014]

Water is not 100% clear - hazy in deep end. Unfortunately I have to work the next 2 nights so I cant do that test until Sunday night. One question - what is a safe chlorine level for the kids to swim? I thought I would need to let the chlorine drop some before they can enter the pool. I can test water in mornings. Will post then Thanks Watermom!

[Watermom]

Personally, I'd let the chlorine drop quite a bit before swimming. It probably would not hurt you but it would be tough on swimwear. With a CYA of 60, I wouldn't have a problem swimming with the chlorine at 15 or so but that is personal opinion. Plus, if you have a hazy deep end, you have to be careful with being able to see your kids while they are in there. Post your numbers tomorrow.

[shannon2014]

OK rechecked today - no algae - deep end still hazy but getting clearer. Readings are
FC 33.5
CC0
pH 7.6
TA 140
Did add a bag of salt as it was low (3100) after rain

[shannon2014]

thought I had gotten ahead on algae issue on Friday after 2 days no problems. Was not able to test water last PM prior to going to work but had readings from yesterday AM of
FC 33.5
CC0
pH7.6
TA 140
This morning went down and found a blueish green algae in low end (before was more of a brownsih color) This did not disappear into a cloud when vacuumed or brushed - seemed more "clumpy". Immedaitely vacuumed to waste. Levels were as followed
FC 21.5(huge drop in approx 24 hours)
CC .5
pH7.5
TA 150
CYA 45
Added a bottle of 8.25% bleach - what else should I be doing? Know I need to retest water tonight and add bleach. How much? And TA seems to be climbing. I need to add water (city) to pool later due to drop after vacuuming. Any advice is appreciated!

[Tom.B]

I ain't the expert, but kept my FC level in the upper teens to low twenties for over a week to get rid of my algae problem. To the point where I started to see the liner begin to fade at the seams. I brushed and backwashed every day and also got into the pool and hand rubbed the underwater hardware (steps, ladders, hidden places). Checked my phosphates regularly too.

The mistakes I was making in the past was thinking that you could get rid of algae with a bottle of "stuff" and a vac to waste. Now, after doing my research here, I discovered it's a "process" of staying with it for a couple of weeks to get rid of.

[Watermom]

Shannon,
I am going to ask Ben to pop in on this thread again.

By the way, I combined all three of your threads. It is much easier to help if all the info is in one thread instead of scattered among three. Let's just keep it all in this thread.