Mustard Algea & Copper Algecide ?

[PoolDoc]

Re-reading your post, you definitely want to try the phosphate remover approach.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Order a K2006 kit (if you don't have one) and a K-1106 phosphate kit.

2. Order 2 quarts of Clorox Remover for each 10k gallons in your pool OR order 1 quart of Orenda PR-10000 per 50,000 gallons of pool water. (Read the linked page!)

3. Test BOTH your pool water AND your fill water with BOTH kits (K2006 & K1106)

4. Begin lowering your PO4. The Clorox product seems to work more slowly (a week) but does not cloud your pool, like the Orenda product does.

5. Meanwhile, maintain your pool chlorine level at 15% of your CYA level, and brush the algae regularly.

6. Examine ALL pool products you are using, to make sure none are phosphate based. Ask if necessary.

7. Understand that using phosphate removers is not a one-shot process, but a new maintenance task. You'll both want to REMOVE phosphates and AVOID ADDING more phosphates.

8. An additional benefit of very low PO4 levels is that it will be easier to avoid algae on vacations and over the winter.

[Watermom]

Here is the link to the test kits: http://pool9.net/tk/

[zooba72]

Thank you for the responses. I do own the Taylor K-2006 test kit and use it on a regular basis. I haven't tried the Phosphate approach. Thank you for putting that procedure together. Based upon the responses it would appear that nobody recommends using the copper based algecide. I'll report back once I figure how I'm going to proceed and provide some progress reports. Thanks again!

[PoolDoc]

Actually, some people are quite happy with copper. I don't recommend it, because I can't ID who will be.

BUT, if
a) you have a dark haired family, and
b) a patterned liner, and
c) are not to picky about variations in the pattern (stains), and
d) avoid shocking (spiking chlorine levels) and thus manage to avoid black copper oxide stains,

THEN, you may be quite happy with copper.

But, the view from here isn't sharp enough for us to pick out who those people will be, especially since they are a distinct minority.