Low ph and algae

[PoolDoc]

If you're pool is 26' x 4', the volume is ~14,000 gallons. If it's 26' x 4.5' (54"), it's ~15,000 gallons.

Do this:

1. Check the chlorine again. If the level is greater than 5.0 ppm, you'll need to get a gallon of *DISTILLED* water are Walmart. Mix 1/2 of pool water with 1/2 cup of DISTILLED and retest the pH of the mix. If you use DISTILLED (not bottled, spring, etc.) your pH reading should be about accurate. The problems that high chlorine can screw up phenol red pH testing.

2. Your pH is too low. A pH reading of 6.8 may mean 6.8 . . . OR, it can mean anything below 6.8, such as 5.0 which will damage your liner rapidly. Add 1 box of borax at a time, to the skimmer with the pump running. Do NOT remove the skimmer basket. Retest your pH after 2 hours of pump run time. Continue adding borax until the pH is 7.0 or greater. (Keep up with how many boxes of borax you add - it may matter later!)

The water never got green-green but had green spots. I vacuum e them up and a day or two they come back.

3. You're describing mustard algae. It's VERY chlorine resistant. This page covers some more details => http://pool9.net/algae-m/.

4. Meanwhile, each time it re-appears add 2 gallons of bleach in the EVENING and then brush all the spots.

5. Polyquat (algaecide 60) is not particularly helpful with mustard algae. It certainly won't hurt, but won't fix the problem, either.

6. Question: are you near open water? (I'm trying to figure out why some pools are prone to mustard algae, and others aren't.)

Post your results from pH testing, and let us know what you think after you read about the mustard algae options.



4. Retest your alkalinity, once you get your pH above

[cdingess]

Ok I did what you said and my ph is now 7.5 after 1 box boraxe yay!!!! The oto was >5 so I put 2 gallons of bleach in. I'll check both tomorrow evening. Hopefully it's all gone. Also, I do have a large pond in the property. I haven't had the solar cover on the pool since this all began, would it be safe to put on if I hear it's going to rain? Thanks Christina

[PoolDoc]

Yes, you can cover it. But make sure 10 - 20% of the pool remains uncovered.

When you are removing 'goo', including algae, volatile chlorinated compounds form ('stinky' chlorine). They can't leave a fully covered pool.

And . . . be SURE to keep the chlorine high during the rain; algae often gets ahead of pool owners when it's raining, because the pool gets ignored.

[cdingess]

Should I check my numbers daily even if I don't see algae just for preventive or stick with strips?

[Watermom]

You already know what we are going to say to that question. Yes! Test chlorine and pH daily. If you do so and keep your chlorine levels where they need to be, you won't get algae in the first place! No 'guess-strips.' Get a Taylor K2006 kit or 2006C (better buy). You need it to manage your pool properly. It isn't available locally but you can get it through this link:> http://pool9.net/tk/

[cdingess]

Thank you thank you thank you!!!! Hopefully algae will be gone!

[cdingess]

Man this difficult. Ok my ph is 7.5 my oto is orange with my test kit and I still had 2-3 small spots of algae so I put 2 gallons of bleach in after vacuming the pool. Now how do I treat orange oto or is that ok due the bleach from yesterday?? Christina