Newbie with ?'s (mustard algae) (Deb)

[debs_pool]

Hi. Thanks for taking the time to help me out. I've ordered one of Ben's kits (yesterday) after reading TONS of great material about pools on this site! (And Thanks for all the good advice too! Now, I need to learn how to apply some of that wonderful advice!

Here's my pool numbers with a Wal-Mart HTH drop kit:
(Note: My first time to do this myself -- I usually just take everything to the pool store to have it checked. In fact, I guess I just believe everything they say; because I never even get a print out or anything! They just tell me what I need -- and I buy it!)

So when they told me I had "mustard algae" they said I needed to buy some BANISH (man is that stuff high $$$!) and I put that in my pool an hour (beccause that's what they told me to do) after I shocked the pool (with Burn Out Extreme) (sometimes use Everday Chlorinating Granules) and brushed the walls.

I still see spots of this "yellow algae" on the bottom and on the wall sides. Should I brush every night? Do I shock every night? I'm very confused.

This afternoon:

pH - 7.2
Cl - 5 ppm
Total Alkalinity - 160 ppm
CYA - 60 ppm
Hardness - never changed to red color (I have a vinyl pool, so does this matter?)

Are these all the numbers I need? Does it look like I did this right? My pool info is in my signature. Also, I just had my sand changed last week and that cost $130! (mostly for labor!)

Thanks in advance for your help/suggestions/advice! Please let me know of any additional information you might need.

[CarlD]

Raise your FC to 20ppm with bleach and keep it there until the algae is dead. Test 2 to 3x/day and add bleach to keep the FC up.

Brush and vacuum to waste every day and keep the FC up for a day or two after it's perfectly clear.

Simple to fix. Simple, but not easy.

[debs_pool]

Carl,

Thank you for your response. I'll go dump some bleach in my pool! : ) And I'll do the vacuum to waste task! I have been vacuuming my pool after brushing. I will work on this tonight and tomorrow and repost some numbers on Monday. Thanks again.

P.S. I'm not sure I exactly understand this FC. Am I trying to raise my Cl # to 20 ppm? Thanks.

[Madty]

It will be hard to get FC, TC, CC from the Wal Mart testers. I got my Ben's test yesterday- AWESOME. I've had mustard algea this week as well. I put in Yellow Out and boy did it eat my chlorine. I brush daily and it continued to return in the same spots. It's been about 4 days and it looks as though it's all gone. Don't think you needed to change filter sand. Bleach, bleach, bleach. Mine was at 22.5 FC 0 cc, today 16 FC, 0 cc. You must keep it high for a couple of days. Keep brushing daily. It will work. I've went through about 20 jugs of bleach this week!

[debs_pool]

Madty,

Thanks for your response. Can anyone tell me is it okay to swim while I'm working on this? I have people asking if they can come swim.

Thanks for everyone's help.

And, yes, it will be GREAT when I get a REAL test kit!

[CarlD]

No, I cannot recommend it. The algae will consume your chlorine leaving you with none to protect against the important stuff--water-borne diseases from viruses and bactera.