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.

[Simmons99]

I wouldn't swim with the chlorine at shock levels

[debs_pool]

Thanks again in advance. I have more ?'s.

I brushed the walls on my pool last night and put in bleach. I'm not sure if I've put in too much now or not.
(I run my pump 24/7)

Also, I vacuumed to waste and had to add a bunch of water. Do I need to vacuum to waster EVERY time until this clears up? It looks like it's better - just a few places on the walls ...

Here are my Guess Strips and then my Wal-Mart test kit readings from this AM and this afternoon:

AM: (before church)
Test (Guess) Strips:

Br - (is this cl?) 10
FC - 10 (no higher number on container)
Tot Alk - between 125 - 150
pH: 7.4
CYA (not available on test strip)

Wal Mart Kit - AM

TC 10 + (the water was orange and didn't match anything) What does that mean?
FC - (can't test with Wal-Mart kit)
Tot Alk - 190 ppm
pH: 7.2
CYA 80 ppm

Here are my afternoon readings (about 2pm CST)

Guess Strip:
Br(cl?) 5-10 (closer to 10)
FC: 10
pH: 7.4
Tot Alk: 125

Wal-Mart Kit

Cl: 10+ (still orange color - didn't match anything)
FC: (no test on kit)
Tot Alk: 160 ppm
pH: 7.3
CYA: 60 ppm

Do I need to take another reading today after the sun's off my pool?

I'm wondering HOW MUCH BLEACH do I need to put in the pool tonight? (After I brush the walls of course!)

The shallow end is pretty clear. I can see the main drain on the deep end, but the water is not as clear as the shallow end.

Will I need to vacuum to waste again in the morning?

Please forgive me for asking so many questions, (I have more but they probably belong in other threads) but I really want to learn. Maybe Ben's kit will arrive this week!

And I hope nobody comes and gets in my pool when I am not at home! That has happened to me before!

I know I need to have some patience too. Thanks for being patient with me!

[Madty]

I only vacuumed to waste once. I have kept my chlorine around 20, CYA 30. I do brush daily. I barely had any today. I used to come back a couple of hours after I swept. Use bleach calc to determine shock amount. Keep at it- mine took about a week. We did swim at 20 pm. Some irritated eyes but that's about it. I'm waiting till it gets down to 5 from now on!

[dawndenise]

debs_pool: I am also a newbie but can answer a few of your questions. Hopefully, more knowledgeable advice will continue to follow from others.

I used the hTh 6-way Wal-Mart test kit prior to receiving Ben's. When I was trying to kill the "stuff" in the pool, I called the 800# on the package to see what color my chlorine test would be if I had MORE than 5ppm. They said it would be an orange color.

How are you measuring chlorine at 10+ with the hTh Wal-Mart kit? Are you using the shot glass method?

To know how much bleach to put into your pool, follow madty's advice and use the Bleach Calculator, referenced in various threads. Based on your pool size and how much you want to increase your chlorine reading, it will calculate how much 5.25% bleach or 6% bleach you will need. It will even calculate how much bleach if you use a bargain brand with a much lower concentration. There are lots of other very helpful calculations available with that tool, as well.

Follow CarlD's advice...that's it in a nutshell! Good luck!

Sandy