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

[duraleigh]

Has your water changed since you posted last? Tell us what it looks like.....can you still see visible algae?......what's the clarity?

[waterbear]

If you can find another pool store to do a test ... do it.

Your PH is higher than it should be at a time when you're trying to kill an algae bloom. You want to shoot for the low end of the range, like about 7.2
Actually, when trying to kill algae a pH of around 7.8 will favor the formation of monochoramine which is extremely effective at killing algae but is very short lived. This is exactly how the ammonia based 'chlorine enhancer' type of algae killers work! If you do this be sure an keep the chlorine levels as constant as you can for best results.
This makes the chlorine more effective as an oxidant and can almost double the effectiveness of PH near the 8 level.

Sure hope you get your kit from Ben real soon. It would be a big help now.

Sounds sorta ... kinda like you've got the chlorine level in the right ballpark. Keep the brush active. The algae the grows ON the pool is the hardest to kill off. The brush is critial.

Hope this helps.

[debs_pool]

Has your water changed since you posted last? Tell us what it looks like.....can you still see visible algae?......what's the clarity?

18X36 regtangle 4ft deep then slopes to 6ft then to 8 ft ...

The shallow end is faily clear (not crystal clear) until it slopes off then the water is a little bit darker and gets to almost an dark aqua color in the deep end. I can see the sloped sides of the deep end and I can even see the main drain (not very well at all)

I will be glad when it gets crystal clear -- but it's hard to have POP sometimes! (especially for a newbie that's learning about my own pool stuff finally!)

It looks like there is some -- but a lot less of the mustard algae in a few areas -- the sloped walls in the deep end look better -- can't really see too much there now. There are a few places on the steps -- but a lot less.

I guess I will put more bleach (2 gal) in the pool in a bit and brush it again in a bit -- right now the sun is right on part of it.

I've brushed it 3X today. LOL Does this count for exercise?

I'm sure this would be easier if I had Ben's kit -- but I'm trying to work with my Wal-Mart special until Ben's kit arrives. And, of course, I'm coming here to get advice too -- and I'll still do that even AFTER I get Ben's kit! I hope I'm not driving you guys/gals nutso! However, I am driving myself NUTSO!

Thank you for all your help. I appreciate it VERY VERY VERY much!

[brent.roberts]

this routine will certainly count for exercise, mentally and physically.

Evan thanks for that bit on the PH and fighting algae. Never saw anyone say anything like that here before. All the references I read ( not close to everything posted here however ) said pretty unanimously that 7.2 to 7.3 made chlorine more effective.

[debs_pool]

Yes, Evan, a great big THANK YOU! : ) I meant to thank you in my previous post -- but then I went off on a rant! LOL I appreciate EVERY ONE who has responded to my post! Thanks! You guys/gals are the best!

[duraleigh]

Hi, Deb,

It sounds like you are making a little progress, albeit slowly.

Since your dilution test seems to indicate around 10ppm, you'll need a little more than three gallons to bring it back up to 20....not the two gallons you indicated.

Since you've been on this about four days, I think you may be getting close based on your water description. Keep plugging the bleach in there, especially at night, and I think your pool will clear.

[duraleigh]

Evan,

based on your post, are you suggesting the most effective method for fighting algae would be to raise (hopefully not lower!) pH to 7.8 then attack it with Cl?

[debs_pool]

Comments and suggestions and encouragment requested AGAIN! Thanks to every one of who have responded to me by post or PM -- I appreciate you!
(P.S. Madty -- please clear your PM box! LOL)

So here are my NUMBERS FOR TODAY:

7/14/06 (tested w/Wal-Mart kit) (Woo-hoo - received email today to say Ben's kit has been shipped out to me! )

Cl: ORANGE / retested 1/2 pool water & 1/2 distilled water (yellow - kind of dark)
Also tested it with a Cl strip from my friend's janitorial supply place (best I can tell - it was in the 10 - 50 ppm range (guide went up to 200 ppm for the strip)

Ph: 7.3

TA: 150 ppm

CYA: no test (no reagent) (was 40 when tested by my local pool store 7/10)

Clarity of water:

[B]Shallow End: Clear -- but not "crystal clear"
Slope(s) to deep: Clear -- around edges -- could kind of see middle
Deep End: Can see sloped sides
Bottom w/main drain: can see drain but not clearly (but I think better than yesterday

I've been keeping the BLEACH bottles busy! I am planning on vacuuming to waste tomorrow morning (then I'll have to add tap water! or my pump won't run! LOL -- that's really not funny) -- and then keeping the bleach going again tomorrow. Today my grass was mowed -- so some dirt probably got in my pool too! Geesh! Is this a TEST OF POP?

I still have some Bioguard Sanitizer - Everyday Chlorinating Granules (Will I ever use these?) What do you do with "stuff that you got from the pool store before you found the pool forum?"

THANKS again for ALL your help! I appreciate VERY VERY much!

[debs_pool]

Woo-hoo! I got Ben's kit in the mail today!

My numbers are:

FC: 19
CC: 0
TC: 19
ph: 7.6
Alk: 160
Cal: 150
Cya: 40
Temp: 83.5
Tested about 4:15 CST

(I am going to post my 1st test #'s also in that thread.)

I believe this mustard algae is just about ALL GONE and the deep end of my pool is cloudy but I can see the main drain better.

I must have been keeping pretty consistent with the bleach and the high FC since I began this on MONDAY!

Do I continue? Can I decrease the bleach? But the main question I have is ... WHEN CAN I SWIM? WE ARE HAVING A MAJOR HEAT WAVE!!!!

Can we get in if we don't get the water in our eyes? And wash off right after?

THANKS TO ALL OF YOUR THAT HAVE HELPED ME! When I figure out how to take pics & post pics I'll send a shot so you can see what you helped me with!

[brent.roberts]

Sounds like you've won the battle, just got to clear the water and the war will be over.

The water is in pretty good shape. Should think about getting the alk down once you're swimming again and having some pleasure from the pool.

Have you been putting a bit of DE in your filter to help clear it. Get a bag from the pool store. Backwash and start filtering again ... not the pressure carefully.
Start adding the DE to the skimmer about a cup at a time until the pressure goes up 1 PSI. Walk away and leave the filter running. You'll see a big difference in the water in 24 hours.

I'd be thinking about putting the poly 60 algecide in about now too.

With the CC at 0 I think you could start to let the chlorine drift down over the next few days and then stabilize it to match you CYA.