*SIGH* Looks Like I Have da' Mustard

[PoolDoc]

Normally, I suggest keeping it elevated a day or 2 AFTER all traces of algae are gone.

[Tom.B]

Normally, I suggest keeping it elevated a day or 2 AFTER all traces of algae are gone.

Hmmm... Very non-specific ;-) How do I know when ALL TRACES of algae are gone? I have to say that it has felt gone before and it came back again... and again... and again... and... well, you get the picture. It appears that most, if not all of it SEEMS to be gone. So maybe I will keep high until next weekend, then slowly let it drop to it's Best Guess level.

In other words: Nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure. :-D

[PoolDoc]

With the possibility of liner bleaching, I wouldn't necessarily wait a week to let levels drop. Usually, liner bleaching is not a problem. But unfortunately on some liners, levels of chlorine effective against mustard overlap the levels that can cause bleaching.

This is not a process that someone like Consumer Reports has carefully studied and optimized, with exact data collection and meaningful statistical analysis of that data.

Pool chemical companies have NO interest in spending serious research $$$'s to find out how to optimize algae removal with cheap, unprofitable chlorine.

So you have to fly by the seat of your pants, to some degree.

[BigDave]

Hmmm... Very non-specific ;-)

Nope, not specific. Specific leads to chasing numbers which leads to over-adjusting which leads to running to the pool store for someone to "Tell me what to do!". That's not best for you. take it easy. Move a little at a time. Set targets and sneak up on them.

[Tom.B]

Well... As y'all predicted, I am now beginning to see signs of bleaching of my liner. Sooo... I supposed it's time to let it come down. I hope I am not too late. We got a 15-year liner about 4 years ago, but I would bet the warranty won't cover this. Oh well. On the brightside, it looks like the algae is gone. "So I got THAT going for me... Which is nice."

[PoolDoc]

Warranties don't cover bleaching.

But bleaching is pretty literally just 'skin-deep', and doesn't affect the functional longevity of the liner. (Personally I'd prefer a white liner: blue makes pools in Georgia hot, and white pool walls make the water look more 'blue' when the water is in really good condition.)

[Tom.B]

Well, after five days, the Kem-Tek did virtually nothing to lower my phosphates. It's still at, or near 1000 :-( I have just added another dose (1 quart) and we will see what happens. I wonder if the high FC reduces its effect. Nothing on the label addresses it.

[PoolDoc]

How are you testing? With the Aqua-Chek, or the Taylor? ( I scanned back very quickly, but didn't see)

The reason I'm asking is that I found the Aqua Check and the Taylor matched fairly well below 1 ppm, but not above. At 1 ppm or higher, the AquaCheck made no distinctions -- with samples with 1 ppm and 3 ppm PO4 appearing identical to me.

If you're using the Aqua Check, you need to dilute your test samples to results of 0.5 PO4 or less, and then multiple back. (Mix 1/4 cup fill water with 3/4 cup distilled water, test, then multiple x4).