Problem with mustard algae

[PoolDoc]

Mustard algae is VERY easy to brush off -- but it's apparently hard to remove 100% since it tends to return to the same spots.

I'd just dose with 4 gallons of plain 6% household bleach AND 1 lb of dichlor each evening, till you get the reagent. And, brush your spots daily, preferably right after adding the chlorine.

(I'm sure that somewhere there's a pool store that sells Taylor FAS-DPD reagents, but I've never heard of one that did so.)

[NREAGAN]

Will follow your advice, thank you !....So basically I'm just keeping the full bloom at bay, right? It's just puzzling that the water is clear, yet I still have these recurring spots ...... anyway the dilemma I have is that my family is going on vacation this weekend for a week, so I was going to have to have my father tend to the pool.. Should i just have him follow these instructions? It may be hard for me to explain the whole testing thing to him. ( he may be able to do simple test, but the other one may be a stretch) lol originally I was going to put 4 trichlor pucks in and hope for the best, but now nice I have this mustard algae issue, Im not sure what my best plan of action would be. Thanks again

[NREAGAN]

Also, should I be vacuuming to waste the little spots of algae? Should I do anything with the filter sand? It has been probably 5 years since we changed it. De in filter? Thanks again for all your help

[PoolDoc]

1. Do let your father follow a routine like that, but it may not need to be that much chlorine. It would be good if you can get couple of tests done before you leave.

2. Do brush / vacuum the spots. That's a BIG part of getting rid of them.

[Watermom]

You do not need to change filter sand nor add any sand cleaners.

[NREAGAN]

So do you think I should vacuum to waste?

[NREAGAN]

Also, I have about 5 lbs of individual packages of cal chlor "shock n swim" can I use those once I use up the dichlor powder I have? I just checked my calcium and it's 130.. I do have a vinyl liner. The spts are definitely getting smaller .. What about backwashing, how often should you do it? As always, thanks so much!

[CarlD]

Mustard algae is VERY easy to brush off -- but it's apparently hard to remove 100% since it tends to return to the same spots.

I'd just dose with 4 gallons of plain 6% household bleach AND 1 lb of dichlor each evening, till you get the reagent. And, brush your spots daily, preferably right after adding the chlorine.

(I'm sure that somewhere there's a pool store that sells Taylor FAS-DPD reagents, but I've never heard of one that did so.)

I actually found the FAS-DPD powder in a Leslies near White Plains. The clerk couldn't find a price anywhere in the system...and just gave it to me. That must be 10 years ago because it was just after my Dad passed away, in 2002. I was building my current pool and had taken down my Intex Donut for the last time.

[NREAGAN]

I have trichlor tabs (4) I was going to put in for the week I was away...is that ok? My dad can add bleach periodically, and the shock I have is, "hth super sock it" it is 62.4% calcium hypochlorite, can I use that? I have that in one lb bags...I am trying to ,are it as simple for him as I can. Thanks!

[aylad]

The trichlor tabs will be okay for the week that you're gone--just test your pH (you need to do that anyway since you've been using dichlor, which is also very acidic) and push it up to the 7.6-7.8 range before you leave, so that the trichlor won't push it down too far. It's okay to use the cal-hypo if your calcium hardness levels aren't too high--if they're less than 200 or so, then they should be fine to use.