Cannot Remove My Brown/Mustard Algae
by Michelle
I came from the pool store wondering why I have algae with a good chlorine level? They wanted to give me Yellow Out but it says not to put in pools that have chlorine levels above 1 ppm. In fact I am afraid to shock because my chlorine level is swimming suitable (4ppm). You say to shock till it gets to 10 ppm. Isn't that dangerous to the liner? Any suggestions? I was gonna wait until the chorline level resides a little before shocking? Why isn't the chlorine killing the algae? Thanks for the question Michelle I'm not a big fan of products that allege to augment a good chlorine shock. When products like Yellow Out are used they can create more of a chlorine demand in the short run. Yellow Algae A chlorine shock to the pool is not dangerous to a liner, but it is important in how you add the chlorine to the pool. For vinyl liners, the best and safest way to add chlorine is to fill a 5 gallon bucket 1/2 way with pool water, then add the chlorine. Mix it with a PVC pipe or stick, and broadcast it around the perimeter of the pool. Then sweep the bottom and sides to break up any hot spots. Keep the filter running 24/7 and wear long sleeves, pants, goggles, and rubber gloves for protection. I'd like to have your complete chemical readings: Chlorine, CYA (cyanuric acid/stabilizer), pH, Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness, and Metals (iron and copper). It makes troubleshooting much easier and the process of clearing up your pool will go much faster. You can get this done at your local pool store or use a good test kit. Pool Water Testing Water Testing Kit Without these numbers I'm just guessing at what the problem is. Your chlorine could be rendered ineffective (or partially) because the CYA (stabilizer) is either too high or low, or the pH is too high. A pH level of 8.0ppm or above and you're only using about 25% of the chlorine. An easy chlorine test is to test the water at night and record the number. In the morning retest your chlorine level. This should be done as early as convenient, before the sun hits the pool. It should only drop by 1.0ppm. If it drops more, you do have an algae problem that needs to be addressed. Get me the chemical numbers and I'm sure I can help. I'm hesitant to tell you to shock right off the bat because if the CYA is too high a partial water change will be needed. It's better to do this first, then shock, as opposed to using alot of chlorine then do a water change. It's a waste of chemicals and money. To post a reply, or if you have a similar question, you can see your post on the Q&A page in the "Yellow Algae" category. Swimming Pool Questions and Answers Check back to this post for updates or answers. Hope this helps and have a great Summer. Robert
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