Mustard Algae or Red Clay Dirt?

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0x67726e

Member
Mar 5, 2024
7
Clemson, South Carolina
Pool Size
17000
Surface
Vinyl
I bought a home with a pool last year and have been constantly battling this algae(?) since we moved in. Having found your amazing Wiki and forum last night, I've been binging content and found at least one post suggesting some of us novices are mistaking dirt and dust being blown into the pool for mustard algae. Our pool is downhill of another home with a large (> 1/2 acre) yard that has bare patches of red clay-dirt and I have been wondering if I'm truly algae ridden or not. Backing up that theory, we've recently painted our deck varying shades of blue and noticed red dirt dust here and there on the deck within days of painting it.

Of note, I have not yet tried the SLAM method and do not have a good test kit like the Taylor / TF style that is recommended. I simply have Hach Aquacheck 7 test strips and a little Clorox 3-Way Test Kit with as of yet unexpired chemicals (OTO, Phenol Red).

Unfortunately most of the internet photos of a mustard algae infestation either do not look like my issue at all or are so bad that I have trouble telling if I'm early-stage or, again, just dirt.

Anyone have a good eye for algae?
 

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Last edited:
0x,

It is impossible to know for sure that you have algae, just by looking at a pic..

The whole point of having the proper test kit is that you can use it to run tests to verify if you have algae or not.

Would you go to a doctor and ask if he 'thinks' your arm is broken, or would you rather he take an X-Ray?

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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Was not under the impression that there was a test kit available for mustard algae. The local pool shop with several thousand dollars worth of testing equipment sure couldn't tell me. What product(s) can I purchase? Reading through the Wiki I don't believe the TF-100 has that capability?
 
While it's early in the season it's a perfect time to not lose more time on the guessing. Ditch the strips like right now and get one of the recommended
Test Kits Compared
test kits. I love the TF-100 and if your planning to switch to a "salt" pool that uses a salt water generator to make your life about 90% easier then get the all out TF-100PRO. It'll be the best money you've ever spent on the pool. Once you have the kit do all the tests and post them for further guidance.
 
So - I've kept my pool chemicals in-range all of last year into this year including over winter, other than a two-day downtime in January due to some emergency plumbing repairs.

While I understand and intend on purchasing a better kit, I'm waiting for it to hit 1000 so I can call up the local stores before going online and ordering. So I'm anywhere from several hours to a week away from having a proper home setup to test routinely.

I was hoping to learn is there a way to diagnose mustard algae or is "Nuke It From Orbit" with the SLAM approach the only way to be sure it isn't algae here? For example, could I vacuum the life out of the pool and slap a solid pool cover over it as an experiment in eliminating outside influence, i.e. wind blown soil? Would covering my pool like that have other negative effects that make it not worth the time, effort, and money to buy a cover?
 
You run a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test as the primary check for algae. You need a proper test kit to perform that test.

You also must accurately know the CYA level of your pool water to be sure it is properly chlorinated.
 
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0x67726e said:
Was not under the impression that there was a test kit available for mustard algae. The local pool shop with several thousand dollars worth of testing equipment sure couldn't tell me. What product(s) can I purchase? Reading through the Wiki I don't believe the TF-100 has that capability?
Click to expand...
The pool shop cannot run an accurate
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test for you to determine if you have algae.
But you can perform this yourself with an fas/dpd test which is included in the Taylor k2006c & the tf100/pro kits that we recommend.
That is one reason why we only recommend those kits.
The other reason is that they also contain all the other very important tests such as cya! Ta, ch, ph & the fas/dpd test is capable of testing higher levels of fc & cc than others which is needed for the
SLAM Process to be carried out properly to truly eradicate algae if you have it.
Your yellow oto test likely only goes to 5ppm and only tests total chlorine (not fc & cc separately). This is ok for a quick check (do I have any chlorine or not?) between more accurate tests but not for diagnosing any problems.
Most pools need to maintain higher fc than 5ppm anyway if they have any cya at all. Failing to maintain adequate fc in relation to cya is how you get algae & funky water so knowing your cya level is incredibly important.
IMG_9185.jpeg
 
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Appreciate the concrete direction and explanations.

At this time my local shop is ordering me a fresh Taylor K2006C. Unfortunately, I won't be able to pick it up until Tuesday. So for the purposes of answering "Is this photo an example of mustard algae?" I'll have to follow-up with y'all next Wednesday after performing an OCLT.

Thanks Again!
 
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There are some physical features that can help you differentiate between dirt & algae-
As you mentioned- the same thing settling on surfaces elsewhere is indicative of dust/dirt/pollen.
Another is that algae generally “poofs 💨” when brushed. Although some very fine dust can do this too.
You can attempt to collect some to see if its gritty (dirt) or slimy (algae).
The OCLT ,as mentioned, is the very best way to make the determination along with those other observations.
If you do determine its just fine dirt/dust you can attempt to help your filter catch more of it by adding a little bit of pool grade D.E. to your sand filter.
**If you have algae you must treat it or this step will be futile as will any other methods of mechanical removal.
www.google.com

Add DE to a Sand Filter

A clean pool filter will increase the efficiency of your pool! ... your filter are to backwash it, clean the manifolds and grids, and add new DE.
www.google.com www.google.com
Fwiw- I think You’ll get alot more bang for your buck by having a proper kit over spending the same money for a cover that may or may not do what you think in this situation & still leave you with a pool that needs adequate testing.
 
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0x67726e said:
Appreciate the concrete direction and explanations.

At this time my local shop is ordering me a fresh Taylor K2006C. Unfortunately, I won't be able to pick it up until Tuesday. So for the purposes of answering "Is this photo an example of mustard algae?" I'll have to follow-up with y'all next Wednesday after performing an OCLT.

Thanks Again!
Click to expand...
👍🏻 Until then do your best to maintain fc within target ranges as per
FC/CYA Levels
 
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0x,

Our goal is to keep you out of the Pool $tore as much as possible... :mrgreen:

Their goal is to take money from your pocket and put it in their pocket, by selling you a 'Magic' to fix just about any problems a pool might have.. We don't really buy into this magic potion thing, and believe that you can do a better job of maintaining your pool's chemicals yourself.

We rely on science, rather than magic, so we don't believe in adding a bunch of potions to our pools and then hoping something will work.. We kind of like knowing what our pools need, based on our own tests, and then only adding what we know will work.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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0x67726e said:
Appreciate the concrete direction and explanations.

At this time my local shop is ordering me a fresh Taylor K2006C. Unfortunately, I won't be able to pick it up until Tuesday. So for the purposes of answering "Is this photo an example of mustard algae?" I'll have to follow-up with y'all next Wednesday after performing an OCLT.

Thanks Again!
Click to expand...
Mustard algae is extremely rare, so It’s probably dirt. Don’t be fooled by the pool stores fancy equipment, it’s been proven time and again that they aren’t reliable.
 
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Just throwing this update out there solely because I know you're all gonna laugh and or facepalm, but, I got pool store'd. The local pool storestated they'd have a Taylor 2006-C in for me on Friday that I could pick up today after a long weekend trip... and guess who has nothing but Taylor 2005 available from their distributor? :ROFLMAO:
 
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The TFpro at tftestkits.net is comp priced to the K2006C

*includes a $44 stirrer
*better amounts of reagents
*guaranteed fresh
*really nice case.

It's a no brainer. We don't have anything to do with the company. We don't get anything for recommending it. We recommend it because it's a no brainer.
 
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