Can black algae grow.....

[allusion76]

Hellow all, quick question. Can black algae grow through the plaster of the pool from the ground underneath the pool?

I have a black algae problem and with out even seeing the problem, my pool service is saying it is probably growing from the ground under the pool and coming through the plaster under the liner.

Is this even possible, I wasn't able to find any previous information about this in this forum, so any help will be apprecaited.

 

[Melt In The Sun]

Nope, it can't. Not a chance.

If you have black algae, it's because you have low chlorine. Are you sure it's algae and not some sort of stain? If you post a picture we can take a look...

 

[allusion76]

Thank you for the quick response and I had a feeling that was the case.

I am having my pool opened on Saturday, will post pictures after the fact.

Thanks again for any input.

 

[allusion76]

Here are the pictures of my beautiful oasis with my unwelcome visitors.

Any info will be appreciated.

 

[JasonLion]

That looks like it could be metal staining, doesn't look like black algae.

 

[allusion76]

Thank you for responding. Now can metal staining happen on the vinyl liner in a fiber glass pool? It has gotten a little bigger over the years. Please note it came after I first bought the house and I had a huge problem with chlorine not taking in my pool. After much grief and finally finding this board, found out my issue was to high a cya because my pool doesn't get backwashed because I have a cartridge filter. After I took care of my cya problem, the black stuff hasn'T grown to much, but seems to get a lil bigger each year. What can I do to remove the metal staining if that's my issues.

 

[allusion76]

Any one else have any ideas if this is black algae or not?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[JamesW]

My guess would be some sort of contamination behind the liner and seeping through.

The contamination could be biological or possibly some type of oil or other chemical.

 

[duraleigh]

Crush Vitamin C tablets in a sock and hold them down on the stain for a few minutes. If the stain is lightened or gone, that is a metal stain.

Altenatively, hold a tri-chlor puck on the stain, if it is lightened or removed the stain is organic and can be treated with adequate chlorine levels.

Black algae in a vinyl pool is possible but not very likely.

 

[allusion76]

thank you both for the response. I will try the 2 methods this weekend. If its a contamination behind the liner, is my only solution to replace the liner?

 

[JasonLion]

It is possible for fungus growing behind a vinyl liner to show through sometimes. To treat that you need to get fungicide behind the liner. That most likely means draining, applying fungicide, and installing a new liner, though there is some chance you could reuse your existing liner if it isn't too old.