Yellow algae, need help

[Newdude]

I think in this case, you should clean it.

I'd LOVE for it to be cleaned.

It will give you confidence. It is simple to remove and scrub this light.

Agree 100%

he is trying to keep it simple because you are anxious and overwhelmed and doesn't want to add to it

Guilty as charged !!!!

 

[Newdude]

Could I be reintroducing algae from my Polaris and brushes and net?

A drop in the proverbial 22k gallon bucket. SLAM will make quick work of all 3.

Expensive Polaris will be ok?

SLAM is safe for swimmers, pools and equipment. You need to be able to see bottom for swimmer rescue (God forbid), but you can safely swim yourself during SLAM. The robot has tougher skin.

 

[PoolStored]

Thanks to both of you. LAST question (for today ).

I have used that one many times. Likely not the last, even for today.

Could I be reintroducing algae from my Polaris and brushes and net? Do I put all those in the water during the slam? Expensive Polaris will be ok?

Brushes, Nets, not likely, but you can scrub them down with 10:1 Water:bleach to be safe. Same on the polaris. I left my dolphin in during slam, really helped keep stuff mixed and help me collect dead algae and scrub. You can scrub it too. Yes it will be safe. You can even swim and FC levels up to SLAM and it is perfectly safe...as long as you can see the bottom!

 

[smithkl]

Ok! Here we go with the SLAM. Neither one of you mentioned turning the power off before removing the light. The Jandy manual is acting like I could die if I even touch the light! Lots of warnings. Do I shut off power, remove light, and turn power back on?

 

[PoolStored]

Ok! Here we go with the SLAM. Neither one of you mentioned turning the power off before removing the light. The Jandy manual is acting like I could die if I even touch the light! Lots of warnings. Do I shut off power, remove light, and turn power back on?

Does the light have a switch? Turn off the switch.

 

[smithkl]

We turn the lights on and off with an app. But I just went to the breaker box and it has its own breaker. So I’ll just turn it off there.

 

[PoolStored]

We turn the lights on and off with an app. But I just went to the breaker box and it has its own breaker. So I’ll just turn it off there.

 

[smithkl]

You guys have been so helpful to me that I thought I would make your day with this picture. This is me being super helpful by holding my husband underwater with my foot on his head. I can’t quite do 74° water! But somebody had to take out the lights and clean the niche

 

[Newdude]

Best. Uploaded. Pic. EVA.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Just a few more seconds … just waiting for last bubbles ….

“Hello MetLife Insurance company, I need to start a life insurance claim …”

 

[PoolStored]

TAG TEAM!!!! Nice!

 

[PoolStored]

How's the progress? Testing results?

If you downloaded pool math and are using it, log into Pool Math with your TFP login, go to the gear in the upper right, then scroll to the bottom and enable log sharing to tfp...then we can see your logs through your profile.

 

[smithkl]

Thanks for checking in. I used pool math to tell me how much chlorine to add, but I didn’t save any test results or actions. I’m not that advanced yet! But I will get there.

After adding the first amount of chlorine I was at an 18. So I added again and got to a 25. 24 was the SLAM number the chart said I needed. Since I initially added what pool math told me to add and it didn’t get me there, that made me wonder if my CYA value wasn’t accurate.

I really struggle with that test in the kit. Knowing exactly when that black dot disappears isn’t easy. Do you have tips on that or another way to test it that is easier?

The last test of the day was a 22, so I’m guessing I’ll be adding more chlorine tomorrow.

There really wasn’t much of anything besides construction leftovers in the light niches. But we scrubbed it anyway. Can we put the lights back tomorrow even if we aren’t done with SLAM? My husband was certainly a trooper today, but he would like to not be in the water after the cold front tomorrow afternoon if he doesn’t have to.

 

[Newdude]

Since I initially added what pool math told me to add and it didn’t get me there, that made me wonder if my CYA value wasn’t accurate.

Close but not quite. Either your gallon estimate is off, or the chlorine was a bit degraded.

I really struggle with that test in the kit.

The googley eye laughs at every last one of us. I promise.

Do you have tips

We round up to the 10s. As such, only fill to the 10s and it's WAY easier to know it's not 30 and not 50.

Also, I've found I need to take a lightning fast glance at the tube. If I stare more than that, I'll see that smirking punk everytime.

There really wasn’t much of anything besides construction leftovers in the light niches. But we scrubbed it anyway

That's OK and its better to know it's good.

Can we put the lights back tomorrow even if we aren’t done with SLAM?

Yes. The niche will be filled with SLAM water, and if it wasn't gunked up already, it's probably not going to start during a SLAM.

 

[PoolStored]

After adding the first amount of chlorine I was at an 18. So I added again and got to a 25. 24 was the SLAM number the chart said I needed. Since I initially added what pool math told me to add and it didn’t get me there, that made me wonder if my CYA value wasn’t accurate.

CYA value doesn't impact the change in FC with addition of chlorine. Your pool volume WILL impact estimated vs. actual. Decrease your pool volume in Pool Math by 500 gallon increments until your add matches expected. Only need to add to get to 24. As @Newdude indicated, your chlorine may also be degraded...here is useful link...

Chlorine Date Code Decoder - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

I really struggle with that test in the kit. Knowing exactly when that black dot disappears isn’t easy. Do you have tips on that or another way to test it that is easier?

Let the mixture sit for about 30 seconds to a minute.
BRIGHT SUNLIGHT! Not indoors.
Fill to the first line.
Sunlight at your back.
Hold at waist level.
GLANCE.
If dot obscured (you cannot make out at a glance) you are done.
If not, fill to next line.
Repeat.

Can we put the lights back tomorrow even if we aren’t done with SLAM?

Put them back in now. Once you break the biofilm, it is game over for the algae.

 

[smithkl]

It stayed the same overnight! Still at 22.
So I really think I need to do the next step and go to mustard algae level. I know it’s hard for you guys, and even me, to know if it truly is mustard algae. But it really meets all the requirements that I see online. And when I brushed yesterday the clouds of yellow dust came up even in places where I couldn’t actually see the yellow with my own eyes. Although there were also places I could see, and it tends to come back in the same spots on the walls. And just as a reminder I did the yellow algae treatment from Leslie‘s which included some product plus shock. And then shock 12 hours later. And then shock 12 hours later again. But it still came back. I know there could be multiple reasons for that given that I was not testing the chlorine during those shock times.

I really would like to not do this again, so does everybody support me now going to mustard algae level for 24 hours and then being done?

The mustard algae information on this site does talk about the risk of too much chlorine being damaging. I don’t want to end up in that position though.

 

[Newdude]

So I really think I need to do the next step and go to mustard algae level. I know it’s hard for you guys, and even me, to know if it truly is mustard algae. But it really meets all the requirements that I see online

We only care because chlorine burns off faster at higher levels. It's barely noticeable at 8FC but at 25+ FC it's very noticeable. MA slam is difficult to maintain due to the quick burn off, and also spendy.

Other than that, it's been proven to be harmless for a 24 hour period, and can only help.

I really would like to not do this again, so does everybody support me now going to mustard algae level for 24 hours and then being done?

I would also prefer a one and done scenario. Even if it cost more.

 

[PoolStored]

You have to pass all three criteria
OCLT <= 1
Cc <= .5
Clear pool THIS MEANS NO VISIBLE ALGAE. If you are brushing and seeing clouds of any type, pool is not clear.

I would slam another day, make sure no visible algae, then go to mustard level.

 

[Newdude]

Clear pool THIS MEANS NO VISIBLE ALGAE. If you are brushing and seeing clouds of any type, pool is not clear.

That's tricky if it is MA. It probably wont be entirely visibly clear on every surface before the final 24 hour push. But statistically it's not MA, so.

I would slam another day, make sure no visible algae, then go to mustard level.

I always vote for an extra day of SLAM, so this is easy to get behind. SLAM is easy to maintain once the FC holds, and REAL sucky to have to start over if you ended too soon.

 

[smithkl]

You have to pass all three criteria
OCLT <= 1
Cc <= .5
Clear pool THIS MEANS NO VISIBLE ALGAE. If you are brushing and seeing clouds of any type, pool is not clear.

I would slam another day, make sure no visible algae, then go to mustard level.

Just to be clear, when I was brushing and seeing clouds, that was about five minutes after I poured the chlorine in yesterday morning.