Brown Algae??? Dirt?

[rmturner54]

I have been battling this for a while. From the pictures the pool get this brown dusting on the flat surfaces (steps, seats and in the bottom along the edges. I brush it and vacuum and it will stay gone for a day or so. Brushes very easy like a cloud of dust. At first I thought it was dirt for the rain. But we haven't had any rain in over a week. My numbers look good. Cleaned the cartridge filter the other day and wow!!! was it brown.
FC 6
TA 80
PH 7.4-7.5
CH 190-200
Salt 2900
I plan starting a OCLT tonite.
Am I on the right track.?

 

[mknauss]

An OCLT is a good idea. CYA?
Might just be very fine dust that settles before being filtered. I have to use my vac hose and get in the pool and pick it up as we get that fine dust too.

 

[rmturner54]

I do need to check the CYA. If the OCLT is good. I might try re-adjusting my return nozzles. They are pointing more towards the bottom, but not straight down.
I here ya...it is quiet frustrating.

 

[JamesW]

Possibly mustard algae.

 

[rmturner54]

Possibly mustard algae.

I hope your wrong. But thanks

 

[rmturner54]

Just finished the OCLT. Evening FC 6.5 to 7, Morning FC 5.5
I brushed and ran the pool cleaner at least an hour before the preforming the OCLT. The flat surfaces were nearly clear.
This morning the brown stuff was already starting to show on the flat surfaces. So it looks like I will need to SLAM.

 

[JamesW]

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[rmturner54]

Here is an update. I started the SLAM yesterday morning at sunrise. Checked the FC and dosed every 2 hours until sunset. Scrubbing and running the robotic cleaner before each dose. So thru the course of the day my dosing amount decreased each time. Last dose at sunset I made sure the pump was in manual and put in on the lowest rpm.
This morning at or about sunset 730AM inspected the pool. Noticed very minimal brown dusting on the flat surfaces. Did another FC tested, results was 19FC and added bleach to reach target slam of 20 FC. Put pump back to my normal RPM of 1500.
It is now 930AM and I noticed a more considerable amount of dusting, brushed and started cleaned. Checked FC 18.5. Added bleach to reach target of 20.

My question is this. Am I on the right track? Why did the dusting increase after I turned the pump speed back to my normal RPM? Am I experiencing a dirt issue more than an algae issue?

 

[mknauss]

Could be some dirt/pollen. Once the OCLT passes over several days then you can assume it is all dirt.

 

[rmturner54]

Thanks for you help/ I did my last dose of the day until we back from an event and then see how it looks. I am going out on a limb here and say most of its dirt or pollen

 

[JamesW]

That is how mustard algae acts.

What is the CYA?

 

[rmturner54]

That is how mustard algae acts.

What is the CYA?

50 at time of slam start

 

[JamesW]

Mustard Algae

Today We are going to show you how you can get rid of mustard algae in your pool. By following the steps in this guide and with no expensive chemicals.

www.troublefreepool.com

Mustard level is 60% of CYA.

50 x 60% = 30 ppm FC.

 

[rmturner54]

Mustard Algae

Today We are going to show you how you can get rid of mustard algae in your pool. By following the steps in this guide and with no expensive chemicals.

www.troublefreepool.com

Mustard level is 60% of CYA.

50 x 60% = 30 ppm FC.

So i need to bump to 30 on my FC ?

 

[JamesW]

So i need to bump to 30 on my FC ?

If it's mustard, yes.

 

[rmturner54]

Just got back home at 730P. Tested FC 7....wow. Dosing at target of 30. Pump on full time. Saw the chart. Thanks
Gonna have to get more bleach in the morning

 

[mknauss]

Read Mustard Algae
You DO NOT increase to a mustard algae SLAM level UNTIL you have passed an OCLT or two at normal SLAM levels.

 

[rmturner54]

Read Mustard Algae
You DO NOT increase to a mustard algae SLAM level UNTIL you have passed an OCLT or two at normal SLAM levels.

ok....i missed that. so the extra FC wont hurt for now

 

[PoolStored]

ok....i missed that. so the extra FC wont hurt for now

What is done is done. Return to the normal slam process and SLAM FC target until you pass at least 2 OCLTs, your CC <= .5 ...then raise to Mustard level for 24 hrs.

It is really hard to tell the difference between dust (TX) and algae from your pictures. If your dolphin is picking up any material, can you post some pictures of the robot basket with whatever it is picking up? Is it gritty or soft? Post some pictures of what it is picking up would help...

 

[rmturner54]

What is done is done. Return to the normal slam process and SLAM FC target until you pass at least 2 OCLTs, your CC <= .5 ...then raise to Mustard level for 24 hrs.

It is really hard to tell the difference between dust (TX) and algae from your pictures. If your dolphin is picking up any material, can you post some pictures of the robot basket with whatever it is picking up? Is it gritty or soft? Post some pictures of what it is picking up would help...

This is minor compaired to when I started. It soft, cant hardly feel it.