Have had a fun spring so far. Converted to salt water and got ahead of myself. I adjusted chemicals and didn’t plan right took cya up to 70 then installed SWG but had a slight electrical problem that delayed start up haven’t started yet. Check my chlorine it went to 6 ppm. Added bleach and brought it back up to recommended range. Two days later noticed stuff on bottom of pool so started SLAM. Pre SLAM numbers. FC 9 CC 0 TA 110 CH 175 PH 7.2 CYA 70. After first day vacuumed pool. Water is very clear but failed OCLT but passed CC. Adjust chlorine back to 28. Brushed pool no dust at bottom but I noticed a few spots on bottom of pool. I brushed them but in about a hour they start to come back. I brushed again a little harder after a couple hours barley coming back. I have seen these spots before they will get to a certain size then stop getting any bigger and only in a few locations I see them. Before I thought they might be dirt or sand collecting I also had to replace sand and laterals in filter previous owner used play sand in the filter and then had a broken lateral. I went all out new filter multi port and pool sand. These spots have me confused is it algae and just have a spot on bottom maybe not getting good mixing it is in line with one of my return jets or could it be the dreaded mustard algae and need to try mustard shock once I pass OCLT.
Algae question
- Thread starter wprileyjr3
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,038
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Spots is a bit vague, so we better get more info. Here are some things to consider that may be help:
- Do the spots recur in the same place and/or the same basic size?
- Do the spots brush away, or do they seem embedded in the surface?
- Are you able to gather or scape anything from those spotted areas? Gritty, slimy, anything?
- Have you added any chemicals to the pool recently other than chlorine, acid, or baking soda?
- Are you on a well?
- Do the spots recur in the same place and/or the same basic size?
- Do the spots brush away, or do they seem embedded in the surface?
- Are you able to gather or scape anything from those spotted areas? Gritty, slimy, anything?
- Have you added any chemicals to the pool recently other than chlorine, acid, or baking soda?
- Are you on a well?
Thanks for responding. The spots come back in the same place and get to be the same size they start out get to a certain size then stop getting bigger. When I brush them they go away. Sometimes you have to brush with a little force to get them up but then the vinyl liner is clean until they come back.
the one I have rubbed smears a little bit but doesn’t feel gritty or slimy. They tend to form on the bottom near the side of pool
The only chemicals added for the last two years are bleach cal hypo muratic acid baking soda and cya and salt
the water source is city water system.
the one I have rubbed smears a little bit but doesn’t feel gritty or slimy. They tend to form on the bottom near the side of pool
The only chemicals added for the last two years are bleach cal hypo muratic acid baking soda and cya and salt
the water source is city water system.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,038
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Well that is confusing. I would be easy to assume algae and say SLAM. Actually, you still need to SLAM since you failed an OCLT. But it's odd that they spots come back in the exact same location. Makes me wonder if there's something under the liner causing the stains (bleeding through), or if there is some metals (iron or copper) embedded in those areas which would explain why they show when you elevated teh FC level.
For now, I would continue with the SLAM Process. Once you do pass, you can ride the elevated Mustard Algae level for 24 hrs if you wish, but only for 24 hrs. After that, let the FC fall to normal ranges, rebalance everything, and see how things go. At some point you might check your city/county annual water report to see if they reported any elevated metals.
For now, I would continue with the SLAM Process. Once you do pass, you can ride the elevated Mustard Algae level for 24 hrs if you wish, but only for 24 hrs. After that, let the FC fall to normal ranges, rebalance everything, and see how things go. At some point you might check your city/county annual water report to see if they reported any elevated metals.
It’s been windy but it calmed down enough to get a picture. This on the ramp to the deep end of the pool around 6 ft deep
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,038
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Seems like it would be difficult for anything to sit on that ramp (slope) long enough to create a stain. Makes me wonder more about a chemical reaction or something from underneath. Let's see if it changes at all once the SLAM is complete. Then we can call-in another set of eyes or two for more opinions.
In the meantime, have you tried some Vitamin C on those spots yet? You can place a handful (crushed) in a thin sock or nylon and let it sit on the stain for a few minutes. Curious to know if that does anything.
In the meantime, have you tried some Vitamin C on those spots yet? You can place a handful (crushed) in a thin sock or nylon and let it sit on the stain for a few minutes. Curious to know if that does anything.