Black Algae first sighting

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sedwards0327

sedwards0327

Member
Jul 3, 2023
9
Delaware
Pool Size
22500
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-9)
Hello everyone, First time posting here regaring our new(er) pool. This pool was built in late 2019- 2020 and has been trouble free until this point. We discovered some black algae a few days ago. From what I am reading, this could be a real beast and the best method is shock / brush until it's gone and possibly replace catridges after it's gone. This is our first encounter with the black algae - our other pools have been vinyl. Looking for advice / direction / suggestions on treatment. My current numbers are below. Need to order a new test kit today and deciding between TFP and Taylor.

FC .63
TC .63
PH 8.2
TA 117
CYA 24
Copper .3
Phospahtes 376
Salt 2300
 
Welcome to the Forum ! :salut: While you wait for the expert advice... Trouble Free Pool Care is based upon owner water testing with a reliable test kit. Those are a TF-100 available TFTestkits.net or a Taylor K-2006. (Taylor also comes as a K-2006C, which contains a larger Reagent supply to get you going.) Test Kits Compared

After you test your water, the basic principle practiced here is to maintain a Free Chlorine (FC) level in relation to the Cyanuric Acid (CYA) level. Pool Care Basics

:lovetfp:
 
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It looks more like copper.

Can you remove the filter cartridges and show them before and after cleaning?

Do you use copper products at all?

Can you show the system?

Can you show the whole pool?

Can you show the whole pool when new?

What was the original color of the pool when new?
 
It looks more like copper.

Can you remove the filter cartridges and show them before and after cleaning?

I cleaned the cartridges right before shocking. It had been about 2 months since I cleaned them. They were dirty, but not the worst I have seen them. There was a lot of dust or white hair type substance rinsing through . We do not have dogs or pets in pool.


JamesW said:
Do you use copper products at all?
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No copper that I am aware of. However, I wouldn't know what to look for.
JamesW said:
Can you show the system?

Can you show the whole pool?

Can you show the whole pool when new?

What was the original color of the pool when new?
Click to expand...
see photos below.
 

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Your normal plaster looks blue to gray, so that makes it difficult to see copper, which is blue to turquoise until it turns gray to black.

Black algae will be like black mold and you would be able to scrape some off and see some blue green mold when you scrape it off.

It might feel waxy or soft.

Black algae is a bacteria call cyanobacteria, which is a blue/green bacteria.
 

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JamesW said:
Your normal plaster looks blue to gray, so that makes it difficult to see copper, which is blue to turquoise until it turns gray to black.

Black algae will be like black mold and you would be able to scrape some off and see some blue green mold when you scrape it off.

It might feel waxy or soft.

Black algae is a bacteria call cyanobacteria, which is a blue/green bacteria.
Click to expand...
It seems we ae ale to scrape off layer and then it looks blue-green. After constant brushing today and a bunch of shock, they are turning blue green.
 
After getting the pH in check today, scrubbed the black spots with a wire brush and they faded slightly to a greenish color with a good effort on the wire brush. It seems that a few additional black spots appeared overnight. Plan is to shock tonight try to get FC up to 12, vacuum and brush in the morning see if there's any change.
 
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Added 2 gallons of 12.5% at 9pm last night. This morning, 95% of the spots are gone. Mid day test results below. I think I will do the same tonight and add another 2 gallons of 12.5%. My CYA went down by 4 in 24 hours - we did have significant rainfall. Should I focus on increasing CYA during this cycle?

Waiting for my test kit to arrive hopefully by Friday- relying on store results for now

FC 3.36
TC 3.45
PH 7.4
Cal - 182
CYA 20
TA 103
Phosphates 377
Copper .2
 
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