First, I am a long time user. I started using the TFP method about 5 years ago, and it helped me get some impossible pools under control (I maintain three pools because I have rental houses). For a few years, all was well. I used my Taylor kit to measure my CYA, alkalinity, PH, etc., and maintained a consistent free chlorine level using store bought bleach. This worked great. Until it didn't.
I live in Austin, TX, and mustard algae is a much bigger problem than green algae. Green algae is a joke to control if you just maintain any level of chlorine in the pool. But the mustard algae can arrive even with a decent FC level, and once it is there it is much harder to get rid of. And yes, I know the difference between pollen and mustard algae.
The first arrivals of mustard algae (due to laziness on my part) were easily handled using the SLAM method. Get the FC level up high enough and keep it there, and the algae goes away. Get it high enough, and you don't even need to brush. This worked. Until it didn't.
One day the mustard algae arrived that wouldn't go away. So I hit the forums and looked for alternatives. Everyone said SLAM would work, but if it didn't you could - in case of emergency - try an ammonia product like Yellow Out. So I tried this and followed the instructions exactly. No effect.
So I kept looking at the forums. The other emergency method mentioned was bromine. So I went and bought a bunch of bromine. Applied at the recommend level; no effect. Applied at twice the recommended level; no effect. I followed this up with tons of shock to eliminate the bromine.
I was lost. So I went to a dark place: copper. And you know what? That annihilated the mustard algae. No scrubbing, no effort. It also decreased my overall chlorine utilization by about 75%. This worked. Until it didn't.
The copper approach kept up for about a year. Then the mustard algae returned. No problem, I thought. So I added more copper. The full recommended dose. Twice the recommended dose. Four times. Eight times. No effect. I have now added 4 quarts of various liquid store chelated copper compounds. No effect.
Alright, the copper wasn't working, so I thought I'd give the chlorine method another try. Since I had a CYA of about 20-30 (low, since I hardly ever add stabilized chlorine), my mustard algae shock level was something like 15. I added some chlorine and measured after an hour: 0.5. So I added some more. After an hour, 0.5. Repeat. This is a 12,000 gallon pool. Over the course of 8 hours, I added 20 gallons of liquid 6% chlorine and 4 pounds of dichlor. Still had zero residual. At this point, I had to give up; I don't have infinite chlorine and money.
So. . . what do you do when your pool just eats infinite chlorine and copper? Here are my numbers:
CYA: 20
Alkalinity: 70
Calcium: 200
pH: 7.4
Chlorine: 0
I live in Austin, TX, and mustard algae is a much bigger problem than green algae. Green algae is a joke to control if you just maintain any level of chlorine in the pool. But the mustard algae can arrive even with a decent FC level, and once it is there it is much harder to get rid of. And yes, I know the difference between pollen and mustard algae.
The first arrivals of mustard algae (due to laziness on my part) were easily handled using the SLAM method. Get the FC level up high enough and keep it there, and the algae goes away. Get it high enough, and you don't even need to brush. This worked. Until it didn't.
One day the mustard algae arrived that wouldn't go away. So I hit the forums and looked for alternatives. Everyone said SLAM would work, but if it didn't you could - in case of emergency - try an ammonia product like Yellow Out. So I tried this and followed the instructions exactly. No effect.
So I kept looking at the forums. The other emergency method mentioned was bromine. So I went and bought a bunch of bromine. Applied at the recommend level; no effect. Applied at twice the recommended level; no effect. I followed this up with tons of shock to eliminate the bromine.
I was lost. So I went to a dark place: copper. And you know what? That annihilated the mustard algae. No scrubbing, no effort. It also decreased my overall chlorine utilization by about 75%. This worked. Until it didn't.
The copper approach kept up for about a year. Then the mustard algae returned. No problem, I thought. So I added more copper. The full recommended dose. Twice the recommended dose. Four times. Eight times. No effect. I have now added 4 quarts of various liquid store chelated copper compounds. No effect.
Alright, the copper wasn't working, so I thought I'd give the chlorine method another try. Since I had a CYA of about 20-30 (low, since I hardly ever add stabilized chlorine), my mustard algae shock level was something like 15. I added some chlorine and measured after an hour: 0.5. So I added some more. After an hour, 0.5. Repeat. This is a 12,000 gallon pool. Over the course of 8 hours, I added 20 gallons of liquid 6% chlorine and 4 pounds of dichlor. Still had zero residual. At this point, I had to give up; I don't have infinite chlorine and money.
So. . . what do you do when your pool just eats infinite chlorine and copper? Here are my numbers:
CYA: 20
Alkalinity: 70
Calcium: 200
pH: 7.4
Chlorine: 0