Algea? Or what?

[kschmidt1]

Trying not to "close" pool this year. Been using solar cover and leaf net, monitoring numbers at least every other day, adding bleach as needed. Running pump everyday on low 8 hrs. Sometimes split between hi and low. Most recent numbers

FC - 7
CC - 0.
pH - 7.3
TA - 50
CYA - 40
water temp 66

Vacuuming when necessary, but finding stuff on bottom that looks streaky and is tougher to remove. Other day also brushed after vacuuming ran pump on high and today, streaky stuff back, kind of yellowish color. Regular dirt (or dead algea as usual) What's with this? HELP>

 

[duraleigh]

Got a pic? Unless you have some sort of source for yellow dirt that's getting in your pool, then it's likely algae.

What do you mean, "tougher to remove?"

 

[kschmidt1]

It almost looks like runny bird poop and some of it needs a brush to completely remove from surface

 

[kschmidt1]

Have pic on phone but don't know how to get it here

 

[pooldv]

Here you go
Posting Photo's Tutorial

 

[kschmidt1]

 

[pooldv]

Im on my phone right now so I cant see the pic that well. But it looks like it could be black algae. More here, Pool School - Black Algae

 

[duraleigh]

It certainly looks like algae but I suspect it is dead algae on the bottom of your vinyl pool.

The next step is to SLAM the pool correctly.

 

[kschmidt1]

Started SLAM last nite after vacuuming and brushing. The brushing threw up clouds of stuff giving water slight cloudiness. Ran pump all night. This AM clearer but spots where algea hard to scrub up were back again in same trail spots a yellowish color. Will continue SLAM. Will try to scrub harder.

 

[pooldv]

The elevated FC level should help lift the stains. Don't scrub too hard.

 

[kschmidt1]

I am curious though. Been a TFP'r since last year and had no trouble all season. Have kept all chemicals up to correct numbers and don't understand why now dealing with stuff. Is it because of solar cover with leaf net? Water temps have been dropping (slowly - we keep having temp spikes - 80's this week (pool only 65 so no swimming) Have been running pump every day. Any thoughts?

 

[pooldv]

There are a few possibilities.

Areas with low circulation and not enough chlorine
Less brushing and less feet on the bottom
FC snuck down a little too much toward min for your CYA, [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA]
More organic matter in the pool using up FC

Keep FC a few ppm above target for your CYA, [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA], as extra insurance

 

[kschmidt1]

Thanks for suggestions.

 

[jspann1953]

What about the use of the solar blanket? Can it have an effect on the algae problem? I never had any algae til I put the blanket on this fall. All chem. levels were the same as in the summer and the water was crystal clear.