chem geek said:
[quote="Aquaclear-NZ":30opc08p]
Alagecide 1)
Formulation details: Organo copper complex 19.0gm/litre
Alkyl Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride 100gm/litre
Average sized pool (13,000gal/50,000L) requires 2.5L hit, or 50gm chelated copper
Algaecide 2)
Formulation details: 285 G/L 1, 2-Ethanediamine Polymer with
(Chloromethyl)-Oxirane and N-Methylmethanamine
Long life (monthly) polyquat algaecide.
The first algaecide is a fairly common combination of chelated copper (assuming the organic they refer to is for chelation which it probably is) and a linear quat. The latter can foam, but it's cheap and inhibits algae growth though I didn't know if it would work well for yellow/mustard algae. The main problem with this algaecide is that overdosing can lead to staining and eventually the chelating agent will break down from chlorine releasing the copper so unless there is water dilution, the free copper concentration can rise over time. I suspect that it's the copper that is doing most of the work killing existing algae while the linear quat is more for inhibition of growth.
The second algaecide is very interesting and is a polymer but different than standard PolyQuat. It implies that it doesn't break down as quickly from chlorine so could be a decent alternative to PolyQuat as an algae preventative, though probably not great as an algae killer with an existing bloom (at least not by itself). I've never seen any product with that compound though it is listed in the PAN database
here with no registered products. Perhaps it's not available in the U.S. PolyQuat is listed
here with over 5000 registered products.[/quote:30opc08p]
The first algaecide has worked exceptionally well for me here - and also in the more temperate north queensland area in australia where blackspot is prevanlent - like all copper based algaecides, more is not necessarliy better, and questions should always be asked when people are buying this type of product if they have used any other forms of algaecide to prevent overdose.
The second quat algaecide is fairly new, and im not sure if they are producing this in the usa yet - i can ask the questions for you and organise a couple of sample bottles. I am pretty happily converting to this as quat algaecide of choice as it has been proven many times as an effective algae killer and requires only monthly treatment as a backup algaecide.
Fortunatly a test pool with white marble plaster a good dose of mustard alage and what i would consider Crud filtration has dropped in my lap today, so will give it a personal test over the next week.