Our new home has an above ground pool, this is my first time having a pool. It took me a few weeks to get it opened and all the levels sorted…but now we have what we think is yellow algae. We’ve tried an algaecide the pool store recommended and that didn’t do anything. I’ve vacuumed to waste, but it comes back within an hour(it's settling in the low spots of the vinyl floor). I’ve seen posts about yellow/mustard algae where people say it could just be pollen but I don’t think that’s the case here...so what are my next steps? Water is crystal clear, it’s just the stuff that gathers on the bottom. So please help! I already have a K-2006C ordered so if I need to SLAM I can do it properly, we’ve been relying on the pool stores water testing to get our levels so far. What am I missing? What do I do next?
Is this algae or something else?
- Thread starter anthonyd5189
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,154
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Welcome to TFP.
What algaecides have you added?
It is rarely yellow or mustard algae. You just have not gotten your pool to be algae free using pool store testing and advice.
Wait for your test kit and follow the SLAM Process step by atep with no shortcuts.
www.troublefreepool.com
www.troublefreepool.com
What algaecides have you added?
It is rarely yellow or mustard algae. You just have not gotten your pool to be algae free using pool store testing and advice.
Wait for your test kit and follow the SLAM Process step by atep with no shortcuts.
Algae Archives
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Pool Care Basics Archives
Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!
www.troublefreepool.com
Thanks for the input. We used Water Trends Algae Destroyer. Then followed up with floc assuming that would help clump up the dead algae but it didn’t seem to make any difference. I’ll SLAM this week and follow up afterwards.Welcome to TFP.
What algaecides have you added?
It is rarely yellow or mustard algae. You just have not gotten your pool to be algae free using pool store testing and advice.
Wait for your test kit and follow the SLAM Process step by atep with no shortcuts.
Algae Archives
Pool Care Basics Archives
Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,154
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Only chlorine kills algae.
Any of those algaecides may help prevent algae before you get it but once algae takes hold the algaecide does little.
We never recommend using floc...
www.troublefreepool.com
Any of those algaecides may help prevent algae before you get it but once algae takes hold the algaecide does little.
We never recommend using floc...
Flocculant - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
Gotcha! Glad I found this place.Only chlorine kills algae.
Any of those algaecides may help prevent algae before you get it but once algae takes hold the algaecide does little.
We never recommend using floc...
Flocculant - Further Reading
Just following up. Just did my test and got these numbers. Should I wait until tonight to start SLAMing or is it fine to start middle of the day? Calculator says to add 2 gallons of liquid chlorine so I’m going to buy 4. Anything else other than checking on it a few times a day and keeping the FC level up?
Attachments
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,154
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Start the SLAM Process ASAP. During the day is fine. The sooner the better.
It will take more then 4 gallons of liquid chlorine. I would buy at least 10 gallons.
It will take more then 4 gallons of liquid chlorine. I would buy at least 10 gallons.
Alright well the store is just up the road so when I need more I can just go get it. I put two gallons in per the calculator. I’ll run back out and check it in a few hours here and see where it’s at. Also, one question as I haven't seen it said anywhere, should I leave my solar cover off? or can I put it back on? We get a lot of debris from neighbor's trees if it's windy out.
Last edited:
So still in the SLAM, I'm dropping about 3ppm overnight, but I think part of it is I forgot to replace my chlorine cartridge, whoops. So I'm hoping tonight we hold FC. This morning there was almost no visible debris on the bottom, what was there I vacuumed out to waste and then did a full sweep to get anything left suspended. It's 99% improved over how it was when I started that's for sure. I'll post another follow-up in the morning.
So just tested this morning. Had a drop of 1.5ish, the CC test shows zero and there was the smallest amount of debris on the bottom. Vacuumed that out, added chlorine back up to shock level but hoping today is the last day.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,154
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
- May 3, 2014
- 62,687
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Can you explain that? There should be no form of chlorine added during an OCLT. And no form of solid chlorine should be used.
We have this:
So you’re saying I should remove the chlorine cartridge from this while SLAMing? I didn’t see anything in the guide about it.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,951
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
"If you have a salt water chlorine generator, chlorine tablet dispenser, injection pump, or Liquidator, turn it off for the duration of the SLAM process. SLAM by adding liquid chlorine only for best results."
From here...Link-->SLAM Process
From here...Link-->SLAM Process
So after looking it up, I removed the mineral cartridge as well. Sounds like they don’t do much as a benefit and can cause issues with copper. So that’s out and I took out the chlorine cartridge as well. Going to keep up the SLAM process today and will recheck the OCLT tomorrow morning with that variable removed. Thanks for pointing out my mistake! Don’t want to have to redo this in a few weeks because I messed it up ha.
Alright, new day new test. OCLT yielded a FC loss of 1; no indicated CC; the smallest amount of debris on the floor which I couldn’t quite tell what it was but it’s 99.99% less than my starting point. It’s raining out so I just swept the whole floor quick and topped off the chlorine to SLAM level. I might go for one or two more days to be sure especially cause we’re not using the pool for the next few days with the forecast. I’d rather be safe than sorry.
And this is hopefully one of my last follow ups. OCLT of 0, CC of zero and virtually nothing on the bottom except for some plant material (leaves and pine needles), nothing i would think was algae. Vacuumed it all to waste regardless. Topped off to SLAM level one last time and I’m going to let it come back down from here.
A final question, when should I start testing the other levels again? Do I wait until FC is into an acceptable range and then start adjusting everything else if it’s needed?
A final question, when should I start testing the other levels again? Do I wait until FC is into an acceptable range and then start adjusting everything else if it’s needed?
Attachments
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,154
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60