Is this algae?

[BarbaGeorge]

I get this or similar daily. However there is loads of organic material and wind some days. This is only at a part of pool.
I have the pump running 12 hours. 4 hours of these are during the night. I have swg.
I am not sure whether it is algae. I started vacuuming to waste. I recall having these since day 1.
I do not have skimmer sock since pool stores dont sell them due to nobody uses it here and advice against. I will order online some though.
All day was clear and even at night. I get this at morning near the return jets.
I live in Europe where weekly algicide and flocculant is a must and sulfuric acid is preferred but i dont use them.

 

[Texas Splash]

While it may be some organic residue, I'm not convinced it's algae at this point. Since it's happening in just one part of the pool, it sounds more like either that's where water circulation takes that stuff, or perhaps how your local wind typically pushes surface debris. It would be ideal to perform an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to be sure, but if you don't have a TF-100, TF Pro, or Taylor K-2006C test kit you can't do that anyway. Glad to hear you are avoiding the local pool products.

What type of equipment do you have? Your signature is blank. With more info about your equipment it might give us more ideas.

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[BarbaGeorge]

While it may be some organic residue, I'm not convinced it's algae at this point. Since it's happening in just one part of the pool, it sounds more like either that's where water circulation takes that stuff, or perhaps how your local wind typically pushes surface debris. It would be ideal to perform an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to be sure, but if you don't have a TF-100, TF Pro, or Taylor K-2006C test kit you can't do that anyway. Glad to hear you are avoiding the local pool products.

What type of equipment do you have? Your signature is blank. With more info about your equipment it might give us more ideas.

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

I raised chlorine at slam level and still got this and even worse due to winds.. I am convinced that it is dirt, leaves and bugs. I get 45mph winds here and all the dirt ends in the pool. I have to vacuum twice a day

 

[Mdragger88]

Do you have access to drop based testing?
Fas/dpd test (needed to do the
SLAM Process &
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test )
& cya turbidity test?
If so what are your results?
The slam process can take days to a week - its not generally an overnight success.

 

[sande005]

IF you can test as suggested above, that would confirm, or not, algae.

Looking at the photo, I'm leaning toward it being just things blown into the pool - there seem to be a goodly number of insect like shapes. Skimmer socks likely won't catch things any better - since they didn't make it to the skimmer (and therefore the filter) before sinking.
Does the dirt itself easily disperse in a cloud, and not immediately reappear, when brushed? Dead algae does that (but so will very fine dirt, other dirt will redeposit pretty quickly, depending on how heavy it is).
Does it tend to "stick" on the surface, and needs some scrubbing? Dirt or dead algae is very easy (almost too easy) to remove. Live algae tends to need brushing to remove.
Can you smear a sample of the "dirt" on a dry paper towel? Growing algae tends to leave green streaks on the paper.

 

[BarbaGeorge]

IF you can test as suggested above, that would confirm, or not, algae.

Looking at the photo, I'm leaning toward it being just things blown into the pool - there seem to be a goodly number of insect like shapes. Skimmer socks likely won't catch things any better - since they didn't make it to the skimmer (and therefore the filter) before sinking.
Does the dirt itself easily disperse in a cloud, and not immediately reappear, when brushed? Dead algae does that (but so will very fine dirt, other dirt will redeposit pretty quickly, depending on how heavy it is).
Does it tend to "stick" on the surface, and needs some scrubbing? Dirt or dead algae is very easy (almost too easy) to remove. Live algae tends to need brushing to remove.
Can you smear a sample of the "dirt" on a dry paper towel? Growing algae tends to leave green streaks on the paper.

I tried vacuuming with a sock that was hard to find here and couldn't catch the fine dirt/whatever. It disperses but not cloud exactly. It doesn't stick at all. With a single pass with vacuum there is no leftover. On stairs where i can touch it ,it doesn't feel anything and seems like small particles. This is what one side of pool looks since landscaping isnt complete.

Unfortunately I do not have access to these tests. I got a photometer which is better imo than strips. All strips I tried suck. For ph I have electronic meter from the acid pump that I do not use since it requires only sulfuric acid. I have calibrated it.

 

[dereksanders]

I get similar looking stuff almost every day and collects in the center half of the pool, along the lines of circulation. In fact, I was watched the debris “swim” yesterday afternoon before I vacuumed. Mine is not algae, simply stuff coming into the pool on a daily basis. It’s quite breezy here and there’s all sorts of stuff coming from everywhere, including the farms.

 

[sande005]

While most here do not love the various alternative ways to test, you have to use what you've got. Add Cl as needed a little before sunset, and give it time to mix (1/2 hr or so). Turn off any other ways you have to add Cl, if any. Test to find the FC level when it is dark. Get up the next morning, before sunrise, and test again. Ideally there should be no change. If it is lower, your issue is algae. The hard part may be judging "how much" difference - that depends on the accuracy/precision of the test method you have. But if it is a notable difference, proceed on with the methods in this forum for doing a SLAM. That will take a good amount of Cl, lots of testing, and time.

 

[Mdragger88]

Do an
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test with what you have its the best way to determine if it’s algae or not.