Is this Mustard Algae ?

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S

sum1els

Member
May 8, 2023
20
Lincoln, Nebraska
Pool Size
10000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
I have noticed these "dusty" spots at the bottom of the pool. When I brush, it looks like a poof of dust. Does it look like MA (might have to zoom the photo). I have never noticed it on the walls or anything, just the bottom ?

Thanks

IMG_8436.jpg
 
So, yesterday. I vacuumed for 9 hours, 3 hours at a time and cleaning the vacuum filters in between. Throughout the day while it was running, I went out and brushed wherever I see these spots appear (mostly low spots at the bottom). Later I've noticed that there was a thin layer that formed on the steps, so I could reach it and it felt more abrasive than slimy. While the vacuum was running, I kept moving the steps around and brushing so nothing gets trapped underneath.

By the end of the day, I couldn't really see it anymore. I did a OCLT anyway, last night after sunset and this morning before sunrise and I didn't loose any FC.

We have a mesh cover over winter and had some really bad windy days very early spring, with 70 acres of corn fields to our direct south. We also had a new roof replacement over winter too, so I am sure lots of dusty water/snow filters through that cover into the pool. I remember when I opened it up, the bottom was pretty dirty, but it was more dark brown and these were more mustardy (hence the reason for this post)

Anyway, I think, maybe it was just persistent dirt/dust that I didn't get from opening up a month or so ago. I also ran the pump all day on high yesterday and overnight on low, so maybe all the stirring up made the pump filter also catch some of it.

I will keep an eye out on it, but I am pretty confident it didn't turn out to be algae.

Thanks for everyones input and advice.
 
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sum1els said:
I did a OCLT anyway, last night after sunset and this morning before sunrise and I didn't loose any FC.
Click to expand...
:goodjob: I'm out in the country and get a ton of dust & stuff blown into the pool. It's a never-ending battle.
 
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Hey all .. well, I am still kinda struggling with these brownish "dust" spots at the bottom of the pool, mostly in low spots and seams. I feel it's worse when my pool pump runs on high for some reason. When you get close and wave your hand it poofs and vanishes. I am not sure if it's dead algae, live algae or pollen. but did a OCLT last night, 7.5 after dark, 8 before sunrise this morning (not sure why). We do have a birch tree overhanging the pool and constantly find the pollen pods in the pool and all over our deck.

Anyway, I sucked some of the "dust" up into a water bottle

33D09D77-3400-47DC-924E-55C6001DB8AA.jpg
it is very fine and I think it passes straight through my vacuum filters. I can manual vacuum to filter, but not sure that would catch it either ?

any thoughts ?
 
don't mean to hi-jack your thread but i came here to make a post as i'm having this exact problem, saw your post and figured i'd add to it too. I thought maybe it was a constant algae bloom that was forming and dying so i've been attacking it from that angle. found my phosphates were at least over 1000 (thats the highest the test i got goes), after a couple of treatments now have them down to 200. have not done a OCLT yet but have been maintaining my chlorine levels towards SLAM while i was doing the phosphate treatment.

hadn't used the pool for a couple of days and opened it this morning and there was a ton of it on the pool floor. spent an hour or so vacuuming it out and roughly 2 hours later i already have more gathering along the wrinkles/seams/low spots. if its just constant dirt blowing into the pool and settling then thats fine, i'll just keep dealing with that. i just want to make sure its not algae or worse, mustard algae..... Here is a video i took a bit ago of it in my pool, this was after the vacuuming and it starting to settle/form up again.

VID_20230624130433.mp4

drive.google.com drive.google.com

looks very similar to what you are seeing.... hopefully we can at least figure out what it is!
 
Last edited:
IronMan13 said:
don't mean to hi-jack your thread but i came here to make a post as i'm having this exact problem, saw your post and figured i'd add to it too. I thought maybe it was a constant algae bloom that was forming and dying so i've been attacking it from that angle. found my phosphates were at least over 1000 (thats the highest the test i got goes), after a couple of treatments now have them down to 200. have not done a OCLT yet but have been maintaining my chlorine levels towards SLAM while i was doing the phosphate treatment.

hadn't used the pool for a couple of days and opened it this morning and there was a ton of it on the pool floor. spent an hour or so vacuuming it out and roughly 2 hours later i already have more gathering along the wrinkles/seams/low spots. if its just constant dirt blowing into the pool and settling then thats fine, i'll just keep dealing with that. i just want to make sure its not algae or worse, mustard algae..... Here is a video i took a bit ago of it in my pool, this was after the vacuuming and it starting to settle/form up again.

VID_20230624130433.mp4

drive.google.com drive.google.com

looks vary similar to what you are seeing.... hopefully we can at least figure out what it is!
Click to expand...
That is exactly what mine looks like !
 
I have these too. I think it's just dirt/sand. Mine is on pool step where there happens to be a return. I run my pump during the day. My observation is: if the weather is calm (no rain or wind), then there is very little accumulation overnight. But when I check at 6pm after the pump has run full day, there is visibly much more.

If it was dead/live algae, then it will add in a uniform way during the day.
 
Uncovered the pool this morning and back to tons of whatever it is on the floor of my pool 😕 seems excessive to just be dirt..... I haven't been able to run an OCLT but plan to do that tonight. I'm assuming if it's algae my FC will drop and if it's dirt it won't.
IMG20230625085343.jpgIMG20230625085322.jpg
 
@IronMan13
I hope its just dirt again. 🤞
If it is you can try adding a little de to your sand filter to help catch the finer stuff.
www.google.com

Add DE to a Sand Filter

A clean pool filter will increase the efficiency of your pool! ... your filter are to backwash it, clean the manifolds and grids, and add new DE.
www.google.com www.google.com
I get alot of dirt/dust & between using a little de after each backwash & running my robot with the pleated extra fine filters every day my pool now stays clean.
 
the only reason i think mine might be algae or dead algae is because I found and caught at least 4 water boatman bugs while swimming yesterday. I don't see a reason for them to be there if they don't have algae to eat.
 
sum1els said:
the only reason i think mine might be algae or dead algae is because I found and caught at least 4 water boatman bugs while swimming yesterday. I don't see a reason for them to be there if they don't have algae to eat.
Click to expand...
Sometimes they just get in (not unlike other unwanted bugs). Maybe from a pond nearby or whatever. At any rate, ensure you have adequate FC & do an
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test if you think there's something brewing.
 
I have the spots too. Every day actually. I’ve slammed it. I mustard slammed it. I see the spots in my dreams . They never go away . . Don’t worry too much about it. They aren’t going anywhere. I don’t mean to be a jerk I’m just being honest.
 

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