Mustard Algae - New Pool owner

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OK - great. Kind of why I asked you to add your info to your signature. We do not have to continually ask you the same question.

Lower your pH to 7.2. Do you have a pH test? You should do it in a few stages if you really are above 8. If your test is correct, assume you have 8.2 and add acid to lower to 7.6. Circulate pool for an hour or so and re test. Then use that level and add to lower pH to 7.2.

Then start your SLAM. If the CYA test is accurate (round up to 70) use FC 28 ppm. Add and test every couple hours until the FC level holds pretty well. Then you can slow down to testing and adding 4 times per day or so.
 
Never heard of that. Is it Sodium Hypochlorite? Should say a percentage.

You do not want to use Calcium Hypochlorite - that is a solid and will spike your CH.
 

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Geday AS,
We can’t get the FAS-DPD from a retail outlet here in Aussie, or any half decent kit that includes the FAS-DPD and CYA. You can get an AussieGold 4in1 and although I prefere that pH comparator the CCL reagents are much better.

Your all over the slam so I’m not going there. As Marty said, record your current CYA as 70ppm. The CYA test is not accurate between 10ppm increments plus we want to always round up to apply the best FC range and target.

Once your SLAM is complete you will need to vacuum out all the mess. Sometimes dead algal cells will go strait trough a sand filter and if thats the case let everything settle and vacuum to waste and it wouldn’t hurt to bring that CH down a little. CH and CYA can only be reduced by replacing water. Luckily water in Aussie is still relatively cheep in most places.

Running your current numbers through poolmath and assuming a temp of 28C and salt at 5000ppm you have a CSI of 1.26 which is not ideal. However if you’ve brought your pH down which will bring your TA down a little too than your probably close to being just in range at ~0.6. When your done with the SLAM work on bringing your TA down.
 
SLAM is going really well....I just backwashed my filter tho and completely forgot to rinse (its late) and now it's a bit cloudy....I'm a bit devastated as it was looking amazing...Will this clear up by morning or have I set myself back??? ://
 
As Brad said don’t worry about it and it wont make any difference during the SLAM. Backwashing puts the flow through the filter in reverse and sends the gunk to waste. In rinse the flow is back to normal but the water still goes to waste to clear any remaining dirty water. The cloudiness is most likely from dead algae cells that have gone through the filter, once your done with the SLAM backwash again, let the pool settle and then vacuum to waste. You can improve the efficiency of a sand filter by adding a cup or two of DE, pool DE and not the agricultural type. DE is becoming hard to fine in Aussie, if you can find it you normally need to buy a life time supply.
 
I do not believe dead algae passes through a correctly working sand filter. I have seen algae blown out of a clogged filter or a filter with a broken lateral but I believe a sand filter will capture and then flush (backwash) dead algae unless it is not functioning properly (or you forget to rinse adequately)
 
Sand filters only filter to 30 microns. TFP recommends pool DE to improve efficiency. From the looks of it AussieSwimmers equipment may be a little on the oldish side and for now tackling deep cleaning an older filter may be a step too far. Some of our older Aussie filters are near impossible to open and easy to cause damage in the process.
 
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I have a little pool. I've had a bunnings "coolaroo" 3x3 gazebo up over half the pool for the last 8 or 9 years. Totally worth it. It makes a huge difference in temperature, chlorine use and blocking a heap of organic matter (leaves and pollen mostly) that used to fall in the pool.

I put 4 x 316 dynabolts and eyelets in the concrete surround and I just cable tie it down. It really makes a difference. Stays up all year, but I have been known to take it down temporarily if a mega storm is forecast.

I am on gazebo 2, but for $99 each they're pretty good value. Like I said. Little pool.
 

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