Help! We discovered we had mustard algae on 5/13/24. We completed SLAM on 5/17/20. We have been cleaning filter, vacuuming to waste, brushing daily, have a sock in basket, and pool highly chlorinated with shock. Yet, this keeps appearing, is it the algae???? What do we do now?? We are so over it and confused!
Mustard Algea????
- Thread starter hrugg
- Start date
I have a k2005 test kit I just purchased from Leslie’s. I says DPD but not FAS. I just bought it yesterday thinking it was right. Will this kit work for the SLAM or should I return it and buy the K2006.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 16,379
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Return it and get one of these....get the SALT option for your SWCG. Link-->Test Kits Compared
Technically I currently have a chlorine pool. My Hayward automation panel went out (3rd circuit board) and I purchased the Pentair IC40. I am waiting to install the new equipment until after this Mustard algae is gone. I figure why add to the list of contaminated parts. The Hayward SWG is just there right now. I don’t see any obvious salt option in the list of recommended test kits.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 16,379
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
If you are going to use the SWCG, get the salt kit. If you get the K2006C, then also buy a K1766 salt test.
If you get the TFTestkits.net kit, they list both the TF-100 and TF-pro with salt options.
If you get the TFTestkits.net kit, they list both the TF-100 and TF-pro with salt options.
Looks like this one has all the options needed (Taylor TTK2006SALT Technologies K-2006-SALT Test Kit).
- Jun 24, 2021
- 16,379
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Soooo. I finished one SLAM process which ended with Mustard Algae levels for the last 24 hours. Then, with no signs of life of any kind in my pool I allowed the FC levels to normalize to resume utilizing my Pentair IC40 SWG. Gradually started adding in salt yesterday to bring those levels up, swam in it totally enlightened we were done fighting the mustard algae. This morning this stuff is back. I am wondering if this is normal, to have to go through SLAM twice. Any assistance in what we're doing wrong is greatly appreciated. Some back info and my logs follows;
-When we started SLAM, the levels were as recommended, PH=7.5 and CYA=50.
-Vaccum to waste and Brushed daily, brushing twice or more daily.
-Removed the underwater light and brushed inside it and the skimmer as well.
-Dove under and inspected the drains which were clean and free of any debris or staining.
-Test kit utilized is Taylor K-2006C; used up 2.2 bottles of R0013 and a whole bottle of R0871 in the process.
-Chlorine used is 12.5%; used five boxes w/4gal. each box. I think I have a little less than a gallon left.
-I will attach the test results and logs I utilized, I quit writing down the brushing and vaccuming in notes but it was done.
The only thing we didn't disassemble is the trim pieces around the steps and the skimmer frame. Which seemed a bit much to do and something was likely to break, etc.. And we did not replace the filter sand as it does not seem a necessary given the literature so far.
Short of taking a sample of the algae to a lab somewhere, we're sure it is mustard algae.
Obviously with the efforts we put into this problem we are beyond frustrated and feel maybe we missed something or this is just how it is and we need to do the whole process over again.
-When we started SLAM, the levels were as recommended, PH=7.5 and CYA=50.
-Vaccum to waste and Brushed daily, brushing twice or more daily.
-Removed the underwater light and brushed inside it and the skimmer as well.
-Dove under and inspected the drains which were clean and free of any debris or staining.
-Test kit utilized is Taylor K-2006C; used up 2.2 bottles of R0013 and a whole bottle of R0871 in the process.
-Chlorine used is 12.5%; used five boxes w/4gal. each box. I think I have a little less than a gallon left.
-I will attach the test results and logs I utilized, I quit writing down the brushing and vaccuming in notes but it was done.
The only thing we didn't disassemble is the trim pieces around the steps and the skimmer frame. Which seemed a bit much to do and something was likely to break, etc.. And we did not replace the filter sand as it does not seem a necessary given the literature so far.
Short of taking a sample of the algae to a lab somewhere, we're sure it is mustard algae.
Obviously with the efforts we put into this problem we are beyond frustrated and feel maybe we missed something or this is just how it is and we need to do the whole process over again.
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I estimated between the ten's. just for my own knowledge of how close it was to which ten. If that makes sense. when I plugged in the numbers i rounded up on all.
Currently the CYA is midway between 40-50. I thought I was done with the SLAM process so I WAS focused back on salt levels and bringing FCPPM back to normal, until this morning when I saw the, Return of the Mustard Algae. should be a movie.
I utilized the pool math calculator to obtain the FC levels. I will admit I tried to keep FC around 30-34 for the last 24 hours because I had some confusion on what Mustard Algae levels were as mention in the SLAM literature. Although it appears it is .60 x CYA= MA Slam.
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I wrote down the estimate between the tens so I would know which ten I was closest to but always rounded up when pluggin in the pool math calculator. I thought I already replied to this comment but it seems to have disappeared, but I'm not too tech saavy so its probably here somewhere..
I’m wondering now since we are guessing this has been a problem for year and a half ( we assumed it was sand from dust of nearby highway construction of a large 4 lane where they’re moving tons of dirt daily) that it is possible the algae is in the sand filter and it needs to be replaced and cleaned ? We’d always vacuum it out thinking it was fine sand carried through the air. Has anyone heard of it being too imbedded to rid from sand filter with chlorine, which would also confuse me because the FC levels only dropped one ppm the last overnight I did the SLAM. Will it get like concrete-ish in the sand filter and not move.
offtheclock
Silver Supporter
- Dec 30, 2020
- 316
- Pool Size
- 13500
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Battling same thing right now. Very frustrating. Started at the end of summer last year and this is now going to be my 3rd slam but first time bringing it to mustard algae levels.