Hi friends,
I’m new here. We recently built a pool and I’m determined to take care of it myself. BUT, I’m finding it a bit overwhelming. So many sources say TFP is a great resource but not realistic for Arizona pool climate. The constant sun, extreme temperatures and hard water don’t behave like the rest of the country, but TFP logic just makes sense.
To make a long story short, we have had a real struggle with our pool builder which has resulted in 3 drains and complete replacement of the pool interior, a filter replacement and several other things. Unfortunately, I haven’t been in control of many elements and our pool has been subjected to several acid baths, several days at a time of the pump being off and in the process of all those things, we started to develop what I’m certain is mustard algae along the shaded wall and on the stairs and bench. I wish I would’ve taken a picture when it was at its worst, but it started around the light and the drain on the side wall. The builder said it was just dirt. But I’m certain it’s not.
I I have read the ABC’s, and most everything in the pool school section, but still have questions. And I keep getting the answer from locals about our climate and chemistry being different. I just have so many questions about our particular pool and climate that I figured it was time to post and ask! ?
For some background—We have been using dichlor and trichlor tabs and our pool will not hold chlorine. Prior to the 1st drain, our CYA was over 350 in just 7 months because I was dumping TONS of stabilizer in with the chlorine unknowingly.
This time around our pool has been filled almost 6 months and CYA is at 80. I’ve been doing my best attempt at the TFP way. I bought the Pool Math app, my own Taylor test kit and have been using 10% liquid chlorine and tabs, a few times I have used the dichlor (because I have a ton of it and I was trying to get chlorine to hold.) I thought that was good, but but what I’ve been reading makes me think it is already getting little high?
So, onto the mustard algae problem... our water is beautiful! Crystal clear sparkling blue—nothing cloudy or questionable except the mustard algae that keeps appearing around the light, stairs, bench in that one shaded wall!
We are also surrounded by Palo Verde trees that dumping tons and tons of yellow flowers. We empty the skimmer basket and skim the pool twice a day. Those trees are the bane of my existence! Several articles mentioned we may be looking at pollen instead of mustard algae, but everything about it says it’s mustard algae— The way approves the location is it showing up in, the inability to fight it even when the trees stop shedding...
Leslie suggested I try and shock it with 72% Cal hypo. I dumped 3 pounds in our 12,000 gallon pool and the FC was at zero by morning!
I decided to try SLAMing it. The only area we were not passing was the overnight chlorine loss. Which within 48 hours we passed! I have seen several of the algae articles mention after SLAMming it go to the mustard algae levels, but I cannot find those posted anywhere
So what do I do to end my battle with this mustard algae? We just clean the cartridges last weekend before and after the SLAM. Our chemistry seems perfect. See below. What’s next?
Oh and one more detail— our phosphates are at 300 and someone suggested it could be a nitrates issue that the chlorine is metabolizing so fast. We tested the water for nitrates and it’s at 30. Leslie‘s pool had no insight at all on the nitrates – even if that was a good or bad number. What are your thoughts on that?
======================
Latest Test Result Summary:
FC: 10.0 (39 minutes ago)
CC: 0.0 (39 minutes ago)
pH: 7.7 (39 minutes ago)
TA: 90 (39 minutes ago)
CH: 300 (39 minutes ago)
CYA: 80 (39 minutes ago)
TEMPERATURE: 84° (39 minutes ago)
CSI: 0.04 (39 minutes ago)
=============
Also attaching a picture of the tiny new algae spot this morning and those yellow flowers that will be the death of me. Could they be the source of this problem?
One last question— I’m following the CYA to FC ratio, but my question is will FC of 10 cause swimsuits to fade or be dangerous for a little swimmers? Having a hard time determining what to make of all of that.
Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you can offer. I know this was a big jumble of random stuff I’m determined to figure this out though with your help!
Maggie In Queen Creek, AZ
I’m new here. We recently built a pool and I’m determined to take care of it myself. BUT, I’m finding it a bit overwhelming. So many sources say TFP is a great resource but not realistic for Arizona pool climate. The constant sun, extreme temperatures and hard water don’t behave like the rest of the country, but TFP logic just makes sense.
To make a long story short, we have had a real struggle with our pool builder which has resulted in 3 drains and complete replacement of the pool interior, a filter replacement and several other things. Unfortunately, I haven’t been in control of many elements and our pool has been subjected to several acid baths, several days at a time of the pump being off and in the process of all those things, we started to develop what I’m certain is mustard algae along the shaded wall and on the stairs and bench. I wish I would’ve taken a picture when it was at its worst, but it started around the light and the drain on the side wall. The builder said it was just dirt. But I’m certain it’s not.
I I have read the ABC’s, and most everything in the pool school section, but still have questions. And I keep getting the answer from locals about our climate and chemistry being different. I just have so many questions about our particular pool and climate that I figured it was time to post and ask! ?
For some background—We have been using dichlor and trichlor tabs and our pool will not hold chlorine. Prior to the 1st drain, our CYA was over 350 in just 7 months because I was dumping TONS of stabilizer in with the chlorine unknowingly.
This time around our pool has been filled almost 6 months and CYA is at 80. I’ve been doing my best attempt at the TFP way. I bought the Pool Math app, my own Taylor test kit and have been using 10% liquid chlorine and tabs, a few times I have used the dichlor (because I have a ton of it and I was trying to get chlorine to hold.) I thought that was good, but but what I’ve been reading makes me think it is already getting little high?
So, onto the mustard algae problem... our water is beautiful! Crystal clear sparkling blue—nothing cloudy or questionable except the mustard algae that keeps appearing around the light, stairs, bench in that one shaded wall!
We are also surrounded by Palo Verde trees that dumping tons and tons of yellow flowers. We empty the skimmer basket and skim the pool twice a day. Those trees are the bane of my existence! Several articles mentioned we may be looking at pollen instead of mustard algae, but everything about it says it’s mustard algae— The way approves the location is it showing up in, the inability to fight it even when the trees stop shedding...
Leslie suggested I try and shock it with 72% Cal hypo. I dumped 3 pounds in our 12,000 gallon pool and the FC was at zero by morning!
I decided to try SLAMing it. The only area we were not passing was the overnight chlorine loss. Which within 48 hours we passed! I have seen several of the algae articles mention after SLAMming it go to the mustard algae levels, but I cannot find those posted anywhere
So what do I do to end my battle with this mustard algae? We just clean the cartridges last weekend before and after the SLAM. Our chemistry seems perfect. See below. What’s next?
Oh and one more detail— our phosphates are at 300 and someone suggested it could be a nitrates issue that the chlorine is metabolizing so fast. We tested the water for nitrates and it’s at 30. Leslie‘s pool had no insight at all on the nitrates – even if that was a good or bad number. What are your thoughts on that?
======================
Latest Test Result Summary:
FC: 10.0 (39 minutes ago)
CC: 0.0 (39 minutes ago)
pH: 7.7 (39 minutes ago)
TA: 90 (39 minutes ago)
CH: 300 (39 minutes ago)
CYA: 80 (39 minutes ago)
TEMPERATURE: 84° (39 minutes ago)
CSI: 0.04 (39 minutes ago)
=============
Also attaching a picture of the tiny new algae spot this morning and those yellow flowers that will be the death of me. Could they be the source of this problem?
One last question— I’m following the CYA to FC ratio, but my question is will FC of 10 cause swimsuits to fade or be dangerous for a little swimmers? Having a hard time determining what to make of all of that.
Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you can offer. I know this was a big jumble of random stuff I’m determined to figure this out though with your help!
Maggie In Queen Creek, AZ