Pink mold and green algae

[jay123jason123]

Fc .8
Ph 7.4-7.6
Ta 90
Ch 280
Cya 35
Hello everyone. First post so hopefully I entered everything correctly.

I have been battling low chlorine levels all summer. Cya dropped all the way to a 5 according to pool store results. I have purchased the Taylor k2006 and since been doing my own readings.

My water is clear but I keep getting green algae in the corners of the pool. Tried treating with algae ode (pool store recommendations). I also suspect I might be having a pink mold issue as my baskets and skimmer have what appeared to be pink mold on them. I suspect this all started when my chlorine level dropped and couldn’t get up over a 1. Did an Oclt and I dropped dramatically.

I started slamming last night and was wondering as I keep reading different things here and on the Internet, will the slam process alone take care of the pink slime issue??? Or do I need to do something else along with that. I been brushing pool since slam and vacuuming.

Keeping Slam level at a 16 as best as I can. I attachedPictures of my baskets and the robot filters. Is that pink slime and white mold? Please help. So frustrated.

 

[Teald024]

Hello and Welcome back.
The SLAM Process will help rid the pool of the algae and other bio junk in the pool. You have to follow the process strictly with no shortcuts. Test as often as practical, at least 4x a day. Brush and vacuum at least once a day. You need to make sure the chlorine can get to all the contaminated surfaces. Take out the baskets and hose them off to get the big junk out. If you see other spots where the chlorine can’t get to, then get creative to clean them. Behind lights as well.
Stay out of the pool store unless you are there to get chlorine. Don’t buy anything else from them including their advice. You have a great test kit so no need to get any numbers from the PS.
You can turn the SWG off and solely use liquid chlorine/ bleach for the SLAM process. All this actually started because your FC got too low for too long and the algae and mold was able to get a foot hold.
What was your SWG set at and what was your pump run time when all this started? Did you add additional liquid chlorine when you first tested low FC?
Keep us updated on your progress and ask any questions you have.

 

[jay123jason123]

ThanksFor your quick response.

I was running my SWG from 9-5. I started season off at 80% then backed it to 60%. Once I started dropping I went back to 80 then 100. I think my low cya helped contribute. I would shock under the advice of pool store prior to getting my kit. Always adding something ($$$$) under there advice. Got annoyed and stumbled back to TFP.
I was trying to follow Pentair suggestion of 30-50 cya. I see here that’s too low for a SWG. After slam is complete I will raise it up.
Currently using pool store liquid super shock which is 12.5% sodium hypochlorite. Pool store sells for $4 a gallon which seems to be the best price. Little cheaper then store bleach.
Swg off for slam currently.

 

[jay123jason123]

Sorry forgot to mention. Took out skimmer baskets washed down. Sprayed with bleach, let sit , washed off and returned. Also scrubbed the inside of skimmers removing all visible pink.
When you say behind lights, do you mean remove screws and take off of wall??

i have walk in steps and swim up section so I scrubbed all visible algae from there as well. Thanks again.

 

[jay123jason123]

Question. Took off the pool lights. Omg so disgusting behind them. I vacuumed up the mold into skimmer socks and scrubbed the inside and lights with scrub brush till all algae gone.
I’m assuming the white water mold is almost gone as my automatic cleaner is only showing a little bit after a cleaning cycle compared to being half full at start of slam.
My question is how do I clean the piping. If the only way to kill the algae is brushing it what happens in the piping where you can’t brush. I’m reading about biofilm and how it protects the algae. Is there anything else that needs to be done or just keep slamming till I meet the three criteria. Thanks in advance for responses.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Algae in any area that sunlight hits can form a biofilm which protects it from chlorine. Brushing disrupts the biofilm letting the chlorine get at it and kill it dead.

I've never heard of a problem with algae in the lines, and if there the higher chlorine should handle it. What I'm baffled by is what you're calling "pink slime"? Pseudomonas perhaps? Not commonly found in pools (more common in hot tubs). Did someone with a wound infection introduce it to the water, I wonder?

Your chemistry is obviously off, such as a FC of 0.8- so you need to perform a full SLAM process. I would also make a point of washing all the pool toys down with a bleach solution.

Do you have enough reagents for testing your FC frequently? Plan ahead and reorder so you don;t run out.

Maddie

 

[jay123jason123]

I believe it’s pink algae (which I know is actually bacteria). I just am assuming if it was growing on my lights and skimmer areas it was also in the piping. Figured I ask just in case I had to do something else.
Definitely my chemistry was off since I had real difficult time Keeping any chlorine in pool for a while. Started slamming Thursday night. Keeping FC at 16 as best as I can.
Got lucky on the reagents as I was running low. Called everyone by me and finally found a 2oz bottle the next town over so I should be good for a little while. Attaching picture of the pink stuff on the skimmer

 

[YippeeSkippy]

That stuff looks disgusting! Very odd..... thankfully!

Bleach! Bleach! Bleach! That's whatcha need. Sounds like you have a good handle on it now. I would suggest no one swim in the pool though. Pseudomonas can cause some nasty ear and skin infections. (Assuming that is what it is). With green algae we tell folks its safe to swim up to SLAM level, but not with that stuff, ok?

Maddie

 

[jay123jason123]

Thanks for your response. I’ll have everyone keep out. I scrubbedThat stuff out the other day has not come back since. Didn’t see that behind the lights but saw a lot of green ugly stuff. I unfortunately was in scrubbing like a mad man. Sucking it all up. Keeping it going.

 

[jay123jason123]

Wanted to say thank you to all of you. Slam completed, passed the tests. Chlorine holding well, pool clear and that ugly stuff gone. Will continue to keep eye on it. Thanks again.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Please keep us updated, ok? It was a very odd problem for a chlorine pool.

Maddie