small algae

[joemkraus]

I am still learning. I have just a couple of small algae patches this winter, but now I learned that I was not skimming properly and had my FC too low. I have now increased my FC to 4-6, with CYA of 30 (increasing that slowly to 40 as per suggestions here with pucks). My CC =0. So far so good, but as it get warmer I was wondering if the Algae will come back because I never did a SLAM?

 

[Texas Splash]

Joe, if you never completed the SLAM Process protocol before, then it's a good chance it will return. So while your CYA is still fairly low, and before the summer temps get us, it would be good to make sure you have passed all 3 SLAM criteria:
- Crystal clear water w/ no signs of algae
- -CC do not exceed .5
- Pass the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

If you have any doubt, increase the FC to SLAM level and keep it there with regular bleach/pool chlorine and maintain it per the FC/CYA Levels until you know all 3 criteria are mete. Then you'll be in great shape for summer.

 

[Brett S]

I think the answer is... maybe. The normal FC levels that we keep our pools at are enough to prevent algae from getting started. However, if the FC level drops and algae is allowed to get started than the normal FC levels aren’t enough to stop it and you need to do a SLAM to get enough chlorine in the pool to kill the algae and get the pool back to zero algae. Once the pool has zero algae then you can go back to the normal FC level and that will be enough to keep any algae from getting started.

So in your case, if the algae survived the winter (and it is fairly likely that it did) then just normal FC levels won’t be enough to get rid of it. If the algae completely died off over the winter then you have zero algae now and a normal FC level is all you need to keep any more from starting.