Problem with mustard algae

[NREAGAN]

Will follow your advice, thank you !....So basically I'm just keeping the full bloom at bay, right? It's just puzzling that the water is clear, yet I still have these recurring spots ...... anyway the dilemma I have is that my family is going on vacation this weekend for a week, so I was going to have to have my father tend to the pool.. Should i just have him follow these instructions? It may be hard for me to explain the whole testing thing to him. ( he may be able to do simple test, but the other one may be a stretch) lol originally I was going to put 4 trichlor pucks in and hope for the best, but now nice I have this mustard algae issue, Im not sure what my best plan of action would be. Thanks again

[NREAGAN]

Also, should I be vacuuming to waste the little spots of algae? Should I do anything with the filter sand? It has been probably 5 years since we changed it. De in filter? Thanks again for all your help

[PoolDoc]

1. Do let your father follow a routine like that, but it may not need to be that much chlorine. It would be good if you can get couple of tests done before you leave.

2. Do brush / vacuum the spots. That's a BIG part of getting rid of them.

[Watermom]

You do not need to change filter sand nor add any sand cleaners.

[NREAGAN]

So do you think I should vacuum to waste?

[NREAGAN]

Also, I have about 5 lbs of individual packages of cal chlor "shock n swim" can I use those once I use up the dichlor powder I have? I just checked my calcium and it's 130.. I do have a vinyl liner. The spts are definitely getting smaller .. What about backwashing, how often should you do it? As always, thanks so much!

[Watermom]

I don't know the ingredients in 'shock n swim' and I'm skeptical about adding things I don't know about. Too many voodoo mixes out there in the pool chemical world that sometimes have things in there that you don't want in your pool.

You should backwash whenever the filter pressure rises 8-10psi over your clean filter pressure. I don't think you need to vac to waste. Sounds like you only have a few spots and not a cloudy swampy pool. 'Vac to waste' wastes a lot of water.