HELP dealing with mustard algae!

[Watermom]

Don't test your CYA daily. It doesn't fluctuate if you are only using bleach and it will only waste your reagents.

I'm going to ask Ben to jump in on this thread and see if he has any additional ideas.

Report back after you do the DE test to confirm whether or not your filter is working.

[shannon2014]

Ok I will let you know what happens. Thanks.

[PoolDoc]

Do this:

1. Go get a cheap OTO / phenol red drops kit. Also, get a gallon of Walmart *distilled* water (NOT: "spring", "artesian", "crystal clear", etc.). Use the OTO drops to test your chlorine. Tell me what you see -- the color result may not match anything on the test block.

2. Watch ALL the Taylor instructional videos:

http://pool9.net/tk-guide/
http://pool9.net/tk-interfere/

See if you notice any differences between their procedure and yours.

Thanks!

[shannon2014]

Ok I watched videos. Will follow those. What am I using distillers water for? I have cheap OTO KIT and will test shortly

[PoolDoc]

Run the OTO test, and I'll explain.

[shannon2014]

ran OTO test - water turned bright orange yellow.

[PoolDoc]

OK. Orange means TC > 25 or so.

I just wanted to double check your figures. Do this:

1. Collect some pool water, and mix exactly 1/2 cup of pool water and 1/2 cup of distilled. Test the chlorine level of THAT mixture using the 10 ml sample (0.5 ppm per drop of FAS solution). Multiple the result x2. That's your FC reading. Then, test your pH with the mixture. Take that reading directly, as your pH.

You can't test pH using phenol red when the TC gets above 15 pm. But you can dilute by 50% with *distilled* water, without changing the pH. However, the TC will be lowered by 50%, the phenol red can function as expected.

2. Tell us what FC and your pH readings are, and what you pool water looks like AND what the algae spots look like.