Super Algae Destroyer? from Omni

[smallpooldad]

This chemical has 99% Trichloro-s-triazinetrione. A friend of ours pool person claims this works very well on black algae.

Could this be so? What if any benefits or harmful effects does it have on the pool?

What is doing the killing?

Any help would be appreciated.

[waterbear]

It is granular trichlor, It's the chlorine that does the killing and the side effect is that it will raise your CYA. The reason it is sometimes used on black algae is because trichlor is very slow dissolving and will release the chlorine to the algae over a period of time when sprinkled right on the black algae spots. You can do the same thing by putting a trichlor tab on a black algae spot.

It is NOT my first choice for killing black algae.

[smallpooldad]

Waterbear,

Thank you, it seems therefore this is just expensive chlorine and maybe a little too slow. So we will stick with Wal-Mart's stuff.

Aloha.

[waterbear]

It's slow dissolving nature is exactly what makes it useful because it act's as a 'time release' chlorine (as does trichlor in any form). However, it does have drawbacks and should not be used on a continuous basis or if the CYA is high. It is most effective if there are only a few isolated areas of algae that need killing. If the algae is through out the pool it's easier just to 'nuke' the pool and keep the FC level high with bleach.

[aylad]

So we will stick with Wal-Mart's stuff.

If you're using trichlor from WalMart, check your labels carefully--the WalMart trichlor around here also contains copper.

Janet