re: Pool folks....mustard algae

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Can I buy one at Leslie's?

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Leslie’s usually has the Taylor test kits. I purchased the TF-Pro kit from tftestkits.net.

They use the same reagents so I’d think they are the same process.

It’s a lot easier than it looks. It comes with instructions that are easy to follow, and there are videos online if you need someone to walk you through it.

If you’re in the West Monroe area, I’d walk you through it. Once you do it once or twice, it becomes second nature.

Never had mustard algae, but I can tell you that if black algae can be beaten this can do.

Make sure your Ph is correct
Check CYA levels
Add appropriate shock, I like the granules versus liquid for this, but there is no reason.
Keep chlorine in shock level till it is crystal.
Run pump.

Brush...brush....brush. It sucks. My wife and I split brushing duties. If you have a cheap vinyl brush in a gunite pool, go get the ss brush. Of course not if you have a liner or fiberglass.


Lastly, bleach the shite out of everything that touched the pool or throw it away. Make sure to run all bubblers or fountains too, the stuff can live in the pipes. Nuke your autofiller if you need. That shite will get in there too.


It sucks so bad, but if you take daily care of it, it will go.


Our black algae issue prompted better routine maint habits out of me, I thought our pool was crystal clear prior and people commented on how pleasant our water was when we swam. It was clear, but now, it is silly clear, I had no idea, the TFP guys would be jealous.

Oh, and dont let the folks at Leslies or such tell you to put algaecide in it. It has metals in it that will stain your pool over time.

I know nothing about it, but I know that if you do what TFP and people in this thread have said you will clear up your problem in short order. Me personally I would manually vac it out to waste daily and not run the robot. Seems it will just churn up the dead stuff. Dont get me wrong, I love the robot

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If you have a cheap vinyl brush in a gunite pool, go get the ss brush

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This won't damage the plaster on the gunite?

You don’t need anything but pH, correct chlorine levels for the right amount of time, and brushing/vacuuming. Then maintain with correct chemistry. The algae this year is noticeably less forgiving for my pool.

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This won't damage the plaster on the gunite?

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it hasn’t ours. We had to use it fir the black mold we had. Some use a pressure washer underwater. But I was scared if that

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Just went through this. Had too much CYA in pool due to too many trichlor tablets in the inline chlorinator, so chlorine wasn't doing its job. I've since swapped to liquid chlorine.

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I had so much cya one time I shocked until my steps were covered with a dusting of powdered chlorine and still had algae. The only cure I've found for too much CYA is to partially drain and re fill until the level comes down then start the process over. Ph, fc etc

I saw folks on AquaDoc Online Store talking about mustard algae, and it really is one of those things that tricks you at first. It looks like harmless yellow dust on the floor or walls, so you brush it off, vacuum it, think you’re done… and then the next morning it’s back like nothing happened. This type of algae hides in shaded spots, steps, corners, even around lights, and regular chlorine just annoys it instead of killing it.