Yellow Algae (mustard)

This is probably the most common type of algae problem that homeowners face in southwest Florida.  We do not recommend using any liquid algaecides.  A pure “yellow treatment” is sufficient (containing sodium bromide).  There are many algaecides that will kill yellow algae but most do not remove the source of the algae from the water, which is typically a large amount of organic waste or contaminants.  The most common culprit is a high phosphate level.  Phosphate is often the byproduct of organic materials that eventually get broken down by the sanitizer in the pool.  Most cartridge filters will not remove this invisible contaminate from the water without help.  We recommend treating the pool with PR-10000, by Orenda (http://www.orendatech.com/) .  It is the strongest phosphate remover on the market.  Always test for phosphates before assuming that this is the source of your yellow algae (with a phosphate test kit).

How do I prevent it? Take a good look around your pool area.  Any potted plants on the lanai or near the pool will almost always lead to high phosphate levels, eventually.  Also, make sure that your overflow or auto-fill is not in a place where dirt and run-off can backwash into your pool, during heavy rain or watering.  Plant life and soil can poison your pool if not monitored and maintained properly.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 14th, 2009 at 4:29 pm and is filed under Algae, Pool Maintenance, Pool Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.