Now it has become a headache for all pool users asking about “how to get rid of mustard algae?”. Are you facing the same problem of constantly having mustard algae in your pool? Well, here is the solution coming.
It is so pleasant to swim in a pool of clear water in the summer. But how does it feel to see your pool’s water getting dirty with algae? No one would like to have that experience. This is for you if you face an algae problem, specifically mustard algae.
There are so many ways that will help you to get rid of Mustard Algae. In this article, you will get tips and tricks for algae prevention and cure. Read until the end and keep your pool ready to swim this summer.
What is Mustard Algae?
A few people are unaware of mustard algae but are confronted by the issue. All pool lovers must be aware of it. The fact is, Mustard Algae is also known as yellow algae. Mainly the green algae are resistant to chlorine. It has a distinct color of yellow to include chlorophyll e or xanthophylls. Their biological designation is Xanthophyceae.
Yellow or mustard algae can instantly affect your pool if you don’t keep cleaning it. Always be ready with proper disinfectant so that you will be able to keep the pool clean from algae handy.
Characteristics of Mustard Algae
Mostly in the summer season, algae grow in the pools. It often happens that people fail to identify it because they are unaware of the characteristics of this genre of algae. So this is a must-to-know if you want a pool full of crystal clear water to swim. So let’s have a look at its characteristics:
- Yellow-colored
- Sticky to surface
- Grows fast
- Contains chlorophyll e or c
- Grows in freshwater
Is it harmful?
When you see a pool full of algae, a common question will come to your mind. You can ask whether the mustard algae is safe for humans or not. After all, health is a sensitive issue. But you will be happy to know that yellow algae are not harmful to humans. According to biochemists, algae do not produce any harmful element that causes health injury.
But excessive algae growth can produce bacteria like E. coli in the water. Sometimes E. coli causes diseases like:
- Diarrhea
- Urine infection
- Respiratory illness
- Pneumonia
- Nausea etc
So indirectly, mustard algae are not too human-friendly. It is better to avoid it for the sake of health.
What causes Mustard Algae in the pool?
Mustard algae is a natural element. So the elements that cause its growth are also normal. But many things control the growth of algae in the water. Among them, the temperature is the biggest factor. Besides this, ill care of the pool, water circulation system, and chemical balance in the water is also responsible for its growth. Warm weather, excessive carbon dioxide in the environment, harmful gasses in the water, and abnormal pH of water help algae grow fast.
How to understand that mustard algae attacked?
Conscious people always check the water, whether it is fine or algae have attacked it. Before jumping into the pool for swimming, check the pool’s condition. Otherwise, you can feel yellow algae on your swimming suit. To avoid an uncomfortable situation, know about the signs of algae growth. Mustard algae give a lot of signs of its presence in the water. Those signs will be a hint to you.
There are some symptoms of algae attack:
- Changing the color of the water.
- Lumps on the water surface.
- Sometimes the water smells bad
- Shady spots on the wall of the pool.
- Slippery sides
- Spread in patches
- Blooms in the low-lighted places.
Is there any way to prevent it?
Yes, there are ways to prevent the spreading of mustard algae in the pool. Prevention is better than cure, so people should take steps to prevent algae growth in their pool. Let’s see how you can prevent algae growth in your favorite swimming pool.
Balanced water in the pool
Keeping a balanced water environment is a must for preventing algae growth in the water. The perfect pH of pool water is 7.3 to 7.6. It keeps the water crystal clear and swimmer friendly. It also decreases the rate of germination of any micro-bacterial body.
The up-down of pH is not good for the pool water. If the ph is not in the range, then this is sure that the water is not healthy anymore. And in this imbalanced water, xanthophytes like algae can grow and spread. So check the ph level of your pool water in a continuous process. You can use pool master for this test. With this tool, you will be able to know about water chemistry. It also helps you to test the level of chlorine, bromine, oxygen, etc.
Ensure water circulation
Water circulation means the circulation of water through the main drain with the help of a pump. To make the pool anti-algae, you must circulate the water once a day. To get a better result, you must ensure the pump size and efficiency. The pump and the cartage filter must be clean to get the best result.
The circulation time can differ according to the pool size and the volume of water. If you want to know about circulation accuracy, you can use sodium fluorescein or crystal violet in the skimmer. The changing color of the crystal will tell you about the circulation accuracy.
Maintain cleanliness
Cleanliness is the prerequisite of an algae-prone pool. You have to make sure that your pool is clean. Nowadays there are enormous products in the market for cleaning the pool. Vacuuming is the best option to clean the bottom part of a pool.
You can vacuum the pool daily or at least once a week. You can also use robotic pool cleaners, which are good at cleaning debris. If you clean your pool, everyday mustard algae won’t grow, and if it grows, it will fail to spread out.
Add beneficial microbody to the pool
This is an interesting way to prevent the growth of mustard algae. If there is no food for them, they won’t grow there. You can add some beneficial microbody like good bacteria to the pool water. These bacteria will eat the food of algae or other germs. In this process, you will be benefited in two ways. First, your pool will be anti-algae, and second, the water environment will be better.
Ensure the cleanliness of the pool wall
A clean pool wall is essential for preventing mustard algae in the pool water. Most of the mustard algae sticks to the wall and spread drastically. That’s why it is important to clean it every day. For cleaning the wall, you can use a brush. Brushing is the best way of wall cleaning.
Way of its cure
After following all the steps of prevention, algae is less likely to grow. But if you still face a mustard algae problem in your pool, you must seek curing options. Every problem comes with its solution, so don’t worry. There is some way to help you cure the mustard algae, and you will get rid of it quickly.
1. Vacuum the pool
A vacuum is the first thing you should do to cure your affected pool. Vacuum the pool again and again. And do it in waste mode. This is the first step of the curing process. So do it with care and caution.
2. Make your pool ph balanced
There are mustard algae in the pool which means the ph level of pool water is not balanced. So check that and adjust it according to the need. In most cases, there is a lack of oxygen. Increase oxygen level and adjust alkalinity too.
3. Brush the pool
After vacuuming, brush the pool thoroughly. It will help you to remove the leftover algae in the pool. It is an effective way to remove algae.
4. Shock the pool again
While brushing, add double the amount of pool shock than the normal amount. In this step, you can use a chlorine accelerator made only for mustard or yellow algae. You can also use sodium bromide or any other chemical-like products. But before using them, read the instructions well. Otherwise, it can result in the opposite to your wished one.
5. Clean the water circulation pump and filter
This will not be a miracle if algae stick to the filter of the water circulation pump. By this, it can appear again, and then all your activity will go in vain. So clean the filter and pump to get the cherished result.
6. Use algaecides
After doing all the things, now use algaecides as the last step. Algaecides will remove all the algae-growing elements and decrease the spread of yellow algae. But remember, though you are doing it in the process of cure, it is a preventative solution.
7. Curing Time
If you use the pool after following all the curing methods, ensure it is cured and no algae remain. To be sure, it’s good to know about the curing time. It will take more or less 3 to 5 days to be cured. It can take more days if the pool environment is not good. Try to maintain a good pool environment after shocking it.
Any home remedy that helps?
Sometimes people want to avoid chemicals and show interest in the natural ingredient. They seek home remedies to get rid of mustard algae. The good news is to them. Some people used their brains to eliminate mustard algae from some home elements. They got effective results. So if you want to try it, you can.
Salt
Have you ever imagined that salt can prevent algae growth in the pool? There is no doubt that it is a surprising method. You can use salt to resist mustard algae growth. Salt has ionic characteristics, and this trait removes dirt and kills bacteria from the pool water. The name of the process is electrolysis.
Orenda Water
Orenda water is nothing but a magical ingredient that helps to cure mustard algae. Orenda water removes phosphate and other things that are bad for the pool. Orenda water cleans those elements, which are the main food of algae. So this is quite simple: if there is no food for algae, there will not be any algae anymore.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a common ingredient that more or less every person is familiar with. People keep it in their kitchen to make delicious pastries or cakes. But isn’t it outstanding that a kitchen tool can be a savior? Baking soda is nothing but sodium bicarbonate. Sodium bicarbonate breaks mustard algae. You can scrub it and clean your pool. The best part is that you can use it to prevent the black algae problem.
Borax
Borax is a good element for removing the spot of algae. But you can’t use it regularly as it can cause itching in your body. There is some controversy about borax’s effectiveness. Borax is most effective for blue and black algae.
Sonic wave cleaner
This process is one of the famous processes for cleaning pool water. In this process, a high-frequency wave is generated in the pool. The vibration of the wave also vibrates the algae. This vibration makes the algae break.
UV light
UV stands for Ultra Violet. UV light also helps to clean algae from the water. Ultraviolet rays produce ozone, and the ozone sanitizes dirt from water. This process is known as ozonolysis.
Verdict
Having a pool is not enough. Better maintenance is necessary for keeping a pool good. Don’t be upset if your pool is affected by any algae or yellow algae. Follow your comfortable method to get rid of this. But it will be much better to prevent than cure. But don’t take any health risks. While using chemicals or pesticides, be careful. Happy swimming.
