What is Yellow Algae in swimming pools?
Yellow algae, also called mustard algae, and commonly found in freshwater, with some also occurring in marine and soil habitats. Yellow algae varies in size and shape from single-celled types, to colonies grouped together forming clumps, to filament-formed groupings.
In swimming pools, yellow algae can appear as yellow-green-brown spots on the walls and floors, or powdery yellow areas on walls and floors, growing most often on the shaded area of swimming pools. Their spores are small enough to work their way through or around pool filtering equipment, making a pool with a yellow algae problem tough to eradicate.
[sc:ad_middle]If pool sanitizer levels are not maintained, and water balance and pool circulation are not properly maintained, yellow algae can be given the chance to take hold in a pool. Although sanitizers such as chlorine and bromine, and various algaecides applied to the water can help prevent the initial rooting and growth of yellow algae, the only effective way to eliminate yellow algae is by directly scrubbing the algae growth with a brush and applying an algaecide directly to the infected areas.
Once the pool is refilled, adequate sanitizer and algaecide doses need to be maintained.
Source:
- Wikipedia: “Yellow-Green Algae”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-green_algae
- “Pool & Spa Water Chemistry, A Testing and Treatment Guide, Waterproof Edition, 2005. Taylor”
