How to Get Rid of Mustard Algae in Swimming Pools

From Florida to California and everthing in between; Mustard Algae is the most common form of swimming pool algae. Odds are if you've owned a swimming pool, you've ran into this yellowish sandy looking algae growing in the shady areas of your pool. Here we give you step by step directions on how to get rid of mustard algae.

How to Clean a Green Swimming Pool Fast →

What You’ll Need

Yellow Treat®

One bag or one capful per 10,000 gallons

Brush

Regular nylon pool brush

Shock

Approximately 2 pounds/gallons per 10,000 gallons of pool water of your preferred pool shock.

At a Glance

steps

min. work

day results

4 Steps to Get Rid of Mustard Algae

Step 1: Add Yellow Treat®

Add one bag or one capful (5 oz.) of Yellow Treat® per 10,000 gallons of water in the areas with the most mustard algae.

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TIP: Round Up

Round up your volume to the nearest 5,000 gallons.

Step 2: Brush

Brush the surface of the pool, concentrating on areas with the most mustard algae. One good push of the brush over an area should do the trick.

Step 3: Shock

Shock the pool with your choice of chlorine – using about 2 pounds/gallons of chlorine per 10,000 gallons of pool water. Refer to the directions on your chlorine for “super-chlorination” specific dosing.

Step 4: Filter

Let the filter clean up the dead mustard algae, and backwash the filter when the pressure gets high. Refer to the filter manual for back-washing recommendations.

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TIP: Run your filter for 24 hours

To speed things up, set your filter to run continuously and backwash the next day.

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Mustard Algae Do's

Add the specified amount of Yellow Treat® for your pool’s volume.
Round pool volume up to the nearest 5,000 gallons.
Keep your filter running continuously to help get rid of the dead mustard algae.
Back wash your filter when the filter pressure rises above 10 psi than normal.

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Mustard Algae Dont's

Don’t add more Yellow Treat® than needed for your pool’s rounded volume. Yellow Treat® works in ratio to your shock.
Don’t forget to add shock when using Yellow Treat®. Yellow Treat® needs shock to work.
Don’t pour shock directly on colored surfaces. This can discolor your surface.

Mustard Algae Prevention Tips

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TIP 1: Run your filter longer in the summer

In the summer months run your filter a little longer than you normally would in winter months.

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TIP 2: Add more sanitizer in warmer weather

As the weather gets warmer, consider adding more sanitizer – either by adding extra chlorine tabs or turning up your chlorinator.

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TIP 3: Adjust your return jets

Adjust your pool return jets to maximize water movement and reduce “dead spots” where mustard algae is most likely to grow.

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TIP 4: Use a Preventative

Consider using a preventative algicide such as No Mor Problems® with your sanitizer to keep mustard algae from returning.

How to Clean a Green Swimming Pool Fast →

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