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Question:
My pool water has been diagnosed with having ammonia in it plus mustard algae. 
We live in the country and the farm fields are chemically treated.  All summer
there has been no chlorine reading and it has just now been found that perhaps
ammonia has been blocking it. What is your opinion and how should I take care
of the ammonia/algae problem??  We take water samples regularly to the pool
store for testing.  I am very frustrated with my pool company...all summer I have
purchased hundreds of dollars worth of products to take care of the problem and
no luck so far.   They do the Alex testing, but it has been a guessing  game with us. 
Too expensive to guess!

Response:
I wanted to get back to you as quickly as possible.  The problem that you've been
dealing with is probably a bit more complicated than what you've mentioned.  If
there have been fertilizers added locally, you're almost guaranteed that some of
it has & continues to drift into the pool -- and it doesn't take a lot.  You may want
to read our article on Phosphates & Nitrates (ammonia is a chemical combination of
Nitrogen & Hydrogen).  You can help treat the problem using PhosFree plus a real
heavy duty shock - as much as 20 lbs. (or perhaps more) plus per 20,000 gallons.

If you're not already using it, Optimizer Plus is a FANTASTIC product that really does
a great job of inhibiting any algae growth.  Optimizer Plus helps snuff out carbon
dioxide in the water which is a major food source of algae as it photosynthesizes.

Your problem is the Phosphate & Nitrates (unfortunately you won't be able to stop
them from coming in), plus a chlorine demand (from the incessant algae) which
isn't being met & algae which is basically out of control because it's continually
being fed.  If you've been having a problem with the water balance, I wouldn't
be surprised.

Get the situation under control NOW & definitely don't winterize the pool in this
condition.  If you do, next year will be even worse.  We have had other customers
with very similar conditions & have successfully treated their pools so that are
sparkling & clean & for all practical purposes, algae free.  After the PhosFree is
used, Optimizer Plus gets in there.  Then it's just a regular weekly shocking with
Smart Shock & a dosage of Back Up Algaecide.
 

Question:
We have had more rain and wind this summer and have had to fight the yellow
algae - we have brushed and super shocked. 

We have been told two different ways of when to put the algaecide in -so I would
like your opinion as to whether it goes in "before" super shocking or "after".  Have
always done it after for years.  My theory is that when you super shock it - takes
everything out and if you put the algaecide in before it would take it out.

Response:
Our preference is to use the algaecide first & brush any algae that are clinging onto
 the walls or floor.  Let it circulate for a good 1 to 2 hours, then shock the pool.

Adding the algaecide first allows it to attack or begin "softening up" the algae so
that the shock can better & usually more effectively kill the algae.  When you
shock - you folks are probably dealing with a chlorine demand as well - you may
have to add 5 to 10 times the normal amount of shock to effectively treat the
problem.  If you don't do that, you'll keep playing with the algae for weeks.  A
"normal" 5 to 10 lbs just isn't going to do it.

This year 2006, we found that properly treating chlorine demands the first time
(sometimes adding 25 to 50 lbs of shock at once), treats the problem once & for all. 
Oftentimes, that's what it takes.

More Algae Q & A here (page 2)