copper algaecide Archives - Aquatic Facility Training and Consultants

Photo Contest Finalists

Post author:Rudy
Post published:June 1, 2020
Post category:Pool News

UGLY POOLS PHOTO CONTEST After two months of Fan Voting, our top five finalists have become a top-six with a tie for fan votes on the fifth slot. The Finalist's…

Get Rid of Mustard Algae

Post author:Rudy
Post published:May 16, 2020
Post category:Algae Subscription Content

? Pass the Mustard I did a bunch of stuff with Black Algae, I know most of you are already familiar with those studies. If you are not, check it …

How to Get Rid of Black Algae

Post author:Rudy
Post published:April 14, 2019
Post category:Algae

A Few Things That Work We have found Black Algae in some pretty interesting places. Here, Ashley takes us through several different methods that work on eliminating it. 2018 was…

Copper Stains in Swimming Pools

Post author:Rudy
Post published:January 13, 2019
Post category:Staining

Blue, Green, Black, Gray, and Purple! Photo credit: CDC, 1964, Puerto Rican public health weighing out a measure of copper sulfate. They would then apply this waterway to control…

Field Sampling of Swimming Pool “Black Algae”

Post author:Rudy
Post published:December 3, 2018
Post category:Algae Subscription Content

Wet mounts were prepared from the sample biomass and examined at 100× magnification using a Nikon Eclipse Ti-S inverted microscope equipped with phase-contrast optics and epifluorescence. Field Sampling of Swimming Pool “Black Algae”

Microcystin Analysis in Swimming Pool Cyanobacterial Biofilms

Post author:Rudy
Post published:December 3, 2018
Post category:Algae Subscription Content

Microcystin Analysis in Swimming Pool Cyanobacterial Biofilms

Investigating the True Nature of Swimming Pool “Black Algae”

Post author:Rudy
Post published:November 18, 2018
Post category:Algae Subscription Content

Biofilm-forming microorganisms—including cyanobacteria (Swimming Pool “Black Algae” ) —can exhibit increased resistance to chemical treatments because the extracellular polymeric matrix protects the organisms embedded within the colony.

Swimming Pool Black Algae

Post author:Rudy
Post published:May 22, 2018
Post category:Algae Subscription Content

Swimming Pool “Black Algae”: Why the Name Is Wrong and the Science Matters Few problems frustrate swimming pool professionals more than so-called black algae. The name alone suggests something mysterious…

Talking Pools Podcast

If you’ve ever stared at a test kit like it personally insulted your family… welcome home.

Talking Pools Podcast is the pool industry’s “pull up a chair” show—part shop talk, part field manual, part therapy session—built for people who actually live on pool decks: commercial operators, service techs, builders, facility managers, and anyone responsible for water that can’t afford to go sideways. The network was created to level up the pool industry with real-world conversations on water chemistry, filtration, troubleshooting, construction, safety, and the business side of keeping pools open and budgets intact.

Here’s the hook: it’s not theory-first. It’s experience-first—a roster of seasoned pros (with 250+ years of combined “been there, fixed that” wisdom) turning complicated problems into practical moves you can use the same day. And it’s not one voice, one vibe, one corner of the industry: it’s a network of shows designed to reflect how diverse this work really is—different regions, different specialties, different personalities.

Also worth saying out loud: women aren’t “special guests” here—they’re on the mic as hosts, from the beginning, with an intentionally balanced roster. That matters, because the best ideas in this industry don’t come from one lane—they come from the whole road.

If you want a podcast that can make you laugh and make you better at what you do—without pretending the job is easier than it is—Talking Pools is the one you queue up before the first stop, and keep on when the day starts getting weird.

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In the conclusion of our conversation with Lee Moore and Blake, Technical Director at AIS Water, we examine what it takes to make saltwater chlorination work reliably in demanding commercial environments.

Commercial pools cannot be managed by reacting to every change with another drum of chemicals. Like steering a cruise ship, water chemistry requires calculated adjustments, accurate information, and equipment sized for the facility’s actual operating conditions.

The conversation covers the difference between ORP and direct free-available-chlorine measurement, on/off versus proportional chlorinator control, and how properly sized systems respond to sudden increases in bather load. Lee and Blake also explain why some facilities retain liquid or granular chlorine as backup sanitation—even when onsite chlorine generation handles nearly the entire demand.

We also challenge some persistent assumptions about saltwater pools. Modern commercial systems can operate at salt concentrations as low as approximately 950 ppm, opening the door for indoor pools, facilities with natural stone, and other applications where corrosion concerns have discouraged saltwater chlorination.

Finally, we look behind the marketing of “mineral pools.” Magnesium and potassium salts may change how the water feels, but the sanitation still comes from chlorine produced through electrolysis. Minerals do not replace the sanitizer.

Topics discussed include:

Why commercial chlorination begins with accurate system sizing
Accounting for sunlight, bather load, turnover, and unusual applications
Why water stability is more important than constant chemical correction
Direct free-chlorine probes versus traditional ORP control
On/off and proportional 4–20 mA chlorinator control
Responding automatically to sudden increases in bather load
Cell operation, reversing cycles, and expected service life
Using liquid or granular chlorine as secondary sanitation
Reducing chemical handling without removing backup infrastructure
Liquid chlorine degradation, declining strength, and chlorate concerns
Commercial chlorination at approximately 950 ppm salt
Saltwater systems for indoor pools and natural-stone environments
What “mineral pool” marketing gets right—and what it leaves out
The roles of magnesium and potassium in swimmer comfort and water appearance
Why mineral pools are still chlorine pools

If you operate, specify, design, or service commercial aquatic facilities, this episode offers a practical look at building a chlorination system around stability, predictable demand, and intelligent control—not chemical firefighting.

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Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com