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.
Talking Pools Podcast
Getting Rid of Swimming Pool Algae
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Andrea and Paulette go long on algae—the real science, the field diagnostics, and the no-nonsense remediation that actually works on a Tuesday in August when the phone won’t stop ringing. Pulling from training content and field notes, they break down how to tell algae from look-alikes (metals, pollen, fine dust), why water balance and sanitizer demand dictate outcomes, and how to choose the right kill-sequence for mustard/yellow, black (cyanobacteria biofilm), green blooms, and stubborn pink slime/white water mold co-contaminations.
They also reference Rudy Stankowitz’s book, How to Get Rid of Swimming Pool Algae (Amazon), for deeper reading on species behavior, biofilms, and step-by-step playbooks that complement today’s talk.
Chapter Markers / Timestamps
0:00 – Cold open: “Is it algae… or just copper?”
2:12 – Why algae wins when demand beats delivery (sanitizer kinetics 101)
6:45 – Field ID: green, mustard/yellow, black (cyanobacteria), and the “not algae” suspects
12:10 – Water balance triad: pH, TA, and CYA’s impact on free chlorine efficacy
17:38 – Brushing matters: mechanical disruption vs. biofilm defenses
22:30 – The mustard/yellow protocol (when and how to go higher on FC)
27:55 – Black “algae” = cyanobacteria: surface penetration, heads vs. roots, patience game
33:20 – Filters as crime scenes: clearing, backwashing, and when to deep clean
38:05 – Phosphates: food vs. famine—when removal helps and when it’s a red herring
43:00 – Borates as drift control and slime deterrent (what they can and can’t do)
47:18 – AOP/UV/ozone: supplemental oxidation for heavy bather loads
52:40 – Look-alikes roundup: metals, pollen, plaster dust, and “dead algae” myths
57:15 – Off-season & startup traps: winterized pools, spring turn-ups, and biofilm seeding
1:02:10 – Rapid-response checklist you can hand to a tech
Key Takeaways
- Identify before you treat. Color + texture + location + “does it brush off?” beats guessing.
- Sanitizer effectiveness is conditional. As CYA rises, the % of active hypochlorous acid drops; dose and contact time must adjust.
- Mechanical + chemical wins. Aggressive brushing and good circulation expose biofilms so oxidizers can work.
- Mustard/yellow needs elevated FC (and whole-pool exposure for toys, nets, lights, covers).
- Black “algae” is cyanobacteria anchored in porous surfaces; expect repeated disruption and sustained levels—not a one-and-done.
- Filters tell the truth. Restore flow, deep-clean media, and fix bypass/broken laterals or you’ll chase the same bloom.
- Phosphate control is situational. It can lower regrowth pressure but doesn’t replace sanitizer.
- Borates steady pH and deter slime, but they’re not an algaecide.
- Document everything. Photos, readings, doses, and filter maintenance notes protect you and speed future calls.
Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:
Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com
