At What Temperature Does Yellow Algae Die?

Yellow Algae

• Algae species are one of the simplest forms of life found on Earth, with either a unicellular or multicellular formation. Yellow algae is a member of the algae family within the protist family; it is not a member of the plant kingdom. Yellow algae is commonly encountered as yellow-green or brown spots with a pollen-like appearance in the shaded areas of swimming pools and other bodies of water. This algae is usually easy to brush away from where it grows. Often mistaken for iron or copper stains, yellow algae is difficult to identify in large bodies of water.

Temperature

• Common algae species, such as yellow, green and pink algae, grow in and tolerate temperatures between 60.8 and 80.6 F. Temperatures in the lower range -- at or below 60.8 F -- can slow down the growth of algae in an area. A temperature above 95 F is usually deadly to the majority of common algae species. The growth of algae can often be controlled in indoor environments by adding flowing, cold water across an infected area or by the use of indoor refrigeration units, such as air conditioners.

Removal

• Yellow algae is a difficult form of algae to dispose of once it infects a body of water and can easily spread to other bodies of water in a region. The common form of removal of yellow algae is the introduction of specialized yellow algaecide chemicals and chlorine cleaning chemicals. However, yellow algae can be difficult to remove from swimming pools and ponds with chlorine because it can tolerate levels of the chemical at and sometimes above 6 parts per million, according to Liner World. Small amounts of yellow algae that remain in a body of water, such as a swimming pool, can remain undetected in areas such as behind ladders and underwater lights.

Growth

• Yellow algae grows in large quantities in warm, shaded areas, such as in covered swimming pools. This algae species requires large amounts of light in order to survive and continue growing; the energy from light is used by yellow algae to produce sugars used for its survival.