It definitely sounds like Golden Algae, with out a doubt!
As we come into the cooler months we enter the season where Golden Algae (Prymnesium parvum) can start to become a problem again.
The perfect scenario for this �pest� is a salinity range from 0.1-10.0%, higher pH ranges but can grow in as low as 5.8, generally likes high light environments, but can do just fine in complete darkness, prefers clean environments (low nitrogen and phosphate) due to lack of nutrients allowing for lower competition for space and food source (can graze on bacteria heterotrophically). It has a VERY large range of tolerance for multiple parameters, which makes it a pain to deal with.
Possible indications would include (but are not limited to) a slight golden hue to the water which may show up in the color test I do here at the lab, results of our lab tests indicating excellent water quality (possibly with slightly elevated conductivity and chloride levels), low algae and plant populations in the body of water, and fish loss for no apparent reason. We DO NOT run a test here at the corporate office to identify this species, or any other algae.
This algae generally has a 4-6 week bloom, and can bloom 2-3 times in the same body of water in a season, which can be devastating to fish populations. There is no known health threat to humans. It is not the algae itself, but a byproduct of its metabolism, that is toxic to the fish.
