Can I Improve The Comfort Of My Pool Water
Yes! Periodically, your sanitizer needs an extra boost. Pool Season shock products will take your pool water from dull and flat to sparkling and clear while eliminating eye and skin irritation and improving water comfort at the same time. Shock your water on a routine basis with an Pool Season oxidizer and put the comfort back in your pool water.
The Best Times To Add Algaecide To Your Pool
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Different Types Of Algae
Algae can come in many different forms. Below are the main types of algae that you will make itself a home in your swimming pool:
- Green algae also known as blue-green algae, is the most popular type, and it needs sunlight, warmth, and water to survive.
- Black algae a strain of blue-green algae that is attracted to plaster pools and contains a thicker cap that offers extra protection against algaecides.
- Yellow algae this is a different variation of green algae, which is chlorine resistant and can still live without the help of sunlight.
- Red algae these algae are associated with a different bacteria genus and can survive without sunlight.
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Use Flocculant To Clear Up The Algae
Youve disarmed the enemy , but its presence still lingers.
The best way to clear out the rest of the pool algae is to use a pool flocculant.
Flocculants are normally used to clear up cloudy white swimming pools. They work by clumping particles together and sinking them to the bottom of your pool making it easier for you to clean up and filter out.
Use 1 2 treatments of pool flocculant depending on the severity of the pool algae. After adding it to your pool, give the flocculant some time to settle in.
Once you see the algae sinking to the bottom, its time to finish the job.
How Long Does It Take For Algaecide To Work
It takes up to 24 hours for the algaecide to kick in and dispatch the algae from your pool. The effects of the algae lasts as long as seven days. You can keep the pump running and the algaecide will still work perfectly to dispatch the algae and stop the formation of it as well.
After spreading the algaecide in your pool, the chemical solution will start working within the first 24 hours. It takes roughly a day for the algaecide to do itsâ work. And within a day the algaecide will reduce the spreading of any algae forming in your pool.
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How To Use Algaecide Effectively For Your Pool Step By Step
Before using any chemicals for the pool, you need to understand what it needs. To do this, you need to test the water with test strips. Its like tasting a dish before serving it to guests. The three most important parts of pool water chemistry are pH levels, alkalinity, and sanitizer levels:
How Often Should I Test My Pool Water Why Is It Important To Test My Pool Water
Testing your pool 2-3 times a week is important to maintain adequate water balance and sanitizer levels plus to insure swimmer comfort. Test strips are a quick means to test the pool for adequate sanitizer levels as well as pH and total alkalinity. Proper testing also ensures that calcium levels are maintained and that there are no metals present in the pool water.
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Pool Chemicals: How Much Of What Is Needed
How much, and which pool chemicals are needed, for an entire season?
In an ideal world, pool closing would come as you finish the last few tablets, clarifier, algaecide and everything else. But as we all know, thats rarely the case.
So I went to see Dr. Pool, who is friendly with mathematics and always loves a puzzle. I explained my query, as he peered at me over his glasses.
You want to know how a pool owner could calculate the exact amount of chemicals needed, for any given pool, he repeated back to me.
First calculate the number of weeks that the pool will be open. Secondly, you must know your pool size in gallons, give or take a few hundred gallons, he said.
We settled on my pool as an example, a 25,500 gallon inground pool. My pool is open from May 1 October 1, or a typical 20-week season.
What Kind Of Algae Do I Have In My Pool
Algae are extremely small living organisms. Algae are not bacteria or from the animal kingdom. Algae are extremely small aquatic plants, capable of photosynthesis. Algae reproduce using spores. Algae spores are in the atmosphere all the time. They move around with the wind currents.
We think of algae as being green but all algae are not green. There are 3 types of algae that are commonly found in swimming pools.
Green Algae
Green Algae is the most common and that is why you always think of algae being green. It will generally attach itself to pool ladders, steps and the pool bottom. Sometimes it will just float around in the water and give your pool a green cloudy tinge.
Yellow Algae
Yellow Algae is a variation of the green algae. It usually floats on the surface in the shady areas of the pool. It is relatively easy to clear it by vigorous brushing.
Black Algae
Black Algae is the worst of the lot. By the time it becomes visible, it would have already established roots in the porous surface of the pool. The roots can run deep, right into the pool concrete. They are tough to get rid of.
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What Opening Chemicals Do I Really Need
Pool water balance chemicals to adjust your pool pH, Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness and Cyanuric Acid levels as needed, should not be considered optional. Protect your pool surfaces and equipment, and ensure proper sanitation from your chlorine, by testing and adding adjustment when needed.
Aside from that, if you are not concerned about staining, and if your filter is very large and effective, you may be able to skip adding the Clarifier and Stain chemical, and go directly to shocking the pool .
If you have never had a bout with algae, you may also skip the final step of adding pool algaecide a few days or a few weeks after adding your pool startup shock. However, algaecide can be a cheap insurance policy against summer storms, hot weather, equipment problems or operator errors that cause the chlorine level to dip. In the absence of chlorine, algae begins to grow in a matter of hours.
For a bare minimum pool start-up chemical treatment, test, balance and shock the pool with granular chlorine. Thereafter, most pool owners use chlorine tablets to maintain a constant chlorine level, shock the pool every 3-4 weeks.
For a bare minimum pool water testing schedule:
- pH and Chlorine – Twice Weekly
- Total Alkalinity – Twice Monthly
- Calcium & Cyanuric – Twice Annually
Top 10 Pool Opening Tips
Spring opening is one of the most exciting times of the year for any pool owner. After months of cold, snow, and ice, the weather is starting to warm up for pool season! Even though the sun is shining and the water is warm, the pool isnt quite ready for swimmers, yet. There are some necessary steps every pool owner must take in order to have a clean and safe pool that is ready to handle a long summer season. Leslie’s is here to help with 10 tips on how to open your pool.
Before starting the pool opening process, we recommend having all the chemicals you will need on hand. Save this list as a quick and easy reference guide for opening pools in all climates.
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Tips For More Effective Algae Removal
What Happens If You Put Too Much Algaecide In A Pool
It is a common mistake to put too much algaecide in a pool. When pool owners see that green, yellow, or brown slime infesting their pristine pool water, they often panic. This results in over-application of algaecide. Sometimes the amount needed is miscalculated and added. Either way, the result is the same.
Too much algaecide in a pool results in water that is full of tiny foaming bubbles which can damage the filtration system. Too much algaecide can also cause eye and skin irritation. It is recommended to stay out of the water until the algaecide concentration dissipates.
Although adding lots of algaecide is a common and understandable reaction to the growth of algae in the pool, it is an avoidable mistake. Algaecide is not meant for routine treatment, and is in-fact, not the best or most efficient way to remove an algae bloom.
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In The Swim Swimming Pool Algaecide 60 Plus
In The Swim Algaecide 60 Plus is a non-metallic polymer-based algaecide with little to no odor. Algaecide 60 can apply as a treatment or as a maintenance. Experience even faster results when combined with granular shock. Count on our quality formula to keep your in-ground or above ground pool algae free.
Before adding In The Swim Algaecide 60, make sure to brush your pool. Clean or backwash your filter. Empty skimmer and pump baskets. Turn on the main circulation pump. Super chlorinate according to water volume and interior type. This will build a chlorine residual. Pour the recommended dosage into a chemical safe container. Mix with 9 parts of pool or hose water. Pour the diluted mixture around the perimeter of the pool. Treated water can enjoyed in 6-8 hours.
Works great with shock treatments!
- Non-metallic, non-foaming, low-odor polymer-based algaecide
- For visible algae growth add 11-17 oz. per 10,000 gallons
- Recommended for use with well water
- Not affected by pH
It Should Not Be Done Together
While shocking and adding algaecide is effective in getting rid of algae, it should not be done together. This is because when you mix chlorine and algaecide together, it renders both of them useless. Hence, you should first shock the pool and wait for the chlorine levels to fall below 5 PPM. Only then should you introduce algaecide to get the best results.
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Fill Pool To Middle Of Waterline Tile And Do Final Debris Removal
Grab a garden hose and fill the pool until the water level reaches the midpoint of the waterline tile or middle of the skimmer weirs. Once youve got the water level where it needs to be, you can now clean leaves, twigs and debris from the pools bottom by using a wall and floor brush. This is also time to dust off your algae brush and pool vacuum. Also be sure to remove any debris from the leaf basket.
Best Winter Algaecide For Pools
One of the best winter algaecides that you should consider using for your pool is the In The Swim Winter Swimming Pool Algaecide. This particular winter algaecide has an effective algaecide formula that aids in preventing the growth of all kinds of algae.
Although this winter algaecide can only remain active for about 5 months that is if your pool is covered. It has a unique and potent formula that allows for other pool chemicals to remain balanced and effective.
So even if you have an above-ground or an in-ground swimming pool, you can totally get this winter algaecide to keep your pool free from intruders called algae! You will also notice that your pool opening during the spring period becomes easier as well.
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How To Open Your Swimming Pool For The Season
Temperatures are rising and soon it will be time to open your swimming pool for the season.
Depending on where in the country that you live, most pool owners open their swimming pools some time between March and May. As a rule of thumb, its time to open your pool when daytime temperatures consistently rise above 70 degrees. Not only does this ensure comfortable temperatures for swimming, but also the chances of algae growth increase as water temperatures climb.
Opening your pool is easy. Whether youre a novice or experienced pool owner, anyone can quickly and confidently open their pool. Follow these step-by-step instructions to get your pool ready for the season!
Safety Inspection
Over the winter months, the condition of your pool equipment may have deteriorated. Always start by conducting a safety inspection of your pool equipment pad for signs of wear and tear. If loose wires, cracked lines or other hazards are observed, call the appropriate service professional before proceeding.
Clean and Remove Your Pool Cover
If your pool was covered for the winter, remove excess dirt and debris to prevent it from entering your pool water. For solid pool covers, use a sump pump or cover pump to drain off any standing water.
Remove your pool cover and lay it out flat to dry. For large pools, its helpful to have an extra set of hands to remove the cover. Once dry, neatly fold and store your pool cover in a clean, dry place.
Add Water
Unplug and Reinstall Accessories
Equipment
Clean
Regular Weekly Addition Of Algaecide
Make it a practice to add Algaecide regularly, every week, to your pool. You might want to do it every Thursday afternoon for example, so that your pool is ready for all the fun you and your family want to have over the weekend.
Algaecide will be there even if the chlorine gets depleted faster than expected due to unusually sunny weekend.
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What Are The Signs To Understand That You Need An Algaecide
The different colors of algae in your pool are signs that may be a reason to use an algaecide.
Green algae
The most common type of algae causes you to notice green water in your pool. They are caused by a lack of proper filtration and sanitation this often leads to an elevated pH level in the pool.
It is quite possible to prevent this type of algae: nothing disinfects better than chlorine. Chlorine is the most common and cost-effective way of sanitizing your pool. Pool filters are responsible for proper filtration. It is a key element of the pool, which is responsible for keeping it clean and safe. It can be paper cartridge filters, sand filters, and DE ones.
Black algae
Such algae can appear in your pool if someone, before entering the pool, swam in a natural body of water and did not wash their swimsuit after that.
Yellow algae
They are more common in southern countries than in northern ones, however, yellow algae can appear in all pools. If the pH or alkalinity of your pool is abnormal, this may be the cause. Debris, phosphates, and pollen can also cause yellow algae. They are often mistaken for sand or dirt and can stick to walls and pool toys. A pleasant habitat for them areas with environmental and atmospheric changes.
Fourth Step: Pump And Filter
Why is my pool still green after adding chlorine? Check your filter for clogs from the haze-jade green water. So depending on your filter, run it for a few days like you would do on ordinary occasions. If you want quick results, backwash your filter four times. Make this frequent to prevent your filter from clogging.
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Your Best Weapon Against Algae
So heres the main thing you need to know about pool algae. Chlorineyep, your typical sanitizeris much more effective at killing algae than algaecide is. Even if your water gets cloudy and your walls get slimy, chlorine can still kill it.
Thats because chlorine oxidizes bacteria and single-celled algae, which means they trade electrons. It doesnt sound like much, but this trade of miniscule particles has a huge effect on algae cells. The oxidized cell walls rupture, which causes the loss of vital nutrients, and halts both growth and replication processes.
So as long as you maintain your pool chemistrythat means 3 parts per million for chlorine, 3 ppm to 5 ppm for bromine, or 30 ppm to 50 ppm for biguanide, in addition to balanced pH levelsyou shouldnt have to worry about algae growth.
