How To Control Algae In Swimming Pool

Use Pool Magic + Phosfree When Closing Pool For The Winter

Even when your pool is closed for the winter season, algae can still take hold of your water. A week before closing your pool, add one bottle of Pool Magic + PHOSfree for every 20,000 gallons of water, directly into your skimmer. Not only will this keep your pool clean and algae-free all winter long, but it will help you have a quick and easy opening when the warm weather returns. Repeat the process of adding one bottle for every 20,000 gallons when opening your pool to help pool algae prevention and to ensure an algae-free swimming season.

How To Prevent Algae From Forming In Your Pool

The best algae treatment is prevention. Here are some helpful tips to keep algae out of your pool in the first place.

• Algae thrive in pools with unbalanced chemical and pH levels. Check your chemical levels at least every few days. Use testing strips to measure the chemical and pH balance of your pool.
• Ensure that your filtration system is working properly. Uncirculated water can be a breeding ground for algae. When treating your pool for algae, run the filter system continuously. Remember to thoroughly clean your filtration system to prevent the buildup of algae-attracting debris.
• Use your pool. Active water is cleaner water. Stirring up the water in your pool will help you to keep it clean and bring any standing dirt and debris to the surface. This is a great way to prevent algae from forming in the first place.
• Cover your pool when its not in use. Consider adding an automatic safety cover that will keep your pool free of dirt particles, which attract algae and help it spread. Wind and rain also carry contaminants that affect the chemical levels in your pool, making an algae infestation more likely. Regularly clean your pool to keep dirt and debris from gathering at the bottom of your pool.
• The use of algaecides can prevent algae growth.

Pools are a great source for relaxation or family fun, but without proper maintenance algae can quickly take over. Creating a basic plan for algae prevention will keep your pool clean and healthy all year long.

Cleaning Algae From Swimming Pools

Cleaning algae can be an arduous task and does require some patience and precision, but is worth the time to ensure you can use your pool as often as you would like without incurring problems. Below are the general steps used to eliminate the various algae types discusses earlier.

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Category Four Yellow Algae

Mustard algae likes to stick to your pool walls in shaded areas. Its difficult to get rid of once it takes hold, and it forms in sheets. You could spend weeks trying to get rid of it because its so easy to re-contaminate your pool. Small pockets can cling to pool toys, cleaning equipment, or inside the pool filter, and it is resistant to chlorine.

How To Prevent Mustard Algae Coming Back And Taking Over Your Pool

Unfortunately, its not uncommon for mustard algae to come back.

However, there are a few things you can do to stop the mustard algae from taking over your swimming pool.

Regular use can help prevent algae from forming because when the water moves around, it is harder for the algae to stick to the walls and spread. On the other hand, algae does commonly enter the swimming pool from swimwear, so be sure to keep your swimming trunks clean!

Maintain the proper levels of pH, alkalinity, chlorine, etc.

Keeping your pool clean is critical in preventing algae growth. That includes cleaning equipment and items like pool ladders and toys.

Run the filter for about 8-12 hours daily.

Brush and vacuum your pools surfaces weekly. You can invest in a robotic pool cleaner to help lighten the load.

Add algaecide and shock to your swimming pool every week to help prevent mustard algae.

Algae can piggyback on anything: poles, diving boards, swimmer baskets, pool toys, nets, slides, covers, brushes, steps, ladders, floats, you name it. Use a cleaner with chlorine to disinfect your pool equipment regularly.

If you follow all of the above methods and cannot successfully get rid of the algae, you will need to drain the pool. Use acid or pressure wash the walls to kill any algae roots that could be embedded in your pool. After this, clean or change out the filter.

Still have more questions about mustard algae? Let me know.

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What Causes Algae In A Pool

The answer to what causes algae in a pool isnt an easy one as it can be caused by a number of different factors. Most soil and plant debris contain algae, and these algae spores can travel from your yard into your pool. Algae can also be caused by wind, rain or contaminated pool tools.

Ongoing pool maintenance is important as pool algae can result from poor water circulation, sanitation or balance, and inadequate water filtration

Can You Use Algaecide To Get Rid Of Pool Algae

No, we do not recommend using algaecide to get rid of a large algae problem. But algaecide is effective for early-stage algae growth, small amounts of algae, or as a preventive measure. For more information on using algaecide, check out our article The Truth About Using Pool Algaecide.

After vacuuming, brushing and shocking your pool, you can use an algaecide to help kill any remaining algae. Wait for your chlorine levels to fall below 5 ppm after shocking your pool. Then add a dose of algaecide. Brush your pool to loosen any last bits of algae you cant see. The algaecide will help kill remaining algae particles before theyre filtered out.

Heres the algaecide we recommend. Add this as a final step in the algae clean up process or as a preventative measure in your pool:

Heres how to use pool flocculant to get rid of early-stage algae:

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Pool Algae Control & Prevention

Pool algae occurs for many reasons. Low or inconsistent chlorine levels, faulty pool filtration and poor water circulation may be to blame. Preventing pool algae from flourishing helps to keep your pool operational so you can enjoy it all season long.

• The key to an algae-free pool is regular maintenance. Here are some tips to help you prevent algae from flourishing again.
• Test and balance your pool water weekly. The ideal pH range for swimming pools is 7.2 – 7.6.
• Check your filtration system weekly to ensure its working to properly circulate the water.
• Brush the pool surfaces weekly to remove algae that may be building up.
• Shock your pool water weekly to remove contaminants and clear up cloudy water.
• Add a preventative dose of an algaecide to your pool every week after shocking. Algaecides not only kill algaethey can prevent its growth as well.
• Clean all toys and swimwear that have been in natural bodies of water before allowing them into the pool to prevent the transfer of algae.

Now that you know how to get rid of algae in the pool, you’ll be able to help prevent it with easeand treat it when necessary. The sooner you tackle the algae problem, the easier it is to get rid of green algae, black algae and mustard algae. The Home Depot delivers online orders when and where you need them. Shop pool chemicals, accessories and algaecides, and have them delivered as soon as the same day.

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Can You Swim In A Pool With Algae

If you find algae in your pool, we recommend not using your pool until you have removed the algae. While it can make the water unsightly, the presence of the algae can indicate that your pool water is out of balance, which means there may not be enough chlorine in the water to fight off other types of bacteria which could be harmful. Pool algae can also mean poor water sanitation, so as a general rule, stay outside of your pool when you see algae.

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Dont Forget To Keep The Water Circulating As It Will Help To Remove The Dead Algae From The Bottom Of The Pool

How to remove dead algae from pool bottom without vacuum. The vacuum is an expensive method than other methods. Once the debris is free in the pool, you can use a pool vacuum cleaner to remove any algae and other types of dirt from the pool. 2) add 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach per 5 gallons of water and let it sit for 10 minutes before draining.

Here are 3 easy steps on how to remove dead algae from your pool without having to use a vacuum: Keeping the swimming pool clean from algae is the utmost goal of a pool owner. Once the aglae is dead, it won’t be green.

Use a chlorine shock product to kill algae in the pool. At first, thoroughly clean the filtration system. How to remove dead algae at bottom of the pool.

For easier cleaning of your pool, reduce the amount of dirt forming at the surface or the pools bottom. First, clean the filter thoroughly and make sure it is in good working order. It ruins the beauty of the pool and makes it unhygienic.

If so, you have to vacuum it out! If you don’t want to use baking soda or borax, you can permanently remove the algae with a brush and vacuum. In either case it will remain settled on the bottom until it either gets vacuumed up or stirred up enough to get pulled into a skimmer or drain.

The step by step process: Take 16 ounces of algaecide for a 10,000 gallons pool and put it into the water. To clean the bottom of the pool without a vacuum, you have to brush it off.

Pour the borax where the algae are floating and brush it off.

How Is Algae Prevented

Proper chemical balance and sanitizer levels will prevent many opportunities for algae to bloom. High pH and low chlorine can give algae a great start. Using cyanuric acid to protect your chlorine from the sun has the added effect of suppressing chlorine activity, giving algae opportunity to bloom, unless chlorine levels are increased.

General cleanliness of the pool is also important. Organic material and bacteria contribute to algae growth. Regular brushing of seemingly clean pools is not only good exercise for you, but prevents dirt from harboring in the pores of the plaster, which is a good start for an algae colony.

Using specialty chemicals or algaecides is recommended to provide a back up to normal sanitation and filtration processes and is necessary for many pools. These chemicals are described below: âProper Filtrationâ is a term we throw around a lot, and it refers to quantity and quality of filtration. Most pool filters should run for a minimum of 12 hours per day, or longer if the pool filter is undersized or the filter media is old and not as effective as it once was. Poor circulation can also play a role, especially for larger pools with inadequate plumbing or pump size. Using an automatic pool cleaner can help circulation immensely.

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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.

Remove Everything From The Pool

Remove and wash bathing suits, toys, floats, and anything else from the pool. Wash your bathing suits in a washing machine and dry them in your dryer. Wipe down everything you removed with a 50/50 solution of bleach and water. You can use a scrub brush for a more thorough cleaning. Place your pool cleaning equipment in the pool so that it becomes sanitized.

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How To Prevent Algae In Your Pool

Following these basic pool maintenance principles will help prevent future algae issues.

• Test and balance your water once a week, after rainstorms, or after heavy use . Adjust your alkalinity, pH, and chlorine levels as needed
• Shock your pool once a week during peak pool season
• Run your pump 8 to 12 hours per day to fully circulate your water
• Clean or backwash your filter regularly
• Wash and sanitize your swimwear, pool equipment, floats, and toys before introducing them back into your pools
• Add flocculant or algaecide if you notice the early stages of algae growth

Getting Rid Of Algae By Adjusting The Water Ph

An important first step to getting rid of algae is testing and adjusting the water pH in your swimming pool. The water pH changes over time with the weather and other conditions, causing algae to bloom, and its essential to adjust it accordingly.

• Muriatic acid

Purchase a test kit from your local swimming supply store or online and test your pool water at least once each week, and more often when it rains and with frequent use.

Take a water sample from 12 to 18 inches below the water surface and test it for calcium, alkalinity, and sanitizer. A good range for calcium hardness is 200 to 400 ppm, with an alkaline level of 80 to 120 ppm and a chlorine level of 3 ppm.

Adjust the pH level, so it falls between 7.4 and 7.6 ppm by adding soda ash to increase and stabilize it or muriatic acid to lower it.

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Causes Of Algae In Pools

Why is algae in the pool or what causes algae to grow? Cyanobacteria algae occurs naturally, and is contained in nearly all soil and plant debris. Algae spores can also blow into the pool, or can even be introduced by contaminated ocean swimwear. In short, algae are always in the pool, and can bloom into a visible colony when conditions are right:

• Poor water circulation low flow or dead spots in the pool
• Poor water balance pH, Alkalinity, Calcium and Cyanuric levels
• Poor water sanitation low or inconsistent chlorine levels
• Poor water filtration short filter run times or an ineffective filter

Any combination of the above factors can allow algae to take a foothold, sometimes in just a few hours on a warm summer day. Using a high quality pool algaecide regularly can provide insurance against those inevitable problems that cause circulation, filtration or sanitation to drop below critical levels.

What Happens If You Dont Reduce Phosphate Levels

If you notice higher phosphate levels, it is necessary to deal with the issue as quickly as possible. High phosphate levels can lead to a lot of other issues such as these:

• Phosphate acts as food for algae and other aquatic plants. With high phosphate levels, these can grow more and eventually cover your pool.
• Phosphates also reduce the efficiency of chlorine in cleaning the water. With more organisms growing in the water, the chlorine added has a tougher task at hand and might not be able to keep up with the growth.
• As chlorine usage increases, you will have to regularly check and maintain the chlorine level in your pool. This makes pool maintenance a very demanding task and also expensive.
• Phosphates also combine with calcium to form calcium phosphates scales. These settle on the surfaces of the pool as well as any pool accessories like steps or stairs and damage those surfaces.

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