How To Eliminate Green Algae In Pool

A Few Reasons Why Algae Invades Pools

The simple, but annoying, reason for a green pool is usually due to the lack of sufficient water testing and sanitizer. When your pools sanitizer and chlorine levels fall below optimal levels, or the chlorine becomes entangled with other chemicals in your pool, you open the door to your tiny green nemesis.

The sanitizer makes your pool inhospitable to algae and kills it.

If youre not testing often enough and not adding enough bromine or chlorine , youre at a high risk of getting algae in your pool.

But you test regularly, all the time, you say? Well, thats not always enough.

Mother Nature rarely keeps to our schedules, and your testing regimen is another one shell ignore. Many things make your pool more likely to need extra testing, as they make algae blooms more likely.

• Extreme Heat/Weather Changes
• A Dirty Pool
• Incorrect pH Levels
• Clogged Pool Filter

If any of these things are occurring in your area or your pool, you are more likely to face an algae bloom, and you want to test more often. Daily or every other day isnt going to be too much.

Help My Pool Is Green

It’s a hot summer day and the sun is brightperfect weather for taking a dip in your pool. You venture out to the backyard to check out the pool you haven’t used since last summer. Lo and behold, it’s green!

You take a closer look and see green, yellow, even black algae growing in your pool. You know it can’t be safe to swim in that infested waterplus it’s just gross and slimy. How on earth did this happen?

Killing Green Algae With Chlorine

Light algae problem may only need skimming, a little sanitation, filter-cleaning, and pH-balancing to remove. However, when basic official methods no longer work due to stubborn algae, you can try shocking. This refers to a method of killing algae by exposing them to a large amount of chlorine. Here are three ways to do it:

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What Is That Black Stuff In My Pool

• Black algae is the least common and the most difficult to get rid of.
• It has a very strong defense mechanism and deep roots that make it very hard to remove. It will normally look like small, dark black spots on your pool walls.
• To get rid of it, you will need to do heavy brushing, vacuuming, and chlorination.

Can I Put Algaecide In With Shock

While stunning and applying algaecide are both efficient ways to get rid of algal, they should not be done at the same time. This is due to the fact that combining chlorine and algaecide renders both ineffective. As a result, you should shock the pool first and then wait for the chlorine levels to fall below 5 PPM.

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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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Shock That Algae Away

If this is your first time with algae, youve probably never used pool shock quite like this before. Depending on the type algae youre dealing with, youll need to shock twice or four times as much as the average dose. Make sure you use conveniently-packaged one pound bags to make sure youre using the right amount for your pool.

For green algae, double the average dose. For yellow algae, youll need three times as much. And for black algae, youll need four. Extreme circumstances call for extreme measures.

Just remember, as always, to shock your pool at dusk or night. You dont want the sun burning down your pool shocks ability to work when you need it the most. Also, dont swim for at least eight hourscertainly not while your pool is still cloudy with shock. Yikes.

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Too Late To Prevent Ithow Do I Kill Algae

First off, balance your water, paying particular attention to pH, as your chlorine is much more active in the low end of the range, 7.1-7.3. Secondly, check that your filter and pump are operating properly. Shut off the pool heater if you have one, to lower the water temperature. Adjust valves for optimum circulation and allow it the pump to run 24 hours a day until the pool clears. Turn on pool cleaners to help stir things up. Backwash as necessary, but only when pressure rises by at least 5 psi, or the flow rate is noticeably diminished.

Brush the walls and floors towards the main drain on a daily basis, and vacuum as needed. Using a flocculent may be a good choice after shocking, if the pool is extremely “swampy”. If you cannot see the bottom of the pool, and it is filled with leaves and debris, it may be wise to drain the pool, acid wash and refill it . It is nearly impossible to restore clear water to a pool that is very dirty with debris. Another option is to drain half the water, and refill with fresh water, while removing as much debris as possible.

Test the water the following day for pH and chlorine. If the chlorine level is still very high, thatâs good â if it has dropped to zero within 24 hours, you may have missed the mark, and will need to shock the pool again, using slightly more this time.

Help My Pool Water Is Green Your Ultimate Guide To Pool Algae

Wouldnt it be fantastic if you could just set up your pool, fill it with water, and never have to worry about it again? Unfortunately, the sight of green pool water and swimming pool algae is a quick reminder that its not quite that simple.

As with any leisure activity, a swimming pool requires regular maintenance to preserve its integrity. By adhering to regular upkeep, itll prevent you from battling pool algae infestations and the bacteria that feed on it and keep your pool water from turning green.

If your preventative measures have failed and you need to clean algae from your pool, dont worry. Although removing pool algae will require some effort, its resolvable and well worth your time.

In this guide, youll learn how to get rid of algae in your pool, what to do if your pool water is green, how to clean algae from your pool, and more!

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Use Baking Soda As Algae In Pool Home Remedy

This is another great natural way to get rid of algae in a swimming pool. People like using baking soda to get rid of algae because you can swim immediately after treatment in most cases.

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Also, if its not overused, it will only slightly impact pool water chemistry. It works best as a spot treatment for algae on pool walls and pool floors. Baking soda actually has chemical properties that help it break apart algae. Once you broadcast it over an algae bloom area, you have to then scrub the algae off with a brush.

Preventing Green Algae In The Pool

If you havent got an algae problem yet, it doesnt mean that you never will. You should always take measures to prevent the birth and spread of algae because theres no stopping it once it starts blooming.

• Make sure that your swimming pool circulation system is running fine.
• Regularly add pool sanitizers.
• Regularly check your skimmers and pump strain baskets to see if they are overloaded.
• Shock your pool once every 7-10 days.
• Regularly scrub and brush your pool.
• Use a pool vacuum to clean the pool water.
• Use an algaecide to prevent algae from growing in the first place.

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How To Treat Black Algae

Black algae is a stubborn organism. Its protective outer layer sets roots into the surfaces it clings to. This makes it one of the toughest algae strains to get rid of. Black algae appears as black spots on pool surfaces. Treatment needs to be aggressive and requires a good deal of scrubbing. To remove green algae from your pool, follow these steps:

• Test your pool chemicals and pH levels with a pool test kit to ensure theyre balanced.
• Apply a pool shock product according to the label directions to help boost any residual chlorine.
• Scrub the black algae with a pumice stone or a stiff-bristled brush to break up its protective layer.
• Use a pool brush to vigorously scrub all of the affected areas where the black algae has spread.
• Vacuum the algae debris.
• Apply a black algae treatment according to the label directions.
• Let the water circulate for 24 hours.
• Remove the dead algae by vacuuming or backwashing. If the algae persists, repeat steps three to seven in another two to four days.

Once youve completed these steps, perform a final test of your pool water to ensure that all levels are in the ideal ranges:

• Free chlorine
• PH

Four: Correct The Ph Level

At this point, your water may still be an off-color, but it should be free of large and small particles. Now, you need to test and establish the pH level before adding any chlorine, especially when using Calcium Hypochlorite also known as super shock or altra shock that comes with high pH levels.

Depending on the chlorine you are using, the pH tends to rise when chlorine is added in a swimming pool if you are using Calcium Hypochlorite chlorine, you need to keep your pH as low as possible, not higher than 7.2.

Another side effect of Calcium Hypochlorite is that it has lots of calcium and may cause calcium scaling and this may hugely affect your pool chemistry or damage your pool, and that is why liquid chlorine is the best option to fight algae where a lot of chlorine will be used and it’s also active and works faster than powder or tablet chlorine. Reducing the pH may be necessary as a general rule because chlorine will more effective in low pH that high pH levels.

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Shocking Your Pool With Green Algae

If any of the above methods havent worked for you, perhaps its time to shock your swimming pool. Shocking a swimming pool is considered a last resort.

The act of adding chlorine or non-chlorine pool chemicals to the water in order to increase the free chlorine level is referred to as shocking. The objective is to elevate this level so that pollutants like algae, chloramines, and bacteria are eliminated.

On the market, you can find many calcium hypochlorite shocks that might do the job for you. There are different types of shock treatments available for different types of algae.

To shock your swimming pool, it would be best if you did it after daylight hours. If you do it at night, our hot star will consume the chlorine before it reacts against the algae.

While using a calcium hypochlorite shock, spread the entire contents of the shock into your swimming pool. If any granules sink to the pools bottom, use a brush to distribute them. When the filter pump is running during the evening hours, add the appropriate dosage of this product.

Removing Algae In Your Salt Water Pool

If you own a salt water pool, you probably know how big of a problem algae growth can be. Once these organisms contaminate the pool, they can grow and spread quickly. Both chlorinated and salt water pools need proper water chemistry levels in order to prevent algae growth. On the other hand, if algae are already present in your pool, there are still some measures you can take to remove them.

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Check Your Pool’s Chemistry

By now, you probably have a good pool-testing kit, but its important you put it to use and check your pool chemistry.

Many new pool-owners dont realize how quickly algae can take over until its overtaken and requiring major cleaning.

Your pools chlorine level should stay between 2.0 and 4.0 ppm to keep bacteria and algae to a minimum.

Algae spores will obviously still enter your pool from time to time, but a healthy level of chlorine will kill them off before they have a chance to bloom.

Likewise, checking and regulating your pools pH levels will help keep spores from blooming.

Algae thrives in a high pH level. The guideline for a pools level is between 7.2 and 7.6, 7.4 being ideal.

This is the same pH level in mucous membranes and human eyes, also making it a safe environment for humans.

A Few Finishing Touches To Get Rid Of Pool Algae Faster

While your pool filter will eventually clear up the pool by itself, there are a few things that you can do to speed up the process.

Vacuum again

While your earlier vacuuming may have helped clear up the water, it probably didnt get everything.

So vacuum your pool a second time. This helps to capture the debris you might have missed the first time around.

Clean out the filter often

While your pool clears out the rest of the algae, it stores it in your filter. And it piles up fast.

This is why its important to clean out your filter several times while youre getting rid of algae: its the best way to prevent buildup and keep the algae removal process going smoothly.

Retest your water every 12-24 hours

After spending all that time fixing your green pool, making sure your hard work pays off is important.

So keep testing your water every 12 hours to check if any adjustments are needed to get it in balance.

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How To Treat Mustard Algae

Mustard algae is yellow in color, and its rarer than green algae. Its also more difficult to remove. Mustard algae typically looks like yellowish-brown or dirt-colored spots on the floor and walls of your pool, often in shadier spots. Although mustard algae is fairly easy to brush away from the pool surface, it can quickly return.

One of the main reasons why mustard algae is so difficult to remove is that it can adhere to anything that enters the pool. Once you remove the algae, thoroughly clean everything that has been in touch with the water, including toys and swimsuits. To remove mustard algae from your pool, follow these steps:

• Test and balance your pool chemical levels using a test kit.
• Boost any residual chlorine by adding a quality pool shock product according to label directions.
• Use a pool brush to vigorously scrub the surfaces where the algae has grown.
• Use a vacuum or backwash the pool to remove the dead algae.
• Apply a mustard algaecide following the label directions.
• Allow the water to circulate for 24 hours.
• Use a pool vacuum or backwash the pool again to remove the remaining dead algae. In persistent cases, brush the pool and apply algaecide once more after two to four days.

After treating, test and balance your pool chemicals and levels again. The ideal ranges are:

• Free chlorine
• pH

Vacuuming Your Swimming Pool

Your automatic filters wont filter out the algae for you youd have to do it on your own. Lucky for you, pool vacuum cleaners exist, and you can easily vacuum out the nasty greens using them.

Manually vacuuming a swimming pool for algae doesnt only suck out green algae in the pool but also cleans other debris and sludge that might have settled at the bottom of your pool. This also helps your pool sanitizer to reach crevices that were previously inhabited by green algae.

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Check Your Water Chemistry

Checking your water chemistry is not only a swimming pool maintenance tip its also the first step in getting rid of pool algae. You should use test kits available on the market to check your swimming pools pH and chlorine levels. Ideal chlorine levels are 1 ppm. In contrast, your water pH should be somewhere between 7.4 and 7.6.

Is There Really Algae In My Pool

If youre looking to identify algae, first take a quick look at your pool water. If its cloudy and has taken on a green, yellow, or even black hue, you can be sure algae is the culprit.

Next, check the corners of your pooland this includes the hidden parts of your stairs. If youre at the beginning of an algae infestation, youll see green, yellow, or black spots around these covert areas. Wait a bit, and the algae will make itself knownand will be a lot harder and more costly to clean out. Again, if theres one thing I can tell you, its this: dont wait.

Oftentimes, its hard to see the actual color of algaeespecially if your pool is extra cloudy. If this is the case for you , its probably helpful to know exactly what youre dealing with.

There are three types of pool algae:

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