Fix A Green Pool In 5 Easy Steps
Maybe you lifted up your winter cover to open your pool and were surprised;by bright green water.;Or maybe the algae crept up on you one faithful day during swim season.
Dont worry. It happens to the best of pool owners. And luckily, theres plenty you can do to win the battle against algae and reclaim your pool.
In this post, show you how to fix a green pool in just 5 steps. If you follow these steps, you can get rid of your pool algae problem in just a few days or less.
Heres a quick summary of how to fix a green pool:
Thats the whole process right there, but you probably have a few questions now, like:
How much do I lower my pools pH?
How much shock do I need to kill pool algae?
How can I remove pool algae faster?
We answer all those questions and more in the next few paragraphs, so keep reading and lets fix your green pool once and for all.
Cleaning Algae From Pool
There are many kinds of algae in this world, however, the main three that grow in a pool are the green, yellow and black algae. The most common is the green one and its kind of easy to remove green algae from the pool than the other two.
The fastest way to get rid of algae in a pool is to clean the whole pool manually. That sounds tough and tiresome. In that case, why not try the chlorine to kill all the green guests of your pool! It will probably take 1-3 days to bring your pool back to sanitary conditions with the help of chlorine shock.
Sometimes, it may take a little longer. The more the density of algae the more you need the shock to kill them.
This shock treatment is not the only solution to the problem. You may need to clean the pool and remove dirt and debris from and around the pool.
Now we will discuss the best way to kill algae in a pool:
Causes For Pool Algae Development
Anyone who decides to build a pool in their back yard should learn how it is properly maintained.
If you dont do that, instead of a place to relax in, it will become just another chore around the house.
With the right care your pool will always stay fresh and clean.
Proper maintenance means you need to thoroughly clean the pool on a regular basis and use the appropriate care products.
If you neglect this for long enough, dont be surprised if the water turns cloudy or green.
The pH value and the colour of the water provide information on the water quality and indicate which cleaning measures are necessary.
Ideally, the pH value is 7.4. A pH value higher than 7.4 is really good for algae. Algae and bacteria are not always responsible for discoloured water or deposits on the walls:;
- Yellow-green water: indicates the increased iron concentration;
- Cloudy water: indicates pollution from organic residues;
- Slippery walls: algae or bacterial covers
- Rough pool walls: means calcification of the water
If there isnt enough algae protection in the pool water, the risk of algae growth increases. The pH value has a significant influence on algae growth. The organisms need nutrients to grow, which they get from leaves, hair, cosmetics or skin cells.
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How To Prevent Algae In Pools
How do you control or prevent algae? Pool algae also requires that your circulation, water balance, sanitation and filtration are all in full operation. If one of these is underperforming or inconsistent, it makes a good environment for algae to bloom.
The best way to prevent algae in pools is with consistent chlorine levels of 2-4 ppm, with long, effective daily filter runs, good water balance, and weekly use of a good pool algaecide. In short, you can control and prevent algae in pools if you create a harsh environment for algae:
- Good water balance; pH 7.2, Alk 100 ppm, Cal 200 ppm, Cya 30-50
- Good water filtration; two turnovers per day, 16-18 hours total run time
- Good water circulation; brushing, eyeball fittings, pool cleaners can help
- Good water sanitation; keep consistent daily chlorine levels of 2-4 ppm
- Supplemental Sanitizers can help; Minerals, Ozone or UV treatment
- Good quality pool algaecide; weekly maintenance doses
Picking The Right Chlorine Shock Products
Shocking your pool basically means you are hitting it with an extra potent dose of chlorine and added disinfectants. The concentration will kill off whatever uninvited organisms are growing in the water or pool walls. Generally, its a good idea to shock your pool every other week, and especially after heavy use.
When shopping for chlorine shock products, keep in mind the type of pool you have and its size. For example, inground or above-ground pools have different products, as well as saltwater pools. Additionally, there are multi-use shock products that work effectively for several types of pools.
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Brush Walls Steps And Ladders
Image: blog.intheswim.com
Brushing will loosen algae that is clinging in your pool walls, steps and ladders and get it into the water. A brush with telescopic pole will do the job perfectly. By doing this, the chlorine shock will be more effective at killing it. We will discuss more about shocking a pool later in this article. Keep reading…
Maintenance Steps To Keep Your Pool Water Healthy
- Test, test, test. The best algae prevention method is to test your pool water regularly for pH and chemical levels.
- Scrub your walls often with a proper brush, and make sure the brush is cleaned properly between uses.
- Shock your pool on the regular.
- Invest in a vacuum to remove debris.
- Check your pump and filter to ensure good water circulation.
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Problems Caused By Algae
Pool algae are like having weeds in your garden; its unsightly, problematic, and quite frankly, no one wants to deal with it. As nature would have it, you can find algae everywhere there is water, and algae spores can survive on many surfaces until they reach a new place to call home.
Algae, which can live purely on sunlight, is a single-celled plant that uses photosynthesis to create food to feed itself. Its because of this that pool algae can cause a few problems for pool owners. Most commonly, algae will turn your pool water green. Unfortunately, pool algae can take hold if the sanitation levels drop even the slightest.
Once your pool water is green, cloudy, or discolored, your pools filtration system is the next concern. Swimming pool algae will quickly clog;your filters and sanitation pathways, causing further contamination. If left untreated, you risk providing a breeding ground for bacteria.
The bacteria feast on algae.;This can result in a buildup of bacteria that leads to staining and deterioration of your pool equipment and structure. Black pool algae are a culprit of leaving hard to remove stains caused by its deep-seated roots. Replacing equipment can be costly, but its rather challenging to remove stains from your pools structure. So keeping algae at bay is the optimum solution.
So My Pools Got Algae Does It Even Matter
I know, I know. As with all pool issues, its much easier to shrug your shoulders and go back to all the other things you planned to do today. But although the algae that occurs in pools wont hurt you directly, its a killer for your chemical balance. When algae is present in your pool, your sanitizer and chemicals exhaust themselves working against it. And when that happens, the potentially harmful bacteria that your sanitizer is supposed to neutralize is thrivingand surrounding you and yours on every swim. Not only is it gross, but it can also make you sick.
Is poor circulation the culprit for your algae-infested waters? Try a more powerful unit like this Blue Torrent 2 HP Variable-Speed Pump, which qualifies for rebates, comes with a lifetime warranty, and pays itself off in energy saved. As customer Bill Britton says, Runs great. Super quiet.
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Check The Ph Value And Chlorine Content Again:
Once you have got rid of all the algae from the pool and the water is crystal clear again, check the pH value and the chlorine content of the water.
Both values should now be at normal levels. If not, you have to balance the pool waters chemistry.;
Warning with all steps:
When mixing chemicals, always pour the water first, then the chemicals second and mix. Not the other way around – If you pour chemicals first then water second it can cause a strong chemical reaction that could harm you. In addition, always be careful when handling chemicals, it is best to wear gloves and a proper face mask. Do not inhale the chemicals.
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 Clean An Empty Pool With Algae: The Ultimate Guide
by Perla Irish | Sep 27, 2020
Page Contents
Who doesnt want a clean and clear pool to dive in! Well, you cant do that if you dont keep it safe from algae attack. There will be a pool full of leaves and algae. In that case, why dont we check out the ways of how to clean an empty pool with algae.
Before we start to know more about the process of cleaning those unwanted guests from the pool, we should know what are these things and how come they appear out of nowhere in our place of a soothing summer bath! If we know that, we can reduce or stop their infestation.
How to Clean An Empty Pool With Algae
Why Does A Pool Turn Green Anyway
The reason is algae. There are millions and billions and trillions of algae. When a swimming pools water is clear and you can see the bottom of the pool perfectly, there is hardly any life in the water. When a pool goes untreated or if the water doesnt move around and doesnt get filtered, it becomes an environment thats conducive to the growth of living things.
A pool that has favorable conditions for living things will start out with a little bit of algae. These algae are like pioneers with lots of land to share. They can reproduce in great numbers. Their offspring can breed too, so before you know it the pool gets a little cloudy. This cloudiness is an indication that the water is populated with living things and that this is becoming visible to our naked eyes. At this point the cloudy pools population is similar to the state of Floridas population. A couple more days of growth and the pool starts to turn a light green color.
When the pool is light green, youve gone from a town of pool algae to an entire city of algae. Another couple of days and the light green pool becomes darker. Now youve got New York City. Super dark green and your pool turns into NYC, Tokyo, Delhi, Mexico City, and Shanghai all stacked together. So, the greener your pool turns, the bigger the population of living things becomes.
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The #1 Thing That You Can Do
So what is the most effective approach to rid your pool of algae and get it clear again?
Chlorine is the short answer. How much is determined by how big your pool is and how much algae is in it. So it is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
But the goal is to shock the algae with the amount of chlorine you add. There are products available that play on these words, such as algae guard and pool shock products.
Any of these will provide about the same level of power as the chlorine will.
When you shock your pools water, you will probably have to pour in at least a 2.5-gallon bottle of chlorine or several pounds of granules. So it is better to buy the larger sizes to get the best value. You can even purchase 25-pound bags of granules as well.
Plus, it takes more to eliminate all traces of the algae than it does to kill it. So you will need to read specific directions on the packaging of the product you choose for your size pool.
Start by calculating how much water your pool holds . Read on the packaging of your chlorine how much it takes for that amount of water. Start there and see what it accomplishes!
You will also probably need to follow a protocol of letting your pump clean the pool for several hours and then check the pH level. Dont forget to clean your pool or filter in the meantime. That will help you know how much chlorine to add to get the water levels right.
And it is okay if your pH level is a little low. That is still great for swimming.
How To Prevent Algae From Growing
The key are always controlling your pool properly balanced and sanitized to keep the algae from growing or returning. Make sure you follow these tips:
- Keep the levels of pH, alkalinity and sanitizer in the correct rate at all times by periodic check.
- Run your pump and filter about 8 to 12 hours a day.
- Keep your pool clean and safe from the algae by regularly vacuuming and brushing.
- Shock your pool every week. Remember 1 pound per 10,000 gallons or less.
- Keep your other pool equipment clean including pool toys, diving boards, slides, floats, ladders, steps, diving boards, slides, solar blankets and covers.
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Why Is Pink Algae A Problem
A pink algae problem should not be taken lightly. Its actually super unhealthy for humans to be around.
Due to its bacterial nature, it can cause health problems if it gets into your body through your eyes, nose, or any open wounds. This can lead to pneumonia, as well as urinary and respiratory tract infections.
Additionally, the filter system can get clogged up with this guck. As it grows on top of white water mold, theres a high chance that both of them will have infested your pools pipes and filters. When the water is injected back into the pool via its return jets, the mold and bacteria will now have a chance to grow inside the pool.
Also not to be overlooked, pink slime tends to grow in low circulation areas, such as skimmers, lights, and ladders. This could be potentially hazardous as someone can easily slip and fall if the slime is present on a ladder or steps. If left to grow, pink slime can even leave stains on your pool finish.;
Pool Algae Health Issues
Is algae in the pool harmful, or can you swim in a pool with algae? You can, but you may not want to, especially for young children, or others with under developed or compromised immune systems.
Small patches of algae here or there is not a health concern, but if the pool is having a full blown algae bloom, with low water clarity and low chlorine levels, it may not be healthy for swimming.
If the chlorine is not killing the harmless cyanobacteria algae, the chlorine is probably also not killing harmful pathogenic bacteria that may also be present in the water.
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Keep Your Filter Clean
Maintaining the filter by cleaning it regularly is important not just for algae prevention, but for general pool maintenance as well.
The filter is usually working an average of 8 hours every day, so make sure youre cleaning it out before it becomes ineffective and problematic.
Depending on your filter type, you can backwash a sand or DE filter, whereas a cartridge filter will have to be manually cleaned.
How To Get Rid Of Algae In Your Pool In 13 Steps
Sometimes despite our best efforts to prevent them, those sneaky little spores find a way in and start to grow.
Maybe you just didnt have time to maintain your swimming pool the way you meant to or maybe your filter got clogged without you noticing.
Either way, you have a problem and now you just need to know how to fix it.
Removing algae may not be rocket science, but it does require a bit of biology.
It will certainly take some time and a little hard work, but with the proper steps and equipment, youll be an algae-killing expert in no time.
If you follow these steps to the letter, you’ll most likely be able to remove all the algae growth from your pool, but if you find some lurking behind, repeat the steps until its clean.
Are you ready to get to work? Great! Lets get started.
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