What Types Of Algae Are Found In A Swimming Pool
Commonly the Town & Country Swimming Pool Service team find 3 types of algae.
If you have a green algae problem in your pool, the giveaway is that the water usually turns quite green and might be cloudy. Green algae growth can be found on all surfaces and will be slippery to touch. The most common and the fastest growing, green algae can quickly fill an entire pool in as little as a long weekend!
Black algae is rough to touch and appears in spots at the bottom of the pool. Slow growing, black algae has rough caps which protect the organism underneath. These caps can be as small as a match stick head or in large patches. Black algae has been known to embed itself down into the concrete which is when youd really need to call in the experts, because the removal process is pretty intense and complex!
Yellow algae can almost be mistaken for a stain or patch of sand. It is a lime yellow-green tone and is generally found in the shaded areas in the swimming pool. That means it can even appears all over the cleaning equipment like the filter and items in the pool like the underside of inflatables. Although its far less common that green or black algae, yellow algae is notoriously difficult to shift.
Filter Out The Pool Algae
When your shock treatment kills the algae, itll turn your water a cloudy blue. Run your filter continuously for a minimum of eight hours until the water clears up.
You may add pool water clarifier to speed up the process. Be sure to check whether you need to top off your water before turning on the pump.
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.
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Brush Your Pool Walls And Floor
Scrubbing the algae off your pool walls lets your sanitizer get deeper into the remaining algae. It also stirs up the sediment youve brushed off so it can be killed and filtered out.
Using a stiff pool brush on a pole, brush the walls and floor of your pool. Pay special attention to corners and shady areas where algae is usually worst. As you go, your water will become cloudy, obstructing your view, so get those tough spots first.
Cleaning The Pool Water:
First of all, you need to scrub the pool. This includes the walls, the algae on the bottom of the pool, and the stairs.
Then fish off the algae with a landing net and pump the water through the filter system and backwash the filter.
If the infestation is low, the circulation pump should run continuously for 24 to 48 hours. If the infestation is significant, run the pump for longer than 48 hours.
Tip:
There are electric cleaning robots that can keep the pool clean alone. This makes your job a lot easier because these cleaning robots move systematically throughout the pools whole area.
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Is Algae Bad For My Pool
Definitely, its bad for your pool, and you should get rid of it.
Not only does it make the water green and cloudy but also unsafe for swimming.
Lets have a quick look at some of the reasons that will help you to understand why your pool should be free from any form of algae.
Erosion and Staining
In our blog, weve discussed numerous times that keeping your pool water balanced is REALLY important, and for multiple reasons.
Moreover, algae can raise your pools pH level leading to scaling and calcium deposits buildup.
These things will erode both concrete and fiberglass surface and might couple with organic debris leading to discoloration and staining.
Clogged Filters
The problem with almost all types of algae is their tendency to clump together and reproduce.
As a result, it becomes really difficult for your pool filter to do its job.
You need to be very careful in dealing with the black algae as it has a sticky surface and takes root in crevices and openings.
Especially the black algae would create loads and loads of trouble for you.
In fact, it clings to the mesh and opens in filters, hanging onto other spores and debris until it forms clogs impossible to filter out normally.
The main problem with the clogged filter is that it creates poor circulation in the pool, and thus, paves the way for algae blossom.
Germs
E.coli is also lead to urinary infection.
Slippery Steps
Slippery steps can cause lead to some serious accidents.
How To Keep Dead Algae Out Of Your Swimming Pool
- |February 24, 2021
Proper maintenance is essential to keeping your pool spotless, but the presence of algae can be a stubborn, uninvited guest thats hard to get rid of.
With the tips in this article, youll be able to fully remove dead algae in your pool, and keep it away for good.
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Why Is My Pool Water Yellow Or Orange
- This means that mustard or yellow algae is growing in your pool.
- This type looks like sand or pollen. It’s very sticky and adheres to pool walls that don’t get lots of sunlight.
- It is chlorine-resistant, very stubborn, and in some cases, it will grow even on pool equipment, toys, floats, or bathing suits.
- You cannot get rid of this type with a small amount of chlorine. You will need to deeply shock the pool using a high dosage of chlorine and clean all affected equipment with chlorine, as well. See instructions below.
Are Algae Dangerous In The Pool
Fortunately, there are only three different types of algae that can be found in pools.
All three types of algae are harmless to health, but they make the pool water cloudy.
The algae also attract various bacteria and insects as they are a source of food. And lets be honest: nobody wants to bathe in this kind of pool water anyway.
The pool algae like to grow on stairs, on the edges, in the pools corners, or wherever there is a shade. Pay attention to these spots. This will help you determine the type of algae.
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Routine Maintenance To Keep Algae Away
Six: Run The Filter 24 Hours A Day
The more you run the filter, the faster the water will clear up. Also, remember that dirty swimming pool water will clog the filter system more frequently during this process, particularly the DE and cartridge pool filters. Because of this, you need to backwash your filter every day to ensure that it operates effectively during the process.
Note: The more the filter runs and the more it is backwashed, the faster the water will clear up.
If you have the DE filter, this process may be shorter since the DE filter is more efficient than the sand or cartridge types, but you need to remember to add a new DE after every backwash to facilitate the process.
Whichever filter you are using, ensure that your system is functioning properly. If the filter system is not working properly, the pool water will never clear up, even after all this effort, and you will have to replace or repair the filter.
A cleared swimming pool will be blue in color while a clearing pool water will be light green or cloudy white.
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A Yellow Pool Alga Or Mustard Alga
A stingy form of alga that develops on the walls of your pool in areas that receive minimal sunlight. It is the second most frequent alga you will find it in your pool and sometimes might be mistaken for pollen or sand that may have collected in your pool. It is hard to eliminate these algae and will not die due to any ordinary dose of sanitizer.
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.
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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.
Should I Drain My Pool
No! Definitely do not drain your pool. If you absolutely feel like you need to, call a professional company first and ask them their opinion and how to do it.
If you drain a vinyl liner pool, you could ruin your liner. For concrete and fiberglass pools, the pool shell could float.
Instead, go through the following steps to kill that garbage.
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Dangers Of Pool Algae
But really, whats all the fuss? Surely there are all kinds of algae in pools, rivers, lakes, ponds, and so on? And dont people swim in them safely all the time? Well, yes, but
The difference with pool algae is that it exists in a closed, concentrated system. Natural bodies of water typically have natural and constant drainage, circulation, and filtration this dilutes the organisms present in these significantly larger bodies of water.
Aside from the slimy, unsightly nature of algae, it can pose significant safety risks to anyone taking a dip in a contaminated pool, presumably to practice their waterbending.
Regularly Brush The Pool
You should keep a healthy cleaning routine for your pool which involves regular brushing of all the parts of the pool. The brushing should be in line with the type of material the pool is made of. If made of tough materials like concrete, you can use a hard brush since it can withstand that. Softer materials will require the use of a softer brush to avoid damage.
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How To Get Rid Of Algae In A Swimming Pool
Algae is a pest that is commonly found in swimming pools all over the world. Even a pool that is correctly sanitized can still get an algae bloom when the conditions are right. But if your pool has algae how do you get rid of algae in a swimming pool?
Once you have algae in your pool it can be difficult to get rid of it. Sometimes the only way is to empty the pool, clean and refill.
As with most things in life, the prevention is better than the cure.
Follow a proper pool maintenance routine to test, chemically balance and sanitize the pool water to prevent algae growing in your pool. However, you need to take a few extra precautions to ensure algae doesnt take over the pool.
You need to add algaecide at the beginning of summer to kill algae spores when they enter the pool water. This is like putting on sunscreen before going outside into the hot summer sun. Its not a 100% guarantee that you wont get algae but its another useful preventative measure.
You also need to shock the pool every week in the summer or after a period of high usage to kill excess bacteria, contaminants and algae.
There Are Two Basic Groups Of Algae:
The growth of both types of algae can be easily prevented by using a quality algaecide as part of a regular maintenance program, and by proper circulation. It takes far less algaecide to prevent algae growth from getting started than it will to cure it once it has occurred.
In spite of your best efforts, algae problems can occur and require some consideration for proper treatment. When an algaecide becomes necessary, read our guide to pool algaecide types to find your perfect product.
Balancing act
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Is Algae In The Pool Dangerous
No, algae will not harm you. However, if there is algae in the pool there will be bacteria, viruses and other contaminants which will harm you. Never swim in a pool with green water as it may cause health problems.
If you have algae you will most likely have water bugs that feed on algae. Larger water bugs that feed on the herbivorous water bugs will live in your pool. And these ones bite people.
Please read our article on How to Get Rid of Water Bugs in a Pool
How To Smart Slam Your Mustard Algae
For Yellow Algae / Mustard Algae: Multiply by 3
Be sure to always wear protective gloves, goggles, etc when scrubbing anything.
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How To Treat Pool Algae
Once it has taken hold, getting rid of pool algae can be a bit of a process.
However, with a little determination and patience all but the most extreme cases can be dealt with.
The following are the steps for treating general cases of the algae types discussed above.
1. Net Skim and Vacuum the PoolThe point here is to remove as much organic material such as dirt, leaves, and bugs as possible. Organic material will absorb the effect of the sanitiser . So you want to clear it all out to give the sanitiser the maximum opportunity to focus on zapping the algae.
Dont brush the pool yet all that achieves is loosening and breaking up the algae. Thatll come later .
2. Clean All FiltersYou need to be sure that your pool can circulate as cleanly and efficiently as possible. If you have a sand filter, backwash it.
3. Check and If Necessary Adjust pHCheck that the pH is between 7.4 and 7.6. If its not, adjust it accordingly. Algae can grow between 6.5 and 12.5 pH, but 7.4-7.6 pH enables chlorine to be at its most effective and also maintains the other water balance levels.
Use Water Testing Strips or a Liquid Water Testing Kit.
4. Sanitise the PoolSanitise or shock the pool with trichlor 1 gram trichlor per 25 litres of water. If you have a vinyl pool, a dark coloured plaster pool, or a dark painted pool, be warned that trichlor at this strength may bleach your pool surfaces: use liquid chlorine instead at 30,000 ppm .
This Shock Treatment works really well.
