When To Avoid Contact With Your Pool Water Due To Algae
In some cases, an algae situation can ruin for the fun for everyone.
If there is thick white, green or red-brown scum on the surface of your pool water, DO NOT enter the pool. Always avoid activities that may involve the risk of being close to or swallowing this kind of organism as it may affect your health.
If you, your children or your pets become sick after coming into contact with suspected infected water, please speak to a doctor for advice.
Safety And Health Risks
If youve ever touched algae, you probably knew right away thanks to its characteristic sliminess. Algae can cover surfacesthe pool itself as well as pool ladders and deckswith a slimy, slippery coating, creating a potential recipe for disaster.
Algae growth also turns water in swimming pools opaque, making it difficult to see whats happening beneath the surface. If someone is in distress or begins drowning, the cloudy water could prevent people nearby from realizing whats happening in time to offer assistance.
Time is of the essence when it comes to saving drowning victims, so any barrier to a quick rescue is unacceptable.
While the algae themselves are unlikely to cause illness, there are some exceptions. The conditions that permit pool algae to gain a foothold also allow bacteria to flourish, including the infamous E. coli.
Add in the fact that these bacteria use algae as a food source, and you have a rapidly multiplying health hazard on your hands. To curb the bacteria, youll have to stop the algae in its tracks.
Clean Your Pool Filter
Your filter just processed a lot of contaminated water. And the last thing you want is your dirty filter slowly adding microscopic algae spores back into your pool. Deep clean your filter cartridges by soaking them in diluted muriatic acid, or by replacing them entirely. If you have a sand or D.E. filter, nows the time to backwash.
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Final Tips: Keeping Your Pool Water Clear Of Algae For Good
If you want to keep the green murk held at bay for good, your best bet is testing. Test a lot, test every day, or every other day, when the weather is changing or you have a lot of people using your pool. Testing once a week may be enough, but the more you test, the more you know.
Finally, testing is not beneficial if you dont also fix what needs fixing keep your water balanced, your sanitizer optimized, and your filter clean and fit to control algae for good.
Which Method Is Best
We would choose Method #1: Getting Rid Of Pool Algae By Shocking every day of the week. By using this method, you’re keeping it simple by focusing on chlorine and acid, while using your filtration system to bring it back to life. It tends to be a bit of a work-in-progress and can take 1, 2 or even 3 weeks, depending on the state of your pool, but it’s definitely the easiest. But if you don’t like the process of measuring out and mixing and matching, you can always go for the Water TechniX Green Pool Bundle that has our specially formulated Tri-Shock. The Tri-Shock has cyanuric acid built-in to it that extends the protection given by the chlorine ensures that your pool stays clean and crystal clear! Not only that, it also comes with a clarifying cube that you can pop into your skimmer basket to catch those tiny dead algae particles that cloud up your pool!
It never hurts to be prepared, Because of the heavy rain on the east coast of Australia, we’ve created this Water TechniX Ultimate Green Pool Bundle as a go-to solution to turn that green pool blue! Packed with some of the most potent chemicals required to shock the pool and see results within hours, not weeks!
Do you have any questions about this topic or the featured products? No worries, we’re here to help! Head over to our Contact Us page and drop our friendly team of pool pro’s a line.
Happy swimming 🙂
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Clean Your Filterwith More Than A Hose
The water that goes through your filter comes back out into your pool, remember? So now imagine that your filter has microscopic deposits of algae from when you shocked your pool and turned on your pump. Yeah, lets make sure that algae isnt coming back in. Youll need to clean your filter, meaning a chemical rinse if you have a cartridge filter and a backwash if you have a sand or D.E. filter. But my recommendation? Just replace the filter media entirely. Its not risking a return of the plant youve already worked so hard to get out of there.
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C Brush Your Pool Walls
While the pool shock treatment and the algae stain removers do their thing, you will want to brush off the stains from the pool walls.
You need an ideal pool brush with stiff but safe bristles for your pool type. You have to go hard on the stains. Dont worry It can be your workout of the day.
If you have a fiberglass or vinyl swimming pool, the best brush to use is a stiff nylon brush. If your swimming pool is tiled or has concrete surfaces, then a wire pool brush is your best product.
Dont be surprised if some stains dont come off right away. Some might take days or weeks to come off.
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How To Stop Black Algae From Returning
The best way to stop the formation of black algae is to make sure theres adequate circulation in your pool. Also, make it mandatory that anyone who swims in your pool rinses off first. All swimmers should wash their swimsuits, aquatic shoes, toys, and anything else before it goes into the water. Pool toys need to be scrubbed with a solution of one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water. This will not only get them clean but will also sanitize them.
Swimsuits can go into the washing machine. However, the tiny bacterial spores stick to swimming wear fabric and jump into the pool the first chance they get, so make sure you use bleach to clean them.
Keeping your pool balanced and sanitized is another way you can keep nasty cyanobacteria from ruining the pristine clarity of your pool water. Shock your pool at least once a week. Run your pump and filter for eight to 12 hours a day for the duration of the season. Make sure your pool stays clean by regularly vacuuming and brushing it.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Algae cells always exist in water, so if youre not on top of chlorine dosage, you can well expect algae to take advantage of that! Key prevention tips include making sure your water is always balanced properly with pH, calcium, cyanuric acid and alkalinity. Be sure to keep the chlorine levels between 1.0-2.0 ppm and regularly shock. Regularly dosing with algaecide also helps keep algae at bay.
If your filter is inadequate , you can not only create, but aggravate an algae problem. Your filter should be operating so that the entire contents of the pools water has been filtered at least once every 24 hours. Make sure your filter is appropriate for your pool size, as well as checking your filters regularly. Be sure to backwash it and replace at 5-8 year intervals or as needed.
Equally circulation must be thorough. Flow patterns must cover the entire pool, so check that the whole pool looks even in terms of cleanliness. An automatic pool cleaner or a regular pool service like the ones Town & Country Surrey Swimming Pools offer is a good solution for older pools.
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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.
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.
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Tips For Preventing Algae From Returning In Your Salt Water Pool
You may have heard that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. While usually applied to medical problems, this also holds true for pool maintenance.
Keep your pool clean and well-balanced to avoid a full on algae contamination. If your pool water starts becoming cloudy or you see discolored spots in the water, you are entering dangerous territory. Treat your water immediately.
Some other steps you can take to prevent algae from coming back in your saltwater pool include:
- Get a pool cover, though keep in mind that saltwater may damage parts of the cover, depending on the type you have.
- Test your pool water daily or get a smart water monitor to do the testing for you.
- Dont rely solely on your water filter to clear the pool. You can proactively vacuum your pool to get rid of any potential build-up before it gets too far out of hand.
When Is It Safe To Swim In The Pool Again
If your pool is returning to its normal colour signs are good. You should definitely be able to see to the bottom of the pool before even thinking about swimming in it again. Check chlorine levels remain between 1-5ppm or are being consistent below 5ppm. Checking the chloramine level is near zero and the pH and alkalinity are balanced. There should be instructions on your granular chlorine packet about when youre okay to jump back in, but do be careful that all granules are dissolved so as not to irritate skin or eyes. Continue to run your filtration system all day every day whilst clearing up an algae problem. Check on it a couple of times a day, backwashing if the pressure gage rises to over 7lbs. Add algaecides and clarifiers as per their instructions after a few days of shocking.
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What Is Pool Algae & Why Is It Bad
Swimming pool algae is a pretty common problem among pool owners, and its one that needs to be dealt with before it spreads because it can end up costing you a small fortune to fix.
So what exactly is it?
Algae is a single-celled plant that uses photosynthesis to create food and feed itself. In other words, it can survive on sunlight alone.
There are a lot of different types of algae. It can be found in pools and ponds, as well as on dry land. It can also appear in a range of different colors and forms, meaning it is resilient, and can adapt to almost any conditions.
Some forms of algae can be incredibly harmful to your health, but others are just an inconvenience for pool owners and arent very nice to look at.
The microscopic size of algae means that there are already millions of these plants generating before we can even see them, so the best course of action is prevention, which means staying on top of pool care is essential in order to stop this invasive menace.
Scrub The Black Algae Spots
Use a putty knife, a pumice stone, or a hand-held wire brush to get all the spots you couldnt get with the big brush. You can even use a chlorine tablet because not only does it have a scrubbing surface, but the chlorine gets applied chlorine directly to the bacteria. This kills its roots and prevents it from coming back.
To scrub with a chlorine tablet, youll need to wear chemical-resistant gloves and protective goggles. Break a three-inch tablet in half and hold it firmly while you scrub the bacteria with the broken edge.
If you cant reach a spot, place one-half of the tablet in a chlorine tablet holder with the broken part facing outward. Attach the holder to your telescoping pole and scrub the formerly unreachable spots.
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How Algae Forms In A Pool
Algae is always present in water, but you can only see it when it blooms since it is a microscopic organism. Blooming is the process in which algae grows, feeds, and multiplies. Algae can also transfer in larger quantities from people or swimsuits that are contaminated by other water sources.
Most of the time, algae blooms because of inadequate sanitation due to either poor filtration or improper chemical levels. It can also form because there is poor circulation in some areas of your swimming pool. Prime real estate for algae growth includes under rails, in corners, and other sheltered locations where treated water may not circulate properly.
Algae will thrive in a pool that has gotten a lot of use. They will feed on almost anything, including dead skin cells, oils, sweat, and garden fertilizer. There are a few different types of algae, and you need to treat each one slightly differently. Lets dive into those types.
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.
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Getting Rid Out Of Green Water Swimming Pool Using Algaecide
If it is still so difficult to remove algae using chlorine shock treatment, then algaecide can be a good option to consider. Yes, Algaecide is made for this purpose, so people prefer to use algaecide than doing chlorine shock due to the effectivity.
However, the use of algaecide to remove algae in swimming pool is relatively pricey. This substance is usually offered in expensive price compared to the regular chemicals.
And one thing to consider is that usually, algaecide is made for specific type of algae. So, you need to pay more attention on what type of algae that causes you Green Water Swimming Pool issue, in order to get the best fit of algaecide. Otherwise, it wont work effectively.
Just like when we do chlorine shock, in applying algaecide we need to drain the pool water first. After the pool is drained, then we need to brush the pool floor and wall using iron or nylon brush.
Ordinary brush can also be used, even though well need extra effort if we use ordinary brush. Brush all the areas on pool wall and floor that look greenish, as thats the part where algae is started to grow.
After brushing process is finished, we can fill the pool water again, then adjust the PH into standard level . Add chlorine in larger dose as in the shocking treatment.
After the algae dies and lifted, the color will turn white or grayish. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove the debris and remnants so that they do not flow to the filter.
