Shock Your Pool Water
To correctly shock a pool, youll need to know how to shock a pool properly and what occurs when doing so. Even though it is known as shocking a pool, basically you are increasing the chlorine levels of the pool above what common levels should be at. This assists in killing any leftover bacteria in addition to algae that might still leftover following the removal of the organic debris. You should note, this will typically turn the water cloudy, but it should clear up within 24-48 hours. It is recommends shocking a pool at nighttime to bypass UV interference and that pH levels need to be between 7.2 to 7.4 for the ideal results.
Remove The Large Debris
Check the pool bottom for any large debris and remove it using a leaf net. You may have thought about using a skimmer, but dont. You will just stir up the water and make it look worse than it was. Remove the debris as carefully as possible without stirring the water up.
Important: If you are unable to see the bottom of the pool, do not vacuum it. You will risk clogging or damaging the filter, skimmer and underground plumbing pipes.
Why Did My Swimming Pool Turn Green
The color green in your pool means you have one enemy: Algae.
Algae is a simple plant, one that thrives in water that offers them food, and a hospitable environment. It doesnt take much for algae to enter your pool. Algae can become airborne, or ride into your pool on debris, a swimsuit, or pool toy. When it finds water with nitrogen and phosphorus, that isnt protected, algae start eating, and the bloom can seemingly appear overnight.
Interestingly, how deep the color is, ranging from light green sheen to swamp murk greeny-brown, gives you some of the information you need to fight it. Well get to that in just a minute, but more importantly, how did it happen?
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Fourth Step: Pump And Filter
Why is my pool still green after adding chlorine? Check your filter for clogs from the haze-jade green water. So depending on your filter, run it for a few days like you would do on ordinary occasions. If you want quick results, backwash your filter four times. Make this frequent to prevent your filter from clogging.
How Long Should I Run The Pool Pump Am I Filtering My Pool Enough
Always run the pump when shocking the pool and allow it to circulate for 24 hours. The water should then be a blue or cloudy blue color.
Test the water 24 hours after shocking and start adjusting pH and alkalinity levels. The chlorine will still be elevated, but over a few days, it should stabilize. You could add sodium thiosulfate to lower the chlorine level, but I do not recommend this because adding too much can cause the chlorine level to seesaw back and forth.
After the shocking process is complete and you are back to normal operation, you need to set your timer, so the pool is filtered for a long enough time each day to deal with any algae or debris. How long to run the pump depends on the turnover rate: the time it takes for the circulation system to move the entire volume of water in the pool through the filter equipment.
During the hot summer months, an average-size residential pool that is in use should be filtered for a minimum of eight hours. During the cold season , or when no one is using the pool, the filter time can be cut in half. But the pool water does need to be filtered whether it is being used or not.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.
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What Happens If I Dont Fix This Soon
Not only does a green swimming pool look unattractive and uninviting it can lead to other issues, which may be very costly. When algae is present in a pool, it can clog your filter in no time. When a filter gets clogged, the circulation of chemicals that fights bacteria slows down or stops. This can lead to additional hazardous bacterial and fungal growth within your pool water.
In other words, this is a problem to deal with ASAP. The longer you wait to take action, the more likely you are to have a clogged filter, circulation difficulties, and spiraling sanitation issues on top of your already algae-filled pool water. Here are six simple steps to help you get rid of green pool water:
Six Steps To Cleaning A Green Pool
Each of these steps is described in detail below. All information is based on an in-ground home pool of average size, from 12 to 15 thousand gallons.
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Put Algae Repellent In The Pool:
Once you have removed all the algae from the pool, you should immediately add an algae repellent in the pool water to prevent the formation of new algae.
To do this, first turn on the filter pump, then add the algae repellent to the skimmer so that the agent is evenly distributed in the entire pool water.
And lastly, filter the water completely. As far as the dosage of the algicide is concerned, it is best to follow the manufacturers instructions again.
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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.
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Our Conclusion On Why Your Pool Water Is Green
The green discolouration of your swimming pool water is likely a reaction to algae growing in your pool and is known as algae bloom.
To ensure that your pool remains blue after youve treated it, and to make sure you never have to ask why your pool is green again, carry out consistent chlorine shocks and stay on top of maintaining your pool!
What Causes Algae In A Pool
Algae grow where the water circulation is low. Hot and warm weather, as well as different residues in the water, can help the development of algae.
Therefore, algae growth mainly occurs in spring and summer. The most common types of algae in pools are green algae.
Brown algae show up as coats on the pool floor and on the side of the walls.
Yellow algae occur less often and develop a dusty residue on the ground. Bacteria arise as a result of a lack of cleaning routine on the walls or on the floor.
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But It Could Be Copper
Issues with metals being present in the water, specifically copper, can be the reason your beautiful pool looks unwell.
This is actually a common occurrence with new pools after filling them up and shocking the water. Whats happening here is the chlorine from the shock is oxidizing the copper in the water.
Its similar to historic buildings with green roofs, or The Statue of Liberty theyre actually made of copper. Their prolonged exposure to oxygen resulted in oxidation of the metal, which gives them the green look were familiar with.
Well water in particular is susceptible to this problem, as it contains high metal levels. A relatively cheap solution is to use a bobby hose filter when filling up the pool, which is a mono-filament propylene material and the same kind found in a pools DE filter.
Do I Need To Worry About Pool Phosphates
You may have heard pool pros or other pool owners say that to control algae, you need to control pool phosphates, and use phosphate remover to do so.
We have one word for that: No.
No, you dont need to worry about phosphates, and no, you dont need to use phosphate remover.
Trying to remove phosphates from any environment is like trying to remove dust particles from the air. You will never, ever, ever be able to do it completely. Well, unless you build a clean room. The same is true for phosphates. Theyre everywhere and in everything.
Yes, theyre a food source for algae. But to control pests in your vegetable garden, do you remove the vegetables? Of course not. You kill the pests. The same is true for algae.
Sanitize, sanitize, test, balance, and sanitize some more. And use the money you wouldve spent on phosphate remover on a nice pool float.
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A Good Clean Runs Deep
Like an uncomfortable date, algae loves to cling. Youll need to uproot it first before getting it out of the pool. Give your pool floors, walls, and steps a good, hard scrub using the patented Black & Decker 360-Degree Bristles Pool Brush, which was developed by pool maintenance experts to help get tight corners without any of the aches or pains associated with a good clean.
Once youve scrubbed your poolespecially those blooming corners, if you have themremove large debris like leaves and twigs with a skimmer net on a telescopic pole, and then vacuum out all the algae to wasteor, if youve invested for the long haul, turn on your powerful robotic pool cleaner. Just be sure that you clean out any pool cleaner you use automatically. You dont want any algae to circulate back outor youll be here again in no time.
Seriously, the patented Black & Decker 360-Degree Bristles Blue Torrent Pool Brush is worth a try. Its the only one of its kind and was developed by long-term pool professionals. As customer Scott Hinds notes, Definitely the best pool brush I have ever owned. Far superior to other brushes.
Will The Pool Turn Green If I Don’t Add Chlorine
Believe it or not, I have seen this keyword search pop up more than once. There is a short answer: YES, IT WILL turn green if you don’t add chlorine. Pool water must have a sanitizer or something that will kill bacteria and algae. Algaecide alone without chlorine will not prevent the pool from turning green.
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Why Is My Pool Green And How Do I Fix It
So, you wanted to go swimming but your pool had other plans? Not to worry, green pool water is common and can be easily corrected in a few days time.
Green pool water comes from algae growth. Its not going to turn you into a mutant, but you definitely dont want it in your pool.
Algae is a plant that thrives in warm, sunny weather. It can go from microscopic, to light green, to deep green overnight. When the pools sanitizer levels are too low, algae has an opportunity to thrive. This situation can be created by a chemical imbalance or lack of chlorine so its important to test your water regularly. When chlorine levels drop below 1ppm it creates a fertile environment for algae to grow.
To take your pool from green to clean, we have a few simple steps and a handy infographic.
Before you get too excited, take a look at your clothing. Youll be working with chlorine, which can bleach your clothes, so make sure its something you can afford to get dirty .
1.Start by vacuuming up the free algae and debris from your pool.
Set your filter to Waste and vacuum up as much algae and sediment from the bottom of your pool as possible. Some algae leads to more algae, so its important to get rid of what you can.
2.Brush your pool with an algae brush to break it off surfaces.
3.Test your pH and alkalinity levels.
4.Give your pool a shock to kill algae and return the water to normal chlorine levels.
Pro Tip: always add shock to water, never water to shock.
And Stay Out!
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.
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Cleaning A Green Swimming Pool
In any event the reasoning why your swimming pool water is green or if youre just wondering how to clean a green pool quickly you need to follow the same steps. Even when you come to the realization that cleaning your green pool is a job left up to the professionals, we follow the same method as the one details in this post, but, in severe circumstances drain the pool and power spray the pool and pool tiled areas until they are clean.
My Swimming Pool Is Green How Can I Fix It
Take your pool from green to clean.
Whether your pool water is green from being covered all winter or you wake up one morning to find it turning a pale shade of green and watching, desperately, as it gets greener and greener no matter what you do.
If you have green pool water preventing you from diving in, here are a few simple steps to follow to get your pool sparkling blue once again.
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Chlorine Needs The Right Ph To Work
Chlorine is used as a sanitiser in swimming pools partly because its effective at a water pH that is comfortable for us to swim in. The effectiveness, or the ability for chlorine to kill the algae is highly highly dependent on the pH. As the pH moves away from the optimum level the chlorine rapidly stops killing algae.
If your pH is sufficiently out of whack, even if it has a level of chlorine that is normally correct, your pool will go green.
A green pool can be triggered entirely by the pH moving away from the optimum range.
How To Turn A Green Pool Blue Fast: Shock Your Pool
If youre wondering how to turn a green pool blue fast, you arent alone any homeowner faced with a suddenly pea-green pool wants to know how to restore it to its normal shade as quickly as possible.
In most cases, the quickest way to turn your green pool blue is to shock it. This is also called super-chlorination, and it is the process of adding enough chemicalsusually chlorine, but sometimes something elseto eliminate built-up chloramines, along with algae, bacteria and other organic matter.
Shocking your pool is a multi-step process, and it can feel intimidating to handle so many chemicals. Many people manage this successfully on their own, while others prefer to have a professional shock their pool for them, to ensure that they get the complex balance of chemicals exactly right. Either way is fine, as long as you feel your pool is getting what it needsand as long as it works, meaning that your pool returns to a normal, clear, beautiful blue.
Next, youll need to determine whether to use liquid chlorine or granular shock, which depends on which type of filter you have installed in your pool. Pools with cartridge or sand filters can use liquid chlorine, while pools with diatomaceous earth filters should use granular shock. Calculating the right type and amount of chemical needed also depends on knowing the volume of water that your swimming pool holds. Generally speaking, it is best to use one or two pounds of shock for every 10,000 gallons of water.
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Brush Your Pools Walls
Before you shock your pool, thoroughly brush the walls of your pool to loosen up the algae. Be sure to brush the ladder, the sides of the steps into the pool, and any other nooks where algae may be growing. The most common types of pool algae green and yellow algae have a very slimy coat that acts as a protective layer. When you brush the algae off of the walls, you are also breaking up these protective layers. Doing so will allow the harsh chemicals in your pool shock treatment to kill the algae more efficiently.
What Causes My Pool To Go Green
What causes a green pool? The green colour is algae, which contains the green pigment chlorphyll. The more algae in the water the greener your pool. Algae growth is normally prevented by a sanitiser, most commonly chlorine. So when your pool goes green the problem is somehow connected to the chlorine, but as well see the details arent quite so simple.
For the most part, salt water chlorinators and bleach pump pools both add chlorine to the water at a constant rate. Unless youre changing the settings on the equipment the amount of chlorine being made available or added doesnt change. So why does you pool go from crystal clear water to green on its own?
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