Why Do Algae Grow In Pools
According to expert Dan Dougher from Above Ground Pools , algae grow anywhere with enough moisture, and unfortunately, your pool is a great environment for them to thrive. ‘In reality, you cannot prevent algae from growing in pool water. You can only have a sanitizer present to kill it as it begins to grow,’ Dan says.
So, while it is unlikely that you can prevent algae from forming in your pool for good, there are ways to limit their growth especially in summer when the temperature is most suitable for algae maturation.
Adrian Harrison, Director at My Perfect Pool , similarly explains that algae growth is caused by lack of maintenance. Some key factors include low chlorine levels, excessive sediment in the water, and the failure to brush the pool walls and floor. Other problems could be in the lack of water circulation or high levels of phosphates and nitrogen in your water.
Why Chlorine Is The Best Weapon Against Algae
Although algaecide is specifically designed to kill algaecide, it is not necessarily the most effective solution. Chlorine is much more successful at getting the job done, even if your walls are extra slimy, and your walls are cloudy. According to the Missouri Department of Health, chlorine provides a cost-effective solution that reacts with water to produce a sanitizing species, hypochlorous acid, to kill algae.
Chlorines differentiating factor is its ability to oxidize single-celled algae and bacteria. When chlorine gets implemented, it trades electrons with the algae. When this exchange happens, the cell walls of the algae get ruptured. As soon as the process is complete, the algae cells are deprived of the necessary nutrients. Over time, consistent use of chlorine will limit the algae replication and growth process.
Much of the battle here is making sure you maintain consistent pool chemistry with chlorine, bromine, and biguanide. Combined with a balanced pH level, this will be an effective protector against algae growth in your pool.
How Do You Prevent Algae From Developing In The First Place
Green pool algae can be caused by a few factors. Low chlorine levels and high pH are two common reasons, so remember to keep on top of frequent testing and adjust your pool’s chemicals to keep them optimal.
Other routine cleaning procedures, such as brushing the walls, checking the filters, and removing floating debris with a pool net can also help keep algae levels down. Also, if you’ve used your pool floats and other pool accessories or bathing suits elsewhere , then ensure they are properly cleaned before reintroducing them to your pool.
Bear in mind that warm temperatures whether that’s the water, the weather, or both can encourage algae to grow quicker. It may be worth considering some pool shade ideas to help keep it at bay .
Keep your pool accessories clean
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Can You Swim With Algaecide
Swimming while using algaecide directly depends on which product was used. There are two main types of algaecides long-lived and regular.
Long-lived algaecides
They are added once at the beginning of the swimming season, they usually contain copper and are often safe to swim immediately after treatment. However, if you add a large dose of this algaecide and go swimming right away, your hair may turn green or blue, or it may irritate your eyes and skin.
Regular algaecides
These algaecides, unlike the long-lived ones, are added to the water every couple of weeks. They do not contain copper, but quaternary ammonium compounds. These formulations are 100% safe for immediate swimming.
Time limit
Although the algaecides that are used for most pools are low in concentration so that you can swim right away, it is advisable to wait a few minutes to an hour. Let the product spread throughout the pool, especially if it has copper in its composition since you dont want to have colored hair, right?
Why Is My Pool Green When Chlorine Is High
There are two reasons why a pool can be green when chlorine levels are high. The first reason is that you pool may have high chloramine levels and your chlorine levels, no matter how high, may be ineffective. The second reason is that high chlorine levels can cause metals in your pool to oxidize, giving it a shade of green thats not related to algae.
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Tips To Prevent Swimming Pool Algae From Coming Back
The last thing that you want after finally getting your algae under control is prevention. Luckily, algae in pools is easier to prevent than get rid of. Invest a little time to work on preventing algae blooms to avoid a future headache.
The main preventative treatments for algae are:
Sanitation: Maintaining balanced water and chemical levels is crucial for any pool owners routine.
Circulation: Keeping the water moving will prevent the likelihood of algae from forming.
Filtration: If you have a smaller filter that does not seem to manage your pool well enough, it may need to be replaced or turned on more often.
If you have been battling algae in a concrete pool for years, I recommend draining it and acid washing the surfaces. You might have to take drastic measures because algae can become embedded in the walls so thoroughly that you never entirely kill it with other methods. In this case, when the filtration system or chemical levels slip for just a moment, there is a new bloom.
Here are some additional details about algae prevention treatments.
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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Test And Balance Your Water
Before we get to treating the water, its REALLY important you balance your chemistry so the shock treatment can work at full capacity.
After all, shock is just chlorine on steroids, and chlorine always works best when the rest of your pool chemistry is in check. Not doing this will take the kick out of your shock treatment and put you back at square one.
Before doing any balancing, youll obviously need to test the water to identify any chemical deficiencies. If your kit doesnt test for salinity, its also worth
This is also the point where you turn your pump and filtration system back on as it will circulate any chemicals that need to be added.
We probably dont need to tell you how to balance your water, but lets summarize it briefly just in case.
Heres a quick reference for balancing a saltwater pool:
- pH level between 7.2 and 7.6
- Total alkalinity between 80 and 120 ppm
- Stabilizer between 70 and 80 ppm
- Calcium hardness between 200 and 400 ppm
- Salinity level between 2700 and 4500 ppm
Once your pool is scrubbed, vacuumed, and all your levels are within the optimal range, youre ready for the fun part.
Brush And Vacuum Pool
Brush any remaining black algae spots daily until they are completely gone from your pool. Continue brushing daily for at least one week after the spots disappear. Vacuum your pool to remove any settled black algae debris that may still be hanging around.
BONUS TIP: If you have the ability to vacuum to waste, it’s a great way to keep much of the black algae debris out of your pool filter.
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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.
How To Kill And Prevent Pool Algae
Not all pool algae is created equal. Identifying your type of pool algae is the first step to curing your algae woes for good.
Not all pool algae is created equal. There are three main types of algae that are found in swimming pools: green, mustard and black. Green pool algae is the most common type and the easiest to treat and prevent. Green algae usually floats freely and may result in green-looking pool water.
Mustard pool algae clings to your pool surfaces and may resemble yellow or brown dust or slime. This tough to treat algae can reoccur and is resistant to chlorine. Black pool algae are the most stubborn. Black algae attach firmly to pool surfaces and form a protective crust.
Identifying your type of pool algae is the first step to curing your algae woes for good. Follow these steps to treat and prevent all types of pool algae.
Test and Balance Water
Always begin by testing your pool water. Your test results will tell you if your water parameters are unbalanced. Pay special attention to your Free Chlorine level. Low Free Chlorine can cause algae to grow in your pool water. Always maintain Free Chlorine between 1 -4 ppm. If needed, apply the appropriate chlorine and sanitizers to restore adequate sanitizer levels.
Clean Pool Water and Surfaces
Apply a Shock Treatment
Crystal clear water starts by applying a pool shock. Shocking your pool water helps to remove contaminants that may cause algae to grow and helps to improve water filtration.
Apply an Algaecide
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Is Dead Algae A Problem
Aside from looking aesthetically unpleasing, leaving dead algae in the pool means theres particles still floating around in the water, which your filter will try to clean up.
This can lessen the lifespan of the filter (depending on how much algae is present. Additionally, dead algae can stain your pool surface if left on it too long.
Causes Of Algae In A Swimming Pool
Cyanobacteria algae, which is the most common type of algae that you will find usually blue and green in color, occurs naturally. It is found in virtually all kinds of soil and plant debris.
As mentioned above, there is a strong chance that the algae spores can blow all the way into your pool, and can also be introduced into the pool by swimwear that hasnt been properly cleaned.
For instance, if a swimmer had used the same swimwear while taking a dip in the ocean, there is a chance that algae spores might be introduced into the pool. In the simplest of terms, you should assume that algae is always found within the pool and is only going to bloom when a specific set of conditions are met.
So, what are these conditions?
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Keep Algae At Bay In The Future
Getting rid of algae in a pool can be stressful simply because of the time you waste running back and forth to the store and waiting for results to show in the water. Even though it is a simple process, it can be just as frustrating as a difficult one. So, in the future, when you are maintaining your pool, keep up with it, and test the water as often as you can.
Also, if you plan on going out of town, hire a pool person or ask a friend to check on your pool at least every other day to make sure the pump is running at the correct time that you set on the timer, and to skim out any leaves floating on top. Someone who takes care of pools for a living would be the best help to hire, but anyone can do the job with guidance from you before leaving town.
Heres an idea, when you are at the store buying these pool supplies for algae, buy a few extras to keep in storage so that next time you dont have to go anywhere to fix your pool, you can just grab it out of your closet and go.
Recent
How Long Does It Take For Algaecide To Dissipate
If you add too much algaecide, foam appears, but note that it will dissipate over time. The algaecide will slowly fade due to chlorine, so you can shock the pool with higher chlorine levels to speed up the process. Dont worry: even if you do not do this, the algaecide will disappear in about a week, or two at the most.
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How To Prevent Algae In Your Pool
Following these basic pool maintenance principles will help prevent future algae issues.
- Test and balance your water once a week, after rainstorms, or after heavy use . Adjust your alkalinity, pH, and chlorine levels as needed
- Shock your pool once a week during peak pool season
- Run your pump 8 to 12 hours per day to fully circulate your water
- Clean or backwash your filter regularly
- Wash and sanitize your swimwear, pool equipment, floats, and toys before introducing them back into your pools
- Add flocculant or algaecide if you notice the early stages of algae growth
How To Treat Black Algae
If you thought yellow or mustard algae was difficult to control, meet black algae. Its considered the most difficult algae to kill because it actually protects itself from your efforts. It does this by developing specialized cells that penetrate deeply into the pores of your pools surfaceseven chlorine cant penetrate into these deep pores. And if thats not enough, black algae also form an outer layer consisting of a waxy coat that keeps chlorine or even an algaecide from penetrating it.
Thats why its so important to prevent black algae from ever growing in your pool with an algaecide specifically designed for it.
So, how do you kill these stealthy algae if it appears in your pool?
Start by purchasing an algaecide with a penetrating agent. Thats because unless you kill all of its cells, the algae will only grow back. The penetrating agent will penetrate the deep pores of the pools surface and cut through the algaes waxy coat with a wetting action that doesnt exist in chlorine.
You also need to be aware of your pools circulation, and if there are areas that arent sufficient, they will need to be corrected. When an area of your pool doesnt get enough circulation, fresh water, algaecide, or sanitizer cant get to it with any regularity. And these areas are where black algae usually begins to grow.
If you need to bring black algae under control in your pool, follow these steps:
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Category One Black Algae
Black algae is extraordinarily difficult to remove from your pool once it takes hold. It has a durable protective layer that makes it difficult to scrub, with strong roots anchoring it to your pool walls. The roots will grow into your tile or grout, and you have to remove all of the root to treat it.
In terms of appearance, black algae has a very dark green colouring with black spots.
Cleaning The Pool Filter
If there is mold present in your pool, the first thing to do is ensure that your pool filter works correctly. If you have a cartridge filter, it is enough to spray it down with your hose to remove the dirt or to replace it if it wont get clean.
If you have a DE filter or sand filter, the best way to unblock your filtration system is to backwash it. Backwashing cleans the sand or powder that filters your pool water and removes the dirty water from the pool.
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Tips To Preventing Algae
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, or so they say, and that couldnt be truer than it is with algae.
If you can stay ahead of the problem and keep it from overtaking your pool, you will save yourself hours and hours of unnecessary headache.
But how do you prevent a seemingly unavoidable nuisance?
Well, its not easy, because its true that algae finds its way in, sometimes despite all your best efforts.
However, if you take the precautions we lay out here, you will be miles ahead of the game and able to eradicate algae before it moves in with its whole family.
