With its crystal-clear waters, your swimming pool makes an excellent backyard oasis. It offers a refreshing escape from the sweltering summer heat, providing you with a haven to enjoy countless hours of fun.
However, the tranquility of your pool can be disrupted by an uninvited guest—algae. These stubborn and resilient microscopic organisms can coat the walls and floor, turning your once pristine pool into a murky, green mess. Algae can quickly turn a relaxing swim into a frustrating battle.
This guide details how to get rid of algae in your pool and prevent future algal blooms.
What Causes Algae Blooms in Pools?
Pool algae form when algae spores get into your pool and multiply uncontrollably. Once the spores enter your pool, they can turn into an algal bloom in hours if the conditions are right. Algae thrive in swimming pools with poor water circulation, filtration, inconsistent chlorine levels, and out-of-balance water.
Types of Pool Algae
You are likely to encounter four common types of pool algae in your pool, including:
- Yellow algae: Mustard-colored and difficult to remove. It forms in sheets in the shady parts of your pool and is resistant to chlorine.
- Pink algae: A slow-growing bacteria attaches to the walls or pool toys. It thrives in pools with poor filtration.
- Green algae: It’s the most common, forms a green slime, and turns the water green. It can float in the pool water or cling to the walls.
- Black algae: A bacteria that resembles mold and is extremely difficult to remove once it establishes.
How Do I Get Rid of Algae in My Pool Effectively?
The unwelcome sight of green, slimy coating the walls of your once pristine pool can leave you wondering, how do I get rid of algae in my pool fast?
You can quickly get rid of pool algae by scrubbing the pool, restoring the water chemistry balance, shocking the water, and filtering out the dead algae. You must be thorough when cleaning the pool, as leaving any traces of algae can trigger a re-establishment.
1. Brush the Walls and Floor
Use a pool brush to vigorously scrub your pool’s walls, floor, and steps. Besides loosening debris and contaminants, scrubbing helps the chlorine penetrate the algae’s protective layers. Pay attention to the shady areas, corners, and crevices with heavy algae growth.
2. Skim and Vacuum
Use a skimmer net to remove debris, leaves, and large particles from the water’s surface. Then, vacuum the pool to remove waste and algae from the bottom.
You’ll need to manually vacuum your pool, as robotic pool cleaners are ineffective when combating algae blooms. Set your manual pool vacuum to the Waste setting to bypass the filter and avoid re-contaminating the water.
3. Test the Water
Test the water for pH and alkalinity using a digital kit, a liquid test kit, or test strips. Proper water chemistry is essential for preventing and treating algae growth.
4. Adjust the pH
You’ll need to adjust the pH level of your pool’s water if it falls outside the recommended range between 7.2 and 7.6. Add a pH decreaser if the pH is higher and a pH increaser if the pH is lower. Water chemistry affects the efficacy of your sanitizer. High pH levels tend to inhibit pool shock.
5. Shock the Pool
Pool shocking refers to super-chlorinating the water by adding specialized pool shock treatment. The extra sanitizer kills any existing algae and helps prevent future growth. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and calculate the recommended dose for your pool.
Shocking the pool at night is preferable as the sun may burn off the chlorine before it kills all the algae. You should run the filter pump for at least 8 hours to circulate the shock in the pool.
6. Filter Out the Algae
After a successful shock treatment, the pool’s water may turn cloudy blue due to the dead algae. Dead algae turn grey and must be removed from the pool. You can use a water clarifier or run your filter until the water clears.
7. Test the Water Again
Check the water chemical levels and adjust the pH and chlorine levels to ensure they’re balanced. Unbalanced pool water increases the chances of a re-establishment and may harm your health.
8. Add an Algaecide
Adding an algaecide can help kill any algae that linger after cleaning. Wait until the chlorine levels drop below five ppm before adding the algaecide. Choose a product that suits your type of pool and the algae you’re combating. Leave the algaecide to circulate in the pool for 24 hours for the best results.
9. Clean the Pool Filter
Once the pool is algae-free, you should clean your filter. The dead algae may settle in the grooves and clog the filter. The filter may also re-introduce microscope algae into the pool. Soak the filters in diluted muriatic acid for a deep clean, or replace them entirely. You’ll need to backwash a sand or a D.E. filter.
Keep Your Pool in the Best Shape to Prevent Pool Algae
Proper pool maintenance is the key to keeping your pool waters clean and pristine. You must ensure adequate filtration and water circulation, maintain proper water balance, and regularly remove organic matter. Following a comprehensive pool maintenance routine helps prevent pool algae.
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