How to Deal With Pool Algae

Some of the factors leading to algae breeding grounds in swimming pools include hot climate and percentage of the pool users. If you are not careful, pool algae could infest your pool in the blink of an eye leading to a clouded green muddle. Luckily, you can resolve this problem and restore your pool’s initial state and appearance. But it would be best if you comprehended how to deal with algae breeding grounds in your pool. Additionally, you have to understand the causes, thus prevent these organisms from swarming over in your pool.

Types of algae

How do I spot algae? The most common sign of algae breeding ground in your pool is discolored water in your pool. Pool algae exist in different forms, so your water could be yellow, green, or blue-black. However, the most common type is green algae and usually is easy to eliminate. It floats on the pool water and can also stick on your walls as a slimy greenish substance. Yellow algae, on the other hand, appear like sand or pollen in dark corners of your pool. Yellow algae are not common like green algae and are the hardest to treat. Lastly, black algae is a stubborn type and always grows back if the treatment method isn’t strong enough. Additionally, you can identify pool algae if any of the mentioned colors occur in your pool walls or steps, among other water features. Also, beware of cracked pool surfaces since they hide algae.

Cleaning up the Impurities

Today, the most common disinfectants employed by pool owners are bromine and chlorine. These agents act as chemicals that control dangerous microorganisms growing in pools. Additionally, they function as oxidizers and destroy harmful pollutants such as pollen and dirt. In commercial pools, where pools are regularly used, many chlorine and bromine agents strive to eradicate living organisms. At the same time, the rest of the disinfectants are responsible for eliminating other microbes. Note that this is not a proper technique of killing germs. Sanitizers employed have to perform their job of killing bacteria. So, it is advisable to add an oxidizer and let it act as shock therapy.

Shocking is the process of purifying the pool by adding potentially unstable chlorine. On the flip side, breakpoint chlorination happens when there are excessive amounts of chlorine in the pool water that can lead to irritation and bad smells. Thus, it is essential to add a precise amount of chlorine. To determine proper chlorine levels, determine the amount of mixed chlorine, and multiply the amount by ten. Once you identify this, that will be the unstabilized chlorine needed to eliminate combined chlorine. Chlorine remainders will now act as free chlorine – the agent you wish to use for your pool water.

Eliminating an algae bloom

In eradicating algae breeding grounds, the best technique is to allow the chlorine to reach its breakpoint level of 30ppm. If you add chlorine levels of 30ppm, this could lead to an outburst of algae due to large amounts of combined chlorine. Undeniably, 30ppm is a lot, but this is the lowest quantity you will need to destroy the algae nucleus. It will help hinder its constant reproduction and eventually destroying all the pool algae. As a pool owner, note that different brands of chlorine vary in robustness. Therefore, 30ppm is, at times, not the standard amount. You may have to increase or decrease the chlorine levels depending on the type of chlorine sanitizer you choose to use.

But, always use unstabilized chlorine for super chlorination. Stable chlorine can rapidly lead to a drastic increase in cyanuric acid levels.

Preventive measures for pool algae

Some of the measures you need to observe to prevent pool algae include:

• Ensure that you have a balanced pool continuously. Switch on your pool pump for at least eight hours a day and perform the shocking process regularly.
• Make sure all pool equipment, including floats, is clean before letting them into the pool.
• If you are a residential pool owner, ensure your swimming costumes are regularly cleaned before using them in your pool.

Suppose your pool needs revamping, hire a pool contractor to fix it immediately. Cracked surfaces serve as conducive environments for algae. Furthermore, it is hard to spot algae in cracked pool surfaces. Resurfacing will help eliminate algae breeding grounds in the cracks.

From this article, you now have the basics of a technique for eliminating pool algae. Thus, you need not stress yourself when you see green algae clouds in your pool; you now know what to do!