No, not really. Why? Because closing a pool when its green is going to give you an even bigger problem in the spring or the next time you open it. When you are experiencing cooler, fall like temperatures, it takes longer for the chlorine and other chemicals to evaporate.
Your pool water must be clear and balanced before closing, if it looks like an organic green smoothie before you close the pool it will look and smell worse in the spring I guarantee it! A late September or October closing is a great way to set up for success in the spring.
Give the pool a thorough cleaning before you close it. Balancing the water during winterization will be easier with the water and surfaces clean.
Shock the pool with chlorine every day until all the green is gone (possibly 3 to 4 days). 2. Run the filter 24 hours a day and backwash every day until the green and then cloudiness is gone (usually up to 7 days, sometimes as long as 2 weeks depending on the filter).
Most often, the remedy for a green pool is to shock it. To properly clear green pool water, you'll need to clean the pool tiles, filters, and equipment thoroughly, add shock and algaecides, and rebalance your pool water. The entire process to fix a green pool usually takes a few days.
Light Green or Teal Green Pool Water (early-stage algae): Double shock your pool with two pounds of shock per 10,000 gallons.
Pools can immediately turn green after shocking when they have metals like copper in the water. These metals oxidise when exposed to high levels of chlorine which makes the pool water turn green. Adding a metal control product such as Zodiac Metal Remover will help to restore the pool water.
When the levels are properly balanced, chlorine will keep the algae at bay, but the water will slowly begin to turn green as the algae take over if there's not enough. But be careful—adding too much chlorine in pool water can cause those metals to oxidize and turn the pool a different shade of green.
The best and fastest way is to use a shock that contains at least 70% chlorine. If your pool is really green, then you may need to add more shock. But never fear, it's impossible to over shock a pool. You can get chlorine in both powdered and liquid form, but liquid chlorine works faster if you're in a hurry.
When closing and winterizing your pool, it is important to remember to balance your pool water's chemistry prior to closing and don't forget the algaecide. Algaecide is simple and effective, with one quart of winter algaecide typically enough to treat 20,000 gallons of water all winter long.
Lower the water level to below the return jets. Usually about 6” below the skimmer. Do not take the water level any lower as the liner will start to pull away from the pool wall. Some older pools have the return jets placed much lower than 6” below the skimmer.
Add a Shock Treatment
One critical component of pool closing: chlorine level. Chlorine prevents algae, breaks down bacteria, and keeps your pool clean and fresh. Before you shut things down for the season, it's a good idea to hit your pool with an extra-powerful punch of chlorine in the form of a shock treatment.
In the long run, closing a pool green or filled with debris will create more work and could permanently stain or damage surfaces. Protect your pool with clean and balanced pool water, a winter kit, and a strong pool cover!
When incubated in the light under 100% oxygen, wild-type blue-green algae (Anacystis nidulans, Synechococcus cedrorum) die out rapidly at temperatures of 4 to 15 C, and at 35 C (or at 26 C in the case of S. cedrorum) in the absence of CO(2). Photosynthesis is impaired in these cells long before they die.
Does baking soda kill algae in pools? Only algaecides can "kill" algae in pool water. However, baking soda can help clear up algae. Use both so you can restore sparkly, clean water!
Use a pool brush to vigorously scrub any pool surfaces covered in algae, including the walls, floors and steps. Apply a green algaecide according to the directions on the label. Let the water circulate for 24 hours, then brush the pool surfaces again. Vacuum or backwash to remove any remaining dead algae.
Pool water might be green after shocking for various reasons, such as metals in the water, algae growth, or using too much algaecide. You can prevent your pool from turning green again by cleaning your pool filtration system or vacuuming the pool manually. The pool filter needs to run for up to 24 hours after shocking.
Whether mild or severe, it isn't recommended. Significant amounts of swimming pool algae welcome a breeding ground of harmful bacteria that feed on algae. These bacteria pose health risks to swimmers, most commonly resulting in a skin rash. It can also cause various bacterial infections of the ears or eyes.
If the pH is high, your chlorine is slow to react, and algae can begin to form, making the pool appear green or cloudy. If the pH is low, the chlorine will be “hyperactive”, reacting quickly, and dissipating out of the pool too rapidly, causing a low chlorine residual.
For many residential pools, or if you just want a ballpark estimation on how much pool shock you will need, simply follow the directions on the packaging. Often, it will look something like this. 12.5% Liquid Chlorine Pool Shock – Normal Dosage: 1 gallon of shock per 10,000 gallons of water.
If you're dealing with algae or a build-up of organic contaminants, use cal-hypo shock. If you're shocking as part of regular pool maintenance, it's fine to use any type of shock. Just know that dichlor shock will raise your cyanuric acid levels.
Barley straw is a natural way to fight algae. On contact with water, the straw starts to break down, and as it does so it releases peroxides into the water which combat algae. Available in mini bales, or as a concentrated extract of barley straw liquid, it's a natural way of chemically fighting algae.