Algaecide alone is not the solution for a green pool, and in fact algaecide isn't even needed when treating a pool that's green due to an algae outbreak. In some cases it can do more harm than good. The cure for an algae outbreak is sanitizer, and a lot of it so that you shock the water and destroy the algae.
Algaecide should be added to your pool water on a weekly basis. Preventing algae is the key to fun in your pool. Algaecides act as a backup to your normal sanitization program and prevent algae from starting and growing in the pool. Algaecide should be added after every shock treatment.
Too much algaecide can cause foaming that can damage your filter. In some cases, too much algaecide can also cause eye and skin irritation. In addition to adding algaecide after shocking your pool, you should add algaecide to your pool water when closing down for the year.
Chlorine shock is usually the best way to get rid of green algae. However, an algaecide may become necessary if you're fighting more chlorine-resistant algae, such as mustard algae or black algae. Even then, the pool algaecide should work with chlorine or other sanitizers – not as an alternative to them.
It's something always worth mentioning – maintaining the chemical balance of chlorine in your pool will prevent the majority of algae from forming. However, if you've tried everything and still experience algae issues, you may consider an algaecide.
So, this one is kind of obvious, but chlorinated water does not grow algae. If you always keep your chlorine levels consistently between 3-5 ppm your water will stay blue.
Leave the pool pump running to help the algaecide spread well within the water. You should not skip skimming and brushing your pool.
Adding shock to your pool super-chlorinates your water. And this extra dose of sanitizer will kill algae growth. The more serious your pool algae problem, the more shock you'll need. We recommend using calcium hypochlorite shock, or cal-hypo shock, as an effective algae treatment.
Shock Your Pool
Shocking is the process of adding chemicals to your pool to raise chlorine levels and kill bacteria and algae. We recommend using a calcium hypochlorite shock to treat your algae problems.
Test and balance your pool water weekly. The ideal pH range for swimming pools is 7.2 to 7.6. Check your filtration system weekly to ensure it's working to properly circulate the water. Brush the pool surfaces (walls, floors and steps) weekly to remove algae that may be building up.
“We recommend shocking the pool water by adding a high dose of chlorine powder or liquid, brushing the pool surfaces then adding an algaecide,” Sergiou says. “Algae grows in layers and needs to be brushed to be suspended in the water to be eliminated. Follow with a clarifier and run the pool filter overnight to clear.”
Using too much copper-based algaecides can spike up the copper levels in your pool and turn your pool water green. Using a metal-free algaecide can prevent this from happening.
It is best to wait 30 minutes after adding it to your pool. We recommend waiting at least 15 minutes to swim after adding algaecide to your swimming pool. Most algaecides are perfectly safe to swim with. It is not recommended to swim with flocculent in your pool, as it will reduce its effectiveness.
If your pool water is still green, wait 24 hours and then redo the steps from Day 1. In the morning, add Oxidizer to your pool water. In the evening, add your liquid algaecide; we recommend concentrated 40% Algaecide.
Even high quality copper-based and silver-based algaecides will cause foamy pool water, if too much is applied.
Chlorine is still one of the most effective killers of algae so doing a super-chlorination of 10-20 ppm of chlorine can go a long way towards wiping out the algae. Liquid chlorine is an ideal shock for algae because it is fast acting and does not add cyanuric acid (CYA) or calcium to the water.
Bleach is great for killing algae (and other organisms that may lurk in your tanks) and for keeping it from coming back.
Once algae gets into your pool water, they can turn into an algae bloom if you have nitrates, out-of-balance chemicals, warm temperatures, sunlight, carbon dioxide, or phosphates. Poor water circulation, poor filtration, and not sanitising your pool will also contribute to rapid growth.
Chlorine serves as a great sanitizer and can effectively kill algae. If you're already dealing with tell-tale green water, a concentrated chlorine shock treatment will clean your pool. A chlorine shock treatment works best at night, without the rays of the sun burning it off.
When temperatures reach below 40°F algae growth is stopped, but it can still survive and become dormant over the winter. Pool algae will come back to life weeks before you decide to open your pool.
The best way to prevent algae in pools is with consistent chlorine levels of 2-4 ppm, with long, effective daily filter runs, good water balance, and weekly use of a good pool algaecide.
If your pool gets infected by an outside source, shocking your water like it's your full-time job between intense scrub-downs will usually get rid of the problem. Algaecide can help speed this process along, but it's not entirely necessary to rid your pool of algae.
Polymer Pool Algaecide - This type of algaecide needs to be renewed every two weeks to remain effective as algae preventative in your pool. Couple that with its high cost makes it a high-ticket item as far as maintenance goes.
Depending on the severity of the algae present in the water, it can take anywhere from a few hours up to 2 days for the algaecide to effectively work and [...]