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!
A rule of thumb is 1.5 lbs. of baking soda per 10,000 gallons of water will raise alkalinity by about 10 ppm. If your pool's pH tested below 7.2, add 3-4 pounds of baking soda. If you're new to adding pool chemicals, start by adding only one-half or three-fourths of the recommended amount.
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.
Cooksey said baking soda may work because it gives algae extra carbon dioxide necessary for its metabolism at a key point in its life cycle. If the baking soda is added too early or too late, the algae don't respond.
Another chemical-free solution that you can consider is a mixture of baking soda, water and vinegar. Add two parts of white vinegar to one part of water and three heaped spoons of baking soda. Dip a scrubbing brush into the mixture and apply it to the algae stains on your furniture. Leave it for about ten minutes.
When added to water containing algae, H2O2 breaks down into water and oxygen, releasing free oxygen radicals in the process. These free oxygen radicals can then react with and destroy the cell walls and membranes of algae cells, causing them to die off.
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.
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!
“Adding too much baking soda to a pool will cause the alkalinity to rise,” Vernon says. Anything above 120 ppm is too high. And over-alkaline water, he says, “can create scale build-up and cloudy water.” So as you add baking soda to adjust pH and alkalinity, remember to be patient.
You should wait at least six hours after adding baking soda before swimming in your pool. Even better, wait at least 24 hours to ensure it's fully mixed in and dissolved. While it's likely not harmful, if you get in the pool too early, the baking soda may irritate your skin or eyes if you're sensitive to it.
Hardware stores and home centers sell products designed to kill moss and algae, but you can save money by using inexpensive chlorine bleach or a non-creamy hand dishwashing detergent, such as Dawn.
Mix two gallons of water, two cups of oxygen bleach, and one cup of borax. Stir the recipe until everything dissolves. Add ¼ cup of dish soap and stir. Apply the cleaning solution and scrub with a brush.
You will need to wait 6 hours to let the baking soda thoroughly dissolve into the pool water. However, you can often speed up the process by turning on the pool's circulation system.
White vinegar can quickly kill algae but is not harmful to birds, insects and the majority of plants. Use a mixture of one part water to one part white vinegar to spray down the area and kill the algae. Rinse the surface algae off the concrete with a water hose.
TIP 5: USE BLEACH OR VINEGAR
Oxidized bleach immediately starts to kill algae cells once it comes into contact with it. Bleach, however, should not be your first option, especially if the area you plan to rid of algae is near plants or grass.
Grab a brush and some baking soda. Bicarbonate, the active ingredient in baking soda, is an effective spot treatment to help kill the algae and loosen it from the wall. Make sure you really get every last particle free; black algae has particularly long and stubborn roots which makes it a persistent strand.
Whenever pH drops below 7.2, add 3- 4 lbs. of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda per 10,000 gallons of water to raise the pH. If after a day or so, the pH has not stabilized and drops below 7.2 again, add another 4 lbs. of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda per 10,000 gallons of water.
Add some water to the pool to dilute the baking soda. This will also dilute your other chemicals. Use muriatic acid to lower total alkalinity fast. This will also lower pH.
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.
Baking soda improves clarity and softness of pool water.
If the readings for both pH and alkalinity are low, then add baking soda to your pool. Rebalancing the pH and alkalinity can help to clear up the cloudy water.
Enzymes like cellulases and proteases dissolve the organic molecules from algae, but also rotting leaves and organic sediments. Bacteria, like Pseudomonas and Bacillus, are responsible for the biological reactions related to aerobic decomposition of all present plant materials.
Snails, crabs, and sea urchins also eat algae, but they are known to eat red slime algae, green film algae, hair algae, brown film algae, and many other species of algae in the saltwater.