You can't cover your patio with copper sheets, but you can spray on a liquid solution of copper that will soak into the top surface of the concrete pavers. This copper will stop the growth of the pesky green and black organisms in their tracks. The easiest way to apply the copper is to buy copper sulfate crystals.
One of the keys to fungus and algae prevention on concrete is to control the flow and presence of water. For exterior surfaces, this is commonly achieved with a suitable design that uses gravity to channel the water flow away from the structure.
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.
UV clarifiers, water treatments, and other algae eliminators are effective methods for treating and preventing algae proliferation. But don't ignore Mother Nature; the addition of plants should be part of the long-term solution.
Pool algae can be caused by poor filtration, out-of-balance water, low or inconsistent chlorine levels, or poor water circulation. Green, dark green, yellowish green and blue-green algae are the most common.
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.
If you have an algae problem, your best friend is white vinegar. 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.
Vinegar is acceptable to use for killing algae and cleaning a pond when it is drained. The acidic is good at lifting away the stubborn algae deposits and stains without damaging the liner material.
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!
Steam cleaning can kill algae and remove it from concrete. Load water into your steam cleaner. Allow the machine to warm up, and then blast the algae with spurts of hot steam. Once the surface has been thoroughly steamed, scrub the area with a brush and finally rinse the area with clean water.
What causes my patio to discolour? If your patio has patchy discolouration which is green or black, this is probably algae, mould or mildew growing. These growths are natural and won't really harm your patio itself, although they can make it slippier and keep it from looking its best.
When everything's ready, sweep or vacuum the steps to remove loose dirt and debris. Then mix three-fourths to a cup of bleach with one gallon of water, and sponge it onto all the areas where you see the green stains. Keep sponging on more as needed so the concrete stays wet for five to 10 minutes.
Sealing the surface means no water can ingress into the fabric of the paving material. This will prevent the access of water providing the conditions for mould, algae and fungi to thrive. An excellent method of sealing is to firstly apply a coat of a biocide such as Centrecoat GS36 followed by a surface sealer.
Apply a mustard algaecide following the label directions. Allow the water to circulate for 24 hours. Use a pool vacuum or backwash the pool again to remove the remaining dead algae. In persistent cases, brush the pool and apply algaecide once more after two to four days.
But as it turns out, copper pennies do a pretty good job of keeping algae away for a few days! Pennies made before 1982 contain copper and according to Google, “copper kills algae by binding to it, which damages the algae cells, causing them to leak and die.” I tossed in 10 pennies and waited for the results.
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.
Hydrogen peroxide is especially effective against green algae and blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). It is heavier than water and sinks to the ground, which is useful if you're dealing with algae near the ground and somewhat of a hindrance if the algae are higher up in the tank.
Temperatures that are lower than 16°C will slow down the growth of algae. Light also has an effect on the growth of algae: it must not be too strong or weak. In most algal growth cultivation, algae only need about 1/10 of direct sunlight. In most water systems, light only penetrates the top 7-10 cm of water.
Hydrogen Peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide, used as a household disinfectant and cleaning agent, kills algae. Hydrogen peroxide does not differentiate between algae and other organic items like plant roots, so it must be used with care to avoid killing desired plants.
We have found that a cyanobacteria bloom usually dissipates within three weeks, though the same body of water may experience several individual cyanobacteria blooms over the course of a year.
A fiberglass pool in its worst condition can be algae-free in 24 hours. For a vinyl liner pool, the process can take 3-4 days. For a concrete pool, this can take a week or more.