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.
Shock Your Pool with Chlorine to Kill Algae
This is the main event in clearing a green pool—killing the algae. Pool shock contains a high level of chlorine that will kill the algae and sanitize the pool. For the best results, use a shock that contains at least 70% available chlorine (calcium hypochlorite).
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.
In the same way that baking soda can be a spot treatment for black algae, household borax does the same for blue and green algae. Simply use the borax to scrub away algae that's sticking to your pool walls, then use the brush to dislodge it. Follow up by vacuuming up or scooping out the free-floating algae.
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!
Baking Soda
You can even use it on your concrete or stone pool deck. This is probably the easiest and least expensive way to clean your pool naturally. Bonus Tip: Baking soda will also increase your pool's alkalinity, and is far less expensive than most alkalinity increasers.
No matter how badly you'd like to cool off, if your pool water is green due to algae growth, you may want to reconsider diving in. Green algae welcome the growth of bacteria like E. Coli. By choosing to swim in a pool with algae, you run the risk of developing a rash, infection, or illness.
Simply follow the steps outlined below and eliminate the green and bring in the blue! 1. Shock the pool with chlorine every day until all the green is gone (possibly 3 to 4 days).
The green color in the water means that there is algae present, and the only thing that will get rid of algae is a sanitizer (chlorine). Sometimes just putting one chlorine tablet just isn't enough chlorine.
Most Algae Grows in High-pH Environments
Most types of algae typically enjoy higher pH levels, ranging from 8.2 to 8.7. Once algae starts growing, it can further raise the pH level in your pool and cause more algae growth.
The simple answer is yes, you can over shock a pool. This is when the chlorine level in the water becomes too high and can be harmful to swimmers. When you shock your pool, you are raising the chlorine level to 10 times its normal level. This is done to kill off any bacteria or algae that may be present in 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.
Pools can immediately turn green after shocking or adding chlorine when they have metals like copper or iron in the water. These metals oxidize when exposed to high levels of chlorine, which makes the pool water turn green. Metals in the water are caused by some algaecides and using well water.
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.
Apply an Algaecide
To treat green pool water, ensure you select an algaecide that kills green pool algae. After treatment, some dead algae may remain in your pool. Continue to thoroughly brush your pool's surfaces often.
It may surprise you to learn that algaecide isn't a magic bullet for getting rid of algae in your pool. In fact, algaecide is more effective as a preventive measure than a treatment. Don't get us wrong—it still helps as an algae treatment, just not in the way you might think.
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.
Vinegar can also be used to remove mineral deposits from a pool, shine up metal surfaces, clean your pool filter, and get rid of algae and other things growing in your pool. You can use a vinegar solution and scrub brush to accomplish most of this and use undiluted vinegar for stubborn stains.