After five to seven days, you can add algaecide to complete the cleaning process. Algaecide will work with the chlorine or oxidizer to kill and prevent white water mold from returning.
If you add algaecide, keep in mind that some algaecide contains copper, which can actually make a pool cloudy. If the cloudiness persists 24 hours after shocking, then it's possible that you used a poor-quality chlorine shock.
Results in 24 Hours
Non-foaming formula works fast to kill pool algae.
While shocking and adding algaecide is effective in getting rid of algae, it should not be done together. This is because when you mix chlorine and algaecide together, it renders both of them useless. Hence, you should first shock the pool and wait for the chlorine levels to fall below 5 PPM.
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.
Add a dose of algaecide, bring your chlorine level high by shocking, and run the filter continuously until the problem clears. The next day you should vacuum up the dead algae and backwash your filter. Algae thrives in hot weather and in pools with low or no chlorine.
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.
Now it's time to wait a while.
Give the shock a good 12 to 24 hours to work it's magic. If the algae hasn't cleared up after 24-48 hours, clean and brush the pool and add another shock treatment.
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.
Pool water turns green because of algae in the water. Algae can grow rapidly, particularly when it's warm like Summer, which is why it can surprise you overnight. This generally comes down to an imbalance or lack of chlorine in the water.
Best swimming pool algaecide for all pools
For an all-purpose swimming pool algaecide, we recommend Kem-Tek 60% Algaecide Concentrate. This pool and spa algaecide contains 60% of its active ingredient, polyquaternium WSCP. It's effective at removing most types of algae and preventing them from returning.
Cloudy water may still be safe to swim in, but if the chemicals are not balanced, then swimmers can experience red eyes, irritated skin, and rashes. If the cause is environmental factors, it can usually be cleared up with a clarifier and regular cleaning.
1. 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).
Rainwater can make your swimming pool cloudy in a hurry.
pH Balance and Chlorine
Algaecide also works together with chlorine, helping the chlorine to be more effective against algae and bacteria.
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.
Algaecide should be used after each shock treatment, so it has a better chance to support your chlorine as it works its magic. Be sure to shock your pool first, then when the chlorine levels of your pool return to normal, add the correct amount of algaecide to several places around your pool while your pump is running.
Closing a pool that is green with algae, or dirty with debris or with water that is unbalanced, leads to heavy staining and saturation of the water with dead algae cells, which makes it easier for subsequent generations to grow.
Registered algaecides include copper sulfate, copper chelates (ethanolamines, ethylene diamines, triethanolamines, triethanolamine + ethylene diamine, and copper citrate/gluconate), endothall (as the mono (N,N-dimethylalkylamine) salt), and formulations containing the active ingredient sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate.
The closer the pH is to 7.2, the better the chlorine will sanitize. Cyanuric acid levels should be from 10 to 40 ppm to prevent the chlorine you add from quickly degrading. Because it's sunlight that degrades chlorine, the best time to shock is in the late afternoon so the chlorine has all night to work.