Should I shock my pool before adding algaecide?

Author: Mrs. Rosemary Stroman  |  Last update: Friday, July 1, 2022

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.

Do I use shock or algaecide first?

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.

Do you shock pool before algaecide?

The best time to introduce an algaecide , which functions best as a preventative, is after you've shocked the pool and the chlorine level has fallen below 5 parts per million.

How long should I wait to add algaecide after shock?

Your chlorine levels won't return to normal right after you shock your pool anyway, so we recommend waiting at least 24 hours to add algaecide. When adding algaecide to your pool, make sure you add the correct amount.

Should I run the filter after adding 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.

The TRUTH About Using ALGAECIDE In Your POOL | Swim University

What order do you put chemicals in a pool?

What Chemicals to Add When & Why
  1. Start by Testing Your Water. The first thing that you should do before you start adding chemicals is test the water. ...
  2. Alkalinity Levels. ...
  3. Manage pH Levels: Add Muriatic Acid of Soda Ash. ...
  4. Adjust the Calcium Hardness. ...
  5. Add Stabilizer (Cyanuric Acid) ...
  6. Add Chlorine.

Will algaecide work without chlorine?

So unless you're dealing with mustard algae or black algae, leave the algaecide on the shelf and get ready to shock the heck out of your pool. But when dealing with regular ol' green pool algae, chlorine is your best bet to kill it dead.

What happens if I put too much algaecide in my pool?

The presence of too much algaecide can lead to a foamy pool water. Small bubbles will begin to be produced as the water is pushed through the return jet and back into the pool. Do not confuse these bubbles and foam with another common problem, which is air in your pool lines.

Does algaecide make pool cloudy?

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.

How often should I add algaecide to my pool?

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.

Can algaecide turn pool green?

There are a few different types of algaecides that contain various chemicals to suppress and fight off algae. Many of them include copper or copper sulfate. It's this copper that oxidizes in the water. And when copper oxidizes it turns a green color causing your pool to look green.

How long does pool algaecide take to work?

Now is the time to add Pool Clarifier and let it circulate for 12 hours. This will clump the algae together into vaccumable pieces. Shut your pump off and let the cloudiness settle. This may take up to a few days for very cloudy pools.

What is the best algae killer for pools?

5 Best Pool Algaecides for Backyard Swim Pools
  • BioGuard Algae All 60. ⭐ Best overall pick for copper-free algaecide. ...
  • Clorox Pool & Spa Algae Eliminator. ...
  • HTH Super Algae Guard 60. ...
  • In the Swim Super Algaecide. ...
  • Clorox Pool & Spa XtraBlue Algaecide.

What chemical do you put in pool first?

Alkalinity Adjusting Chemicals for Pool Start Up

This should be the first chemical that you add to your pool during start-up. This one can really affect the pH level of your pool. Sorting this out first prevents you from ruining your hard work on your pool's pH level by doing it afterward.

What chemicals should I balance first in my pool?

If your water test shows you need more than the recommended level, you'll need to add the chemicals in stages. Wait at least six hours in between treatments. Alkalinity is the total alkaline material in your pool water. You should test alkalinity first because it will buffer pH.

How do I shock my pool for the first time?

How do I shock my pool?
  1. Check that the pH levels in your pool are balanced.
  2. Prepare shock ahead of time in a 5-gallon bucket of pool water and stir.
  3. Ensure the pool pump is running. Pour the mixture from the bucket into the water around the edges of the pool.
  4. Let the pump run for about 6 hours or more and test the water.

Is algae guard the same as algaecide?

The HTH Ultimate Algae Guard is the one that is added every 90 days, it is a copper based algaecide.

What is an effective algaecide?

Isothiazolines are very effective algaecides and fungicides, but only at acid to slightly alkaline pH levels. Contact time is typically 5–6 h. Dose rate is typically 50–120 mg l1, for 1.5% active isothiazoline.

How long does it take Clorox algaecide to work?

Results in 24 Hours

Non-foaming formula works fast to kill pool algae.

Why is my pool still green after shock and algaecide?

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.

Why did my pool turn green after I put algaecide?

In general, when it's algae the water is usually dull or cloudy in addition to green. If the water is a clear green, it's usually metals. If you add a hypochlorite source of chlorine to the water or raise the pH and it turns green, that's usually metals.

Why does my pool look green but the water is clear?

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.

Can I swim in a green pool?

What's important for you to know: You shouldn't swim in a pool that's green until you test the chemical levels, like the officials in Rio did before the diving event began. It's the balance of things like chlorine, pH, and alkalinity in a pool that keeps it sterilized.

How do I get algae off the bottom of my pool?

Use a vacuum or backwash the pool to remove the dead algae. 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.

Will baking soda clear a green pool?

Baking Soda and Green, Blue, or Yellow Algae

You'll need to use an algaecide to kill the algae and superchlorinate your pool to clear the water. After this treatment, test your pH and alkalinity and add baking soda to raise alkalinity to at least 100 ppm and pH to between 7.2 and 7.8.

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