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.
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.
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 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.
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.
But if you add algaecide to your pool when there's no algae for it to kill, it doesn't have anything to do or anywhere to go. It will thicken the water, and the slightest agitation of the water will create pool foam. This is true of using algaecide anytime there's no algae present in the water.
pH Balance and Chlorine
Algaecide also works together with chlorine, helping the chlorine to be more effective against algae and bacteria.
Pool algae occurs for many reasons. Low or inconsistent chlorine levels, faulty pool filtration and poor water circulation may be to blame. Preventing pool algae from flourishing helps to keep your pool operational so you can enjoy it all season long. The key to an algae-free pool is regular maintenance.
Pools can immediately turn green after shocking 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.
Copper pool algaecide lasts longer to work throughout the entire winter. Winter algaecide is designed specifically for cold weather algae prevention. Adding algaecide to your water does not interfere with other chemicals.
Chlorine—yep, your typical sanitizer—is much more effective at killing algae than algaecide is. Even if your water gets cloudy and your walls get slimy, chlorine can still kill it. That's because chlorine oxidizes bacteria and single-celled algae, which means they trade electrons.
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.
Clorox® Pool&Spa™ Algaecide + Clarifier prevents and treats pool algae and includes a built in clarifier to keep water clear. ... Circulating pool water when applying chemicals helps disperse chemicals throughout the pool for maximum coverage.
Are algaecides safe for my pond plants and fish? Algaecide treatments, no matter what chemical is used, can be safe for both fish and plants if used correctly. The chemicals in algacides, although potent, do not directly harm your fish. Fish that die from the use of algaecides die from oxygen deprivation.
You might have an infestation of algae, fungus or bacteria that can deplete normal chlorine levels and it is possible for this to occur without many visible signs. Your pool may appear to have a dusty look on the pool bottom. If you brush it and it clouds the water, then it is most likely a Mustard Algae.
Swimming pool foam can be a huge distraction in and outside of your pool. Foam, or bubbles, make the water feel sticky and can make swimming uncomfortable for some. Good news for the kids, though, a foamy pool is safe to swim in. Still, we always recommend getting rid of the foam as soon as possible.
Swimming pools use chlorine as the main sanitizer. This chemical is responsible for keeping the water free of bacteria, which helps prevent algae and other problems associated with a dirty pool. A film can form on the water from a combination of body oils, lotions, and dirt that build up due to heavy usage.
You're Using the Wrong Algaecide
To save money, many families opt to use cheap, low-grade algaecide in their pool. Unfortunately, along with being poor at keeping algae at bay, these chemicals also produce surface foaming. To prevent this type of foam, make sure you check the label of your algaecide.
Leave the pool pump running to help the algaecide spread well within the water. You should not skip skimming and brushing your pool. Debris and algae can buildup very quickly, so skim leaves, bugs, etc whenever possible to preserve your pool's filter.
To kill green algae, add a chlorine-based shock to the pool. Give the pool a thorough brushing and run your filter to remove the dead algae from the water. After you've killed the algae, you'll need to add a clarifying product (flocculant) that will cause the skeletal remains to sink to the bottom.
Liquid Algaecide is a strong algae depressant used for the prevention of algae growth and the maintenance of sparkling water in pools. ... Our Liquid Algaecides are patented formulas that not only work as preventatives but as a pool clarifiers that inhibit algae growth of all types.