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.
Chlorine shock is usually the best way to get rid of green algae. However, an algaecide may become necessary if you're fighting more chlorine-resistant algae, such as mustard algae or black algae. Even then, the pool algaecide should work with chlorine or other sanitizers – not as an alternative to them.
Use a pool brush to vigorously scrub any pool surfaces covered in algae, including the walls, floors and steps. Apply a green algaecide according to the directions on the label. Let the water circulate for 24 hours, then brush the pool surfaces again. Vacuum or backwash to remove any remaining dead algae.
Bromine has been shown to be an even faster killer than chlorine so choosing a two-part bromine algae system where you add the algae product and follow with a chlorine or a chlorine free oxidizer to produce active bromine. There are also ammonia salt products that can be used along with liquid chlorine as a shock.
Scrub the black algae away with a good, stiff pool brush. This will help break down the protective layer and make it easier to treat. Break a chlorine tablet in half and rub it directly onto the affected areas. The chlorine treatment will kill the algae's roots and prevent it from coming back.
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.
It's often recommended to shock your pool once a week. If you don't do it every week, you should at least do it every other week. This is necessary to maintain your pool's water chemistry. If you have a lot of people over in your pool or have a party, you may want to shock your pool more frequently.
Should I shock my pool every week? Yes, you should shock your pool weekly as part of regular maintenance. This helps keep contaminants out of the water and prevents algae growth from taking over. You should also shock your pool after any heavy rain, or after a pool party where you've had a lot of people in the water.
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.
Bleach is great for killing algae (and other organisms that may lurk in your tanks) and for keeping it from coming back.
Using baking soda in your pool is one of the easiest but most efficient ways to get your backyard ready for summer. This pool idea is loved by experts who recommend using this homemade remedy to increase the alkalinity and pH level of your pool – and treat black algal growth on your swimming pool wall.
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 your pool is green and cloudy, it's likely an algae problem. Algae can persist in a pool even after shocking. A green pool – especially one that turned green overnight or after rain, can also be from a pool pump that isn't properly circulating water or an issue with your filtering system.
The answer to this is balancing the level of chlorine or another sanitizer. Some websites suggest aggressively scrubbing the water and walls or dumping heavy phosphate remover chemicals in your pool, but those chemicals won't make the difference. Only balancing the chlorine levels will help.
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).
Yes, shock is the key ingredient to killing algae in pools. Shock raises the free chlorine levels in your pool water to the point where contaminants like algae die off. Depending on the severity of your algae growth, you'll need to add 2-4 doses of shock.
So, this one is kind of obvious, but chlorinated water does not grow algae. If you always keep your chlorine levels consistently between 3-5 ppm your water will stay blue.
The main difference between black algae and green algae is that black algae is tougher and more difficult to remove. Unlike green algae (and yellow/mustard, pink, and red algae), it has deep roots and a protective layer that makes it especially resistant to chemical treatments.
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.
No amount of water clarifier will eliminate algae in your water so you need to shock your pool first. If you have the early stages of algae growth, pool flocculant can help bind floating algae particles, making it easier to vacuum. Regardless, you should never add two chemicals to your pool water at once.