If your pool is green and cloudy, it's likely an algae problem.
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.
An algae infestation is a sure sign that your chemical balance is out of whack. Unfortunately, all forms of algae are known to exhaust your sanitizer. And once that happens, your pool water is no longer safe for swimming.
The most important test to take if your pool's still green after shocking is the pH level. Buy a kit or a test strip and test the pH because it will indicate whether you need to add other chemicals. A high pH means your water is alkaline and cloudy, especially after the shock.
Can you over shock a green pool? No. The more chlorine shock you add to a green pool, the better chance it has to kill off all the algae. Follow the normal shock treatment based on the size of your pool and you can double, triple, or quadruple the dose to kill algae.
Shock Your Pool
We recommend using a calcium hypochlorite shock to treat your algae problems. However, green, yellow, and black algae will each require their own level of shock in order to be completely killed and removed from your water.
Shocking a saltwater pool is possible, although it might seem counterintuitive. Saltwater pools are theoretically self-cleaning, which means that shocks are not typically needed to sanitize the water. That said, most people still choose to shock their saltwater pools periodically to keep the water even cleaner.
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!
Twenty four hours after shocking, add a dose of Salinity Multi-Purpose Algaecide. Algaecide prevents and kills pool algae so your pool will look beautiful all the time.
That's why it's best to use either dichlor shock or non-chlorine shock for regular saltwater pool maintenance and cal-hypo shock for algae issues. Even saltwater pools need to be shocked every week or two (and more often if there's been heavy rain or high usage).
Algaecides treat and prevent pool algae, but not all algaecides are created equal. 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.
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).
If you're dealing with heavy rain or cloudy water, give your chlorinator a boost with the “Super Chlorinate” mode for a full day. Also, remember to inspect those salt cells for any calcium buildup every 500 hours of use.
Green Algae = This type of algae may be either coralline or noncoralline and it is a major food source for many saltwater species of fish. Green algae has many of the same requirements as red algae, but it grows more quickly – in some cases it may grow so fast that it takes over the tank.
A salt pool changes salt from the salt cell into chlorine instead of having to add chlorine directly into the water. It is okay to shock your saltwater pool and it is important to do so.
Green or Dark Green Pool Water:
This means there's a medium amount of algae in your water and you'll need to triple shock your pool. Triple shocking requires 3 pounds for every 10,000 gallons of pool water.
Poor Water Circulation & Filtration:
Cloudy water can be the result of low water circulation, due to poor filtration. If the pump is not running for a sufficient time after the pool shock, it leads to unclear water. Thus, you need to keep the filter clean as well, for better efficiency.
In general, add one pound of shock to your pool for every 10,000 gallons of water. But if you're experiencing an algae problem, you'll need to add double, triple, or quadruple the amount of shock.
When the levels are properly balanced, chlorine will keep the algae at bay, but the water will slowly begin to turn green as the algae take over if there's not enough. But be careful—adding too much chlorine in pool water can cause those metals to oxidize and turn the pool a different shade of green.
Free chlorine: Unless the water has a sufficient free chlorine level, algae will grow and make your pool green and cloudy. Correct pH: For normal use, your pool's pH should be between 7.4 and 7.6: for shocking, it should be between 7.2 and 7.6. Shocking a pool with a too-high pH will cause cloudiness.
When Is It Safe? In general, it's recommended that you wait up to 24 hours to get into a pool after it's been shocked, depending on the size of the pool, Alan said.