Algae Busting Guide!
If your pools gone green...
and it makes you wanna scream...
Who you gunna call?
SHOCK DOSING!
If your pools gone green...
and it makes you wanna scream...
Who you gunna call?
SHOCK DOSING!
Green green green.... Oh dear my pool has gone green!
Well if you are reading this then you have proberly found yourself faced with a green pool like many other people do during the year. There are several types of algae and 3 general stages of its infestation that are relevent to the treatment used. However to make this guide a simple as possible we are going to deal with the common green water or slimy sides issue. It's important to understand why this has happened first or else in a matter of a week or two you can be back to square one. |
Why do i have algae?
Algae is a water based microscopic plant that feeds off nutrients in the water. Like all plants it needs light to grow and add a bit of warmth to that and off it goes. However it is not able to grow in water which is treated either with Chlorine or an algaecide. Normally you won't have a problem if you keep the Chlorine level at above 1ppm. We recommend 2 -3ppm as this will give you aslight buffer for when it drops due to high useage or alot of heat and sun. Do not go above 5ppm as this can cause skin and eye irritation as well as being wasteful. Is it harmful? Basically no. there is no harm to be had from swimming in water with algae present, however the reason for the alagebeing present normally also allows for other less harmless things to breed.... viruses and water born disease. These can cause sickness and in extreme cases death (legonnaires disease). Do i have to drain my pool and refill or can i kill it off without doing this? Typically there is no need to drain the pool although severe cases can be hard and time consuming to treat and remove fully. the problem with algae when it gets to the 'pea soup' stage is that it has produced alot of organic matter in the water. A suffcient dose of shock Chlorine will kill it off but it will take alkot of filter cleaning and pool floor vacuuming to remove all the sediment it will create. this is why it is best to treat it asap. What can I do about it? To better assist you in treating your issue we are going to split the treatment into three levels of seriousness. Minor alage on sides & floor or slight haze to water, established problem - light covering of alage on sides and floor or green haze to water, but not so bad as can't see the bottom, and finally the pea green soup effect or thick green slime on sides & floor |
Greenish tinge
To treat the first minor stage you will need to treat with a normal dose of Chlorine Shock Dose. The one you want is called Calcium Hypochlorite and is best used in a granular form or a fast release tablet. Once the pool has been treated you need to make sure that the chlorine level is correct, do this approx 12 hours after treatment as the shock dose will push it up higher for a short while. Normally this is all that is needed, but if it is still evident then add a second dose after a day. Keep your filters running!
|
Looking murkey!
For the more serious problem you will need to add more shock dose, this is because as it kills off the algae it is used up. Once it has all been used up if there is still live algae then the surviving algae will just flourish in the now nutrient rich water. Within days it can be worse than before. So we recommend a double dose to start with. As for the advice above if it isn't 100% killed off add another dose. The key being to stop it falling below 3ppm for atleast 24hrs. With this level of algae you will need to be running the filter alot more and making sure you clean it regualry. Also try using a pool vacuum to hoover up all the sediment that falls to the bottom.
|
What lurks beneath...
Pea green soup.... Now this is where we take the gloves off (not literally as gloves are always a good idea when handling chemicals!). Serious issues require serious dosing. No messing here, go straight for a triple dose of Calcium Hypochlorite. then check the levels after 6 -12 hrs. If less than 3 ppm then add another dose as needed. Sometimes it can take a few days to be totally sure of complete treatment. If using a Chlorine dispenser in the pool open this to maximum as well. For these cases a pool vacuum is pretty much a must as alot of sediment will be created. Filter cleaning every hour or two may also be needed.
|
Other useful items!
We stock a range of pool vacuums, from hose pipe powered ones whcih are relatively cheap, to the more expensive but better suited to larger pools, ones which are driven by your pool pump. for filters we stock special filter cleaning guns by Intex which creatly speed up the filter cleaning process, as well as extra strength filter cleaning powder or ready to use spray guy cleaners. If you have one of the disposable type filters for Intex / Bestway type pools why not upgrade to one of our season long filters that are not only more efficient but also last for upto a year and so save £££ over the season.
So now your pool is nice and algae free again... Don't forget to monitor those Chlorine levels using test strips and why not swap from plain Chlorine to Multifunction chlorine, available in both granule and tablet form. It has an added algaecide for double protection!