How To Fight Swimming Pool Algae

Nothing can be more of a hassle than having to come home to a green pool after a hard day's work. Algae happens from time to time with any pool owner. The first thing to keep in mind is that clearing up algae infested water is not going to be the the least time consuming thing you will ever do with your pool. In mild cases it may just take a good shock, in other cases more extreme measures may need to be taken. However, lets take a look at how algae works so we can learn how to defeat it.

A Brief Introduction To Algae:
What is algae exactly? Algae can come in various shapes and sizes. It can be introduced into the water through spores, water hoses, rain etc. In its early stages it is invisible to the naked eye. After time allows it to grow, the water becomes a little cloudy. At that point the water can turn green in just a few hours. Algae uses photosynthesis to create its food. In pools, algae, are grouped in three primary categories: green algae, mustard algae , and black agae.

Green Algae:
Green algae is the most common algae found in pools. It varies in color from pool to pool, but generally, as its name indicates, is green. It can appear on the bottom and spread up the walls leaving the water very clear, or it can become dispersed throughout the water creating a nice green tint to your pool. Depending on its severity this algae can be pretty easy to treat in mild cases.

Mustard Algae:
Mustard Algae is a less common version of algae. It appears on the sides of the pool, stairs, ladders, or other rough surfaces that it can adhere to. It is relatively easy to brush off, but will soon return to its original spot. If you truly have mustard algae then it will be necessary to remove all pool equipment, bathing suits, and toys for cleaning. Mustard algae is extremely resilient to chlorine, and even to some algaecides.

Black Algae:
Another less common version of algae is called "black algae". This algae is also extremely resilient to treatment with chlorine. It occurs mostly in crevices, cracks, and shaded areas. Rarely does black algae occur in vinyl pools. They key to defeating this algae is scrubing down the area inhabited by the algae.

Once the algae has lost its grip on its surface it is much more susceptible to treatment.

Common Causes of Algae:
Now that you know your not alone I am sure your wondering how to fix your pool. Let's first focus on how to prevent algae from occuring in the first place. Here are some things that you should be doing:

• Be sure that your water balance is correct (check it every time it rains and/or when you add water to your pool)
• Test water weekly to check sanitizer levels
• Backwash regularly
• Brush and vacuum the pool regularly
• Have the water analyzed by a professional at least once a month
• Make sure that your pump is running 8 hours or more
• When there is a large bather load, compensate by using the correct chemicals according to each sanitizing system. For example: shock the pool if you use chlorine