Green Pool Water: Not Algae So Could It Be Something Else
Before we get into how to shock your pool in order to eliminate unsightly algae blooms, lets take a look at some of the other potential causes of green water. After all, sometimes this problem is not related to inadequate chlorine levels allowing algae to growso what could be causing that nasty, sickly hue?
Sometimes, green pool water can be related to the size and power of your pools pump and filter. If they are too small for your pool, a buildup of algae can result. If your pool has the proper size of pump and filter but you dont run the filter long enough every nighteight hours per night is recommendedit may not be able to clear algae spores efficiently.
Filtration issues causing color changes in the water can also be connected to which type of filter you have installed in your pool. If your pool has a sand filter, clearing the pool of whatever is making it murky and green may take a week, or even longer. If your pool has a cartridge filter, you may need to clean the cartridge every single day until the pool water is completely clear and back to normal.
Proactive Final Step: Kill And Flocc
You may also want to consider adding a few things here to help the process. An algaecide, which also kills algae, and a flocculant added after a couple of hours of the chlorine circulating. You can also wait until you are pretty sure you got all of them, to be sure.
At this point, the extra steps may not seem worth it. However, if you still have any algae that you missed, it could bloom again fairly quickly. You dont want that.
Third Step: Shock The Pool
Why is my pool still green, you are wondering? Well, its a chemical imbalance. So first, ensure the pool has a pH of 7, then shock the pool with chemicals. Take your liquid chlorine and disburse it around the pool evenly, and then turn on the filter.
Let the entire liquid chlorine circulate in the pool for several hours before you brush the pool. Be thorough when brushing. You can also use a suitable quality algaecide to clean the pool. Always consult with a professional before handling and adding any amount of chemicals.
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Why Is My Pool Water Still Green After Shocking
Why is My Pool Water Still Green After Shocking? There could be many explanations for your pool remaining green after multiple shocking efforts. Our List could help you find out why.
- Your pool chemicals are not balanced and therefore the chlorine will not be able to work effectively.
- For example, if the pH is too high , then the chlorine will be 80% ineffective and unable to kill the algae. Make sure that all of your pool chemicals are balanced.
- Some people only follow the shock dosage provided on the label of the container, and this is not enough for the S.L.A.M. method.
- Follow our instructions above to figure out how much shock you will need. Killing algae takes much more chlorine than regular weekly shock treatment.
- If you are using Algaecide, just know it will not clear a green pool. It is more effective as a preventative measure than as a treatment to kill algae.
- Use algaecide regularly once your pool is clear again to make sure you do not have another algae bloom.
Treat The Water With Shock
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Consult the chart from Trouble Free Pool in order to determine what shock level the pool will need to reach.
You can then also use Trouble Free Pools Pool Math Calculator to determine how much liquid chlorine you will need to add to reach your shock level.
Once you know how much liquid chlorine you need to shock your pool, you should walk around the perimeter of the pool pouring it in slowly. The S.L.A.M. method now comes into play because you will test your pool every few hours to make sure that the chlorine level stays at your shock level. Algae consume chlorine, so you will need to consistently replenish and maintain the shock level in order to kill all of the algae in your pool. As the algae slowly die, the pool will turn from a green color to a cloudy white and eventually to crystal clear. You will need to maintain your chlorine levels until the water is crystal clear.
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What Does Baking Soda Do For A Pool That Has Become Cloudy
Nobody likes the idea of swimming in a cloudy swimming pool. Its really not recommended for several reasons, including safety reasons. If the cloudiness of your swimming pool water is caused by low pH and alkalinity, then baking soda can help correct this problem.
Pool water often gets to the acidic side much more often than it becomes alkaline. Thats because when it rains, raindrops pick up some of the sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide pollution thats always present in the air. This causes rainwater to often be to the acidic side, and that affects the chemistry of the pool water that this rain goes into.
Pool bather load and improper chemical balancing can also make your pool water more acidic. Once the pH and alkalinity in your swimming pool water get too low, that often causes your pool to become cloudy.
Is It Safe To Swim In Green Pool Water
If you find yourself asking yourself, Can this green pool water make me sick? Please know that the answer is yes. Algae in a pool is a much higher health risk than algae in natural bodies of water. In a pool, algae can also indicate the existence of dangerous bacteria. You need to make sure that your pool gets back to a stable chlorine level before even thinking about getting in. Below we will walk you through the steps to make your pool swimmable again.
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The Use Of Baking Soda In Pools Can Spot Treat Algae
No one ever wants to see algae build up in their swimming pool. It can turn any backyard pool murky green or cause unsightly black spots on the walls and floor of any swimming pool. If your algae come in the form of black spots, it can be extremely tough and frustrating to try and get off your pools interior. Baking soda can help.
You can use baking soda as an effective spot treatment for black or brown algae spots. You just broadcast some of it in the area of your swimming pool that has the algae spots. Then you simply take your pool brush and scrub the area with the algae until it comes off. This method is often most effective if you have treated the pool with an algae destroyer first and let the swimming pool circulate overnight.
Let The Filter Do The Work
Shocking your pool removes exactly zero algae. What it does is kill it, so you can then let the filter clean it out. No matter what type of filter you use, be it a cartridge, sand, or diatomaceous earth youll need to clean it out several times while it clears the water.
If you have a DE filter, you need to backwash it before you start the process, and add fresh DE.
Allow the filter to run for at least 24 hours, after the treatment. Then, you can scrub the pool when you clean the filter, and then let it run again. You are going to repeat that process until the pool is clear.
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Wait Just How Cloudy Is Your Pool
Cloudy is a pretty vague term, and you should know that there are different stages of cloudy pool water. And yes, it goes from bad to worse.
Personally, Id break cloudy water into three categories:
- Flat. The least severe form, in that your pool water still has its color but it doesnt have the sparkle it once did.
- Hazy. The water is starting to lose its color and its now difficult to make out small details on the pool floor.
- Milky. The water is no longer translucent, meaning the pool floor is not visible at all. This is pretty much as bad as it gets.
Size Your Pools Pump And Filters
Having an undersized pool filter and pump can lead to a green pool. While filters collect debris, pumps circulate water in the pool. Since numerous variables go into choosing the proper size of pump and filter for your pool, an experienced pool professional is your best bet for getting good advice that will work for your pool.
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How To Keep Pool Algae From Returning
Now that your pools clear again, you want to keep it that way. The number one method to do that is to ensure you maintain proper sanitizer levels. This entails testing your water frequently, at least once a week, but we like to test about every other day.
If you notice levels are a bit on the low side, add sanitizer immediately. Dont let algae get another toehold in your pool.
And if it will put your mind further at ease, you can add algaecide during regular water maintenance. But honestly, your best bet is just to stay on top of the sanitizer situation.
What If My Pool Has Moved Beyond Green To Brown Or Even Black
![How to Clean a Green Pool & Keep Algae OutPoolZoom Blog How to Clean a Green Pool & Keep Algae OutPoolZoom Blog](https://www.lovemypoolclub.com/wp-content/uploads/how-to-clean-a-green-pool-keep-algae-outpoolzoom-blog.jpeg)
That is a great question! Are you asking for a friend? Seriously, yes, pools that are left for even more extended periods can start to turn brown or even black with sludge-like substances growing on them.
The bad news is that your pool can reach a point beyond when you can shock it with chlorine and still not get it clean. If you cant see into the pool water because of how brown the water is, then you probably need to take further action.
Some pools that reach this point will need to be drained and cleaned by acid washing to get them back to the right form and safe for use again.
Algae are caused by algae spores that arrive in a pool through wind or swimmers themselves. There are several types ofalgae common in pools: black, green, and yellow.
- Maybe you guessed this already but green is the most prevalent. Thats why we think of algae being green. Thankfully, green algae are also the easiest to treat.
- Yellow algae grow on the bottom of your pool. Some think that it is sand or another substance at first. It is more likely to develop if part of your pool is in the shade. You may need to purchase an extra chemical to get rid of this algae.
- Black algae are the rarest kind but also the hardest to treat. If you see black spots of different sizes, that is black algae. While other algae may live more on surfaces, these black algae attach deeper within the surfaces they cling to. You will need a brush in addition to chemicals to remove the black algae.
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Assessment Of Pool Water Chemistry
Following that, you would want to utilize a pool testing kit to get a benchmark for your pool chemistry such as this one to look for bromine, acid demand, chlorine, pH, and entire alkalinity. When necessary you can take a sample of your pool water and have it tested at your local pool store, but they suggest getting a water sample 12 to 18 inches below the waters surface and to get a sample in the morning before the sun has a chance burn off the chlorine.
Will The Pool Turn Green If I Don’t Add Chlorine
Believe it or not, I have seen this keyword search pop up more than once. There is a short answer: YES, IT WILL turn green if you don’t add chlorine. Pool water must have a sanitizer or something that will kill bacteria and algae. Algaecide alone without chlorine will not prevent the pool from turning green.
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Getting Ready To Treat The Pool
Why Is Your Pool Green
Before we dive into the how of getting that pool back to blue, lets take a look at why it turned green in the first place.
In most cases, a pool will become green because of an overgrowth of algae, but the causes for this overgrowth can vary.
The main ones are:
- Improper PH balance. A pH level that’s too low can erode pool materials and cause eye irritation, but too high and it will not kill bacteria or algae and can also cause skin irritation. A PH level that is out of balance in either direction can lead to issues with water discoloration .
- Clogged filter. If your filter isnt working , youre obviously going to have trouble keeping it clean. Not only will algae continue to grow, but you could also be breeding bacteria and debris that will discolor the water.
- Change in weather. Algae thrives in warm, humid environments, so if youve recently experienced a change in your weather, youll need to be extra diligent about cleaning the pool.
Hopefully now youve pinned down the culprit of the discolored pool, so lets get down to business!
It may seem like the end of the world when your pool turns into a slimy green mess, but rest-assured, pool owners, Ive got you covered.
If you follow these six simple steps to cleaning your green pool fast, Ill have you back on your floatie in clean water in no time.
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My Pool Turned Green Overnight: What Should I Do
It can be a nasty shock when you discover that the normally clear, sky-blue water in your pool turned green overnight. Why is my pool green? Typically, algae is the source of green pool water, and its certainly possible that it took over quickly, even overnight. This is especially likely if it is very warm outside, since algae blooms more rapidly in warmer temperatures. It is even more common, however, for there to have been an ongoing, undetected chemical imbalance in your pool water that enabled algae to grow.
As a rule of thumb, the deeper the shade of green, the more algae has bloomed. If your pool has just a mild green tint to it, thats a good thingit means youve likely noticed the problem before it has gone too far, which should make it easier to treat. The first step toward getting your pool back to normal? Determining the cause of the algae growth.
Too-low levels of chlorine are the likely culprit of a chemical imbalance that leads to algae. When there is not enough chlorine in your pool water, green algaewhich can float freely or attach to the walls and floor of your poolcan grow. Thus, in many cases, the most efficient way to get rid of algae is by shocking your pool water with chlorine.
Lets take a look at the process of shocking your pool as well as other reasons that your pool might have changed color.
Use Flocculant To Clear Up The Algae
Youve disarmed the enemy , but its presence still lingers.
The best way to clear out the rest of the pool algae is to use a pool flocculant.
Flocculants are normally used to clear up cloudy white swimming pools. They work by clumping particles together and sinking them to the bottom of your pool making it easier for you to clean up and filter out.
Use 1 2 treatments of pool flocculant depending on the severity of the pool algae. After adding it to your pool, give the flocculant some time to settle in.
Once you see the algae sinking to the bottom, its time to finish the job.
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