Take a good look at your pool, are you seeing greenish, yellowish, or even blackish clogs? Yes? That is algae. You should put measures in place to get rid of those clogs on your pool.
The fast way to get rid of algae in your pool
Algae are caused by a low level of chlorine in pools. They can also get into your pool through stuff that were used in the seas, oceans, etc. Acting fast is the best bet against algae if they have not reached their final stage. It will be harder to get rid of it at that level. Prior to knowing how to get rid of them, it is important to know the different varieties of algae that we have.
Yellow pool algae: also called mustard algae, are found mostly under wet conditions. They are known to attach themselves to parts of pools that are covered in shadows. One unique fact is that they are highly resistant to water treatment measures (e.g., chlorination). However, you can weaken them gradually before landing your final blow on them.
Black pool algae: Black pool algae are strong (their roots can penetrate hard surfaces), which makes it harder to get rid of. Their high resistance to treatment has led to improvement in pool cleaning techniques. This is because, if the pool is not thoroughly cleaned, black algae are quick to resurrect.
Pink algae: This variety is mostly carried into pools by air, and you will find them attached to very smooth platforms. There is a special method of addressing the pink algae issue.
How to get rid of algae in your pool fast?
Knowing how to get rid of algae in your pool is a very good thing, especially when it is summertime (algae love warm weather). A few steps you can take are:
- Use of vacuum
- Making use of your pool brushes in thoroughly scrubbing your pool
- Filtration
- Keeping all pool chemicals balanced
- Shocking the pool
Do not make the mistake of not thoroughly cleaning your pool. Should any algae spores remain in there, their bloom will not take too long to occur. Read on for more clarification.
Use of vacuum: Sometimes, you need to vacuum your pool manually, and whenever you do so, give extra care to the algae-infected areas of your pool. However, as you vacuum your pool, ensure that you pump sufficient water back into the pool to keep the water level steady.
Make use of your pool brushes: endeavor to thoroughly brush the wall tiles of the pool as well as the floor tiles. Extra care should be taken when brushing shady parts of the pool. These parts are generally breeding grounds for algae.
As you brush, do not be surprised if the water becomes really unclear and you cannot see through it again. That shows that algae are present in sufficient numbers. On this note, I recommend using a nylon bristle pool brush.
Keeping all pool chemicals balanced: You need to run a pool test and check for imbalances or, better still, irregularities in the chemical makeup of the water. Look out for its pH reading, its alkaline level, as well as the amount of other chemicals in the pool. Algae are known to thrive well when the water chemistry is nothing to write home about.
Filtration: This process usually comes after shocking of the water. Shocking, in most cases, turn the water to a dirty, cloudy blue liquid. As a result of that, it is important that you make use of your pool filter for about 8 hours till your pool becomes clearer.
Ways to get rid of algae in your pool without chemicals
Making use of chemicals to get rid of algae is not a bad idea, but a delicate one. This is because most chemicals are produced to treat pools without regard to the humans that will later get into those pools. Looking at copper sulfate, it is very useful in getting rid of algae. However, copper sulfate is poisonous to humans.
Since it is easily absorbed by the human skin, extreme caution must be taken when dealing with it. At the end of your application of copper sulfate to your pool, there should be no trace of it left because it must not be swallowed. This shows how dangerous chemicals can be when dealing with algae.
So then, how do we get rid of algae without chemicals? There are possible and effective ways of getting rid of algae in pools without chemicals. Algae are plant-like organisms, and they do not like dry environments. That serves as valid evidence as they cannot be found in dry habitats, which is why they make our pools their safe haven and thrive well there.
One of the ways to get rid of algae in a pool without chemicals is the use of vinegar. In addition to being cheap, vinegar is a non-pollutant and harmless cleaner. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which makes it a great disinfectant. More to say, its acidic nature plays a role in lowering the pH of pool water. In addition, vinegar kills bacteria and removes calcium deposits on the pool tiles.
The advantage of vinegar over chlorine is that vinegar does not bleach surfaces and it is natural. There are also different kinds of usable vinegar. We have white distilled vinegar and apple cider vinegar. The best vinegar to use is white distilled vinegar because its acidity level is similar to other cleaning products.
Using vinegar
If the pool situation has gotten out of hand and algae (e.g., green algae) have affected the water color, a small amount of vinegar will be added to the pool. Care must be taken when adding vinegar to the pool (i.e., the volume of vinegar must be duly checked before addition), as a large volume of vinegar will be broken down and become food for the algae. As a result, your pool’s situation might get out of hand.
how to use vinegar to clean pool tiles?
As discussed above, white distilled vinegar is the best as it does not stain surfaces due to its lack of coloring agent. Nevertheless, the white vinegar is stronger and it has an unpleasant smell. Pool tiles are meant to get dirty or have tough stains, and it is often hard to get rid of them. The major ingredients you need are vinegar, water, and a pool brush. Basically, the method of cleaning does not go beyond these two steps:
- Use the water + vinegar to make a vinegar solution and,
- With your pool brush, scrub the solution on the tiles
Another way of getting rid of algae in a pool is through the use of baking soda (sodium carbonate). Actually, baking soda does not kill algae straight up, but instead weakens their roots in the pool, and once their roots are weakened, they are prone to dying. With baking soda, one will have an easier time scrubbing the algae and removing them from an infected pool.
How to use vinegar to filter your pool
It is no news that vinegar can be used to filter a pool. The basic requirements are extra care and equal volumes of vinegar and water. After getting the apparatus ready, make a solution. Afterwards, immerse the filter in the solution for up to 3 hours (rinse it with clean water after removal).
Using baking soda in a pool
Baking soda cannot be used to eliminate algae by just emptying big boxes or packets of soda into your pool – other options can come in handy (you may couple your soda’s efforts with other excellent cleaning materials to ensure the effective removal of algae).
You can use natural algae-killing products on the pool first, then allow the algae-killing products to circulate through the water. Note that this might last for up to 8 or more hours. When that is done, sprinkle small amounts of soda on the algae infested parts. You can also apply elbow grease by scrubbing the area until there’s no sign of algae.
Using salt
Speaking of my preference, I recommend treating your pool with salt instead of using chlorine. Salt is cheaper, safer, and, most especially, natural. Scientists have tested and proven that it can break down bacteria, dirt, and some other germs through a process called electrolysis.
One way you can use in depositing salt into your pool is through the use of salt chlorine. It is a unique, efficient and very natural method of getting rid of algae. You can say it again that it is one of the most natural ways to get rid of algae in your pool.
How to prevent algae in your pool
If your pool is currently free of algae, it is your duty to prevent it from contaminating your pool at any time. You can embark on a preventive mission through the following methods:
- Check your water’s chemical balance (at least once in a week)
- Try to shock your pool (at least twice in 2 weeks)
- Check the flow of water by running your pump for about 10 hours
- Keep your filter disinfected as well as other pool cleaning tools
Does shock kill algae in pools?
Shock can kill algae in pools. Shocking raises the level of free chlorine in your pool water significantly to a point where pollutants like algae become weak and are gotten rid of. Do not be surprised to see your pool water cloudy after the shock kills algae.
You can use your filter to clear up the water later. Before shocking your pool, try to brush it as it helps to reduce the number of algae left in the pool. This makes the shock more effective in getting rid of algae.
Will baking soda clear a green pool?
Although baking soda does not clear out algae in a green pool, it functions as a root weakener. It weakens the algae roots and makes it easy to scrub off the algae from the pool. After applying baking soda to your pool, you can also try filtering the water.
Can I swim in a pool containing algae?
Swimming in algae-infected water can make you a victim of infectious agents like bacteria. For instance, harmful bacteria are known to be present wherever there are green algae. When you swim in a pool with those bacteria, you are bound to have itchy skin, rashes, and many more infections.
Another disadvantage of swimming in a pool containing algae is that algae have the ability to make your pool dirty and unclear. For example, should drowning occur, the victim can be rescued if someone nearby sees the person drowning but that is only feasible in an algae-free pool because algae reduce the transparency of water.
Based on what I discussed above, swimming in a pool with algae can be dangerous-in-disguise. Hence, ensure that you survey your pool very well before swimming.
