All pool owners are working tirelessly to ensure that their pools are free from unwanted guests. This is very understandable considering the havoc these ‘guests’ are capable of wrecking.
Algae, can be very irritating guests in your pool. They can show up unexpectedly, take over your pool (if care is not taken), and can multiply rapidly, making it harder to get rid of them.
In this blog, we will be taking you through ways through which you can do away with your pool’s algae once and for all; especially without the use of the vacuum. All you have to do is sit tight and read along.
Algae: nature, characteristics, types, and operations
Algae are legitimate members of an aquatic organism group of the biological kingdom, Protista. They do not produce flowers and they are found mostly on the faces of water bodies (like ponds, rivers, pools, streams, and even lakes).
They are known to have vast differences in sizes; some can be microscopic while others can be really gigantic (we are talking about a length of over 190 feet here). Due to their unique nature, scientists have opted-in to study more about them.
The study is called phycology and it entails all about algae; how they exist, how they feed, how they reproduce, how they cause problems, as well as how they benefit the world.
The study also covers ways to get rid of them using chemicals known as algaecides. You should note that algae also have unique features which are neither peculiar to animals or plants.
Although they have a nature that might look ‘somehow’ to you, they still are, in their own ways, useful to life. In medicine, they play the roles of pharmaceutical specimens which can be used to make medical products for man.
In the area of mining, they are trusted sources of crude oil; hence, you can say they contribute pretty well to the area of petroleum.
Scientists that study more about the environment, known as ecologists, have said that algae produce oxygen which is essential to life. Also, they supply various aquatics with food; not too bad, are they?
You might be wondering if there was just one type of algae or there were many. Let me clear your doubts!
Before going into the types, you should note that algae are of different types; hence, the types which will be mentioned below are based on the color they possess. Classifying them based on color is mainly for easy and quick understanding.
The most popular type of algae is green algae. You will find this type of algae mostly on the faces of water or surfaces of walls.
They reduce water transparency and can spread over some parts of a pool; sometimes, a whole pool cannot escape from them!
Next is the yellow algae (also known as mustard algae). This type of algae has a high resistance level to water treatment measures. You will find them attached to walls and also parts of pools that are shady.
It is noteworthy that this ‘yellow algae’ variety is the most unwanted guest at every pool owner’s pool party.
Feel free to say they are the nightmare of almost all that own pools. Why? Because you can combat them for as long as a whole season!
Black algae, the third on our list, is most likely to be the toughest variety to get rid of. This is because they have a strong root system in addition to their thick layers which are highly resistant to treatment.
They come in different colors too; some appear in deep blue outfits, others exist as dark green or deep black stains. A very good way of combating this type of algae is to attack them from their roots.
Once the roots are gone, so they are! As you read earlier, they are highly resistant to water treatment measures; hence, ensure that you employ effective measures when dealing with them.
The last type of algae on our list is pink algae. I do not know why but they are the slowest when talking about speed in covering the entirety of a pool.
A unique feature of pink algae is that, unlike other types, they do not stick to just any surface; they stick to mainly smooth surfaces. And like the others, they can prove to be stubborn when you are trying to get rid of them.
How does algae form in a pool?
Mainly, algae are introduced into a pool through their spores. These spores are so light weighted that they are carried about by air or wind, in any case. They are also carried about by infected swimsuits.
You might have used your swimsuit in another pool that is not yours or you might have paid a visit to the sea – they are good ways through which your suit can get infected with algae spores.
Algae spores can enter your pool through infected pool cleaning tools like the filter. When these spores get into the water, they do not show up easily unless the conditions are right. These conditions include:
- Unbalanced pool pH and alkalinity,
- Unbalance in the ratio of pool chemicals,
- Absolutely warm temperatures (a hot summer day is very conducive),
- Sunlight,
- Poor filtration of water, and
- Stagnancy of water or low rate of flow, to name a few.
The shocking truth is that, since air is everywhere, algae spores are already in your pool. They exist in small numbers at first; thereby, making it hard to notice their presence.
When the right conditions are in place, a noticeable algae bloom will surface.
Algae and their problems
Did you know that algae are problematic? Of course, you know they are! If not, you will not be reading this blog.
Let us get to it! Algae can make a pool less transparent, cloudier, and unfit for swimming. They also release CO2 (carbon dioxide) during photosynthesis. This CO2 is capable of lowering the level of your water chlorine.
Consequently, a shortage of water chlorine causes an imbalance in water pH and the water is deemed unfit for swimming, especially for children. If not dealt with, you might lose your pool to algae because they are unrelenting in colonizing pools.
Once their bloom starts and they start spreading over a pool, it will really take a man’s job to get rid of them – even if you can take them all out successfully!
Algae do not pose threats directly to swimmers. However, they can make a pool dirty which can cause skin infections in swimmers.
They also make a pool unclear and that is highly dangerous as a drowning victim will not be easily seen by potential saviors.
This can cause the death of a swimmer and I bet you will not want that in your pool. Hence, proper pool care must be taken.
How to remove algae from a pool without a vacuum
In a situation where you are experiencing an algae bloom in your pool, it is necessary to know how to remove them from your pool. There are different ways through which you can do that but here, you will be reading ways to remove algae without a vacuum.
A vacuum is a tool used for the sole aim of suctioning up the dirt in a pool. It is mostly used on the floors of a pool and it really makes the cleaning process easier.
It comes in two types: the manual vacuum and the automatic vacuum. It also comes at different prices – you can already assume that! The bright side of vacuums is that you can get all the dirt sucked up into one container.
However, you can only use it in situations where the pool algae have not fully bloomed. In case of full bloom, it is best to avoid the use of your vacuum because it might get blocked.
You might have a vacuum that is not functioning or you do not want to use it. You might also not be in the possession of a vacuum. Anyways, I got you covered.
Some ways to remove algae from a pool without a vacuum will be discussed below.
To start with, you will need some simple tools and stuff alike which include:
- Scrubbing brush (hard)
- Baking Soda
- Borax solution (preferably household borax solution)
- Collecting net, etc.
The scrubbing brush can be used for all types of algae as well as the net. However, borax is mostly used to deal with green algae while baking soda is used for both yellow and black algae.
When dealing with green algae, apply your borax solution to the parts covered with algae. Borax helps to kill the algae as well as hinder their bloom.
Afterward, use the scrubbing brush to scrub them off those parts. This will make them get weaker and eventually loosen up. You can afterward collect the algae remains with the collecting net and dispose of them appropriately.
In the case of the yellow algae, you will need the hard scrubbing brush and your baking soda. Baking soda is also called sodium bicarbonate and it is a very useful recipe for getting rid of algae.
Apply the baking soda on the affected parts and scrub thoroughly to avoid an algae resurrection. After loosening up the algae, use the collecting net to evacuate them from the pool.
The black algae, as said earlier, is the toughest type to deal with. However, the same procedure of the yellow algae applies to them.
Sprinkle the baking soda on the algae-infested areas and with the help of your hard scrubbing brush, scrub off the algae. Be careful to leave no stone unturned as black algae are likely to show up again if not gotten rid of properly.
Do not attempt to drain out the pool water via your pool’s circulation system. This is because there is a high possibility that the algae remains can clog parts like your pool filter or the pump.
Conclusion
Algae might be straight-up killers or harmful organisms but their presence in a pool is so uncalled for that you need to remove them. They can cause infections leading to health issues and as such, it is best to be on the safer side.
I hope you have gained a lot from this blog. Do well to check out similar posts on our site and thanks for reading!
