It is never fun to take off the pool cover and notice that the water has turned green and stagnant. This means that the algae have temporarily taken over, so you will need to thoroughly clean and care for your pool before you can start swimming. Read on to learn how to get rid of the dreaded green water.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Part One: Preparations for Treatment
Step 1. Analyze the water in your pool
Use a test kit to test for chlorine, pH, and to determine the extent of the problem. When chlorine levels drop below 1 ppm, algae can form and the pool water turns green. When this happens, it is necessary to "shock" the water with chemicals to kill the algae and return the pool to normal chlorine levels.
- In the first place, proper maintenance of the pool is necessary, so you need to have the filters that work and make sure that the chlorine and pH levels remain constant, in order to prevent the formation of algae.
- Algae tend to grow constantly, so if you leave your pool at rest without maintenance even for a few more days, the water can turn green.
Step 2. Maintain the chemical balance of the pool
Before treating the pool, adjust the pH by adding an acid or base to bring the level to about 7, 8. This level is at the upper limit of the recommended range for the pH of the water, but it is necessary to treat algae. Here's how to balance the pH:
- Turn on the pump so that the chemicals can circulate throughout the pool;
- Correct the pH level by increasing it with sodium carbonate or decreasing it with sodium bisulfate.
Step 3. Make sure the filter is working properly
Clean it of leaves, branches and other debris that can clog it. Wash the filter if necessary and make sure it works well before adding the chemicals to kill the algae. Set the filter to run 24 hours a day so that it filters out all algae during the cleaning process.
Step 4. Scrub the walls and bottom of the pool
Use the brush to wash the pool thoroughly before adding the chemicals. The algae cling to the pool walls but are removed by brushing. Scrubbing also helps break down the algae, allowing the chemicals to work faster.
- Clean well especially in areas where you see algae formation. Try to eliminate them all, so that the pool becomes clean.
- If you have a vinyl pool, use a nylon brush. Wire brushes can damage this type of swimming pool, but can be safely used in reinforced concrete swimming pools.
Part 2 of 3: Part Two: Shock Treatment
Step 1. Treat the pool with shock chlorination
This treatment has high levels of chlorine which eliminate algae and disinfect the pool. Choose a strong product with around 70% chlorine, enough to handle tough algae and bacteria. Follow the instructions on the product packaging to make sure you use the right amount for your pool water.
- If a high amount of algae is present, you should treat your pool more than once to prevent the algae from continuing to reproduce.
- The water may look cloudy or dirty when you add the shock product, but when it starts flowing through the filter it will start to clean up.
Step 2. Treat the pool with algaecide when the chlorine has dropped below 5
0. Let the algaecide act for at least 24 hours.
Step 3. Prevent excessive fouling in the filter by cleaning it often to remove dead algae
When the algae die, they fall to the bottom of the pool or float in the water. They also lose their green color.
Part 3 of 3: Part Three: Conclusion of the Work
Step 1. Vacuum the dead algae left in the pool
Use the brush to clean the bottom and walls again, then vacuum all the algae. If there are a lot of dead particles and you have difficulty vacuuming them, you can add a flocculant to join the algae together and make vacuuming easier.
Step 2. Keep the filter running until the algae disappear
The pool water should be clear after the treatment. If it looks like algae is coming back, do another shock treatment until everything is cleared.
Step 3. Recheck the chemical levels with the pool test kit
All levels of chemicals must be within the normal range.
Advice
- Wear old clothes when using pool chemicals. If chlorine comes out or a few drops get on your clothes, they can strip some of the color from the fabric.
- You can take a monthly water sample to your local pool shop for computer analysis. This can help identify pool water problems early.
- Use the net every day to remove leaves and other floating material on top of the pool. It is much easier to remove debris before it settles to the bottom.
- Keep the chlorine level between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm to prevent algae from developing.
Warnings
- Don't add chemicals if you don't know what you're doing. Adding the wrong chemicals creates additional problems.
- Never mix different chemicals together.
- When mixing chemicals with water, use great caution. Always add chemicals to the water.
- Use extreme caution when handling chlorine. It can cause sore throat, cough or skin abrasion, eye and lung irritation.
