The Smart Way to Kill Algae in Your Pool
Pool algae is caused by low chlorine levels, poor water chemistry, or bad filtration. It can also be introduced into your pool by swimwear or toys that were used in natural bodies of water. If you notice the early stages of algae, it’s time to act fast. Leave it for too long and it will multiply rapidly, turning into a full-scale algae bloom.
Unfortunately, typical doses of chlorine will not kill pool algae. And running your pool filter will not eliminate algae spores.
What Causes Pool Algae?
Algae spores are everywhere. They can get into your pool through rain, dirt, and even wind. But those pervasive algae spores become a problem when they multiply in your pool water, turn into an algae bloom, or start growing on your pool walls. Low chlorine levels, improper pH levels, dirty filters, or pool circulation create the perfect conditions for algae growth. Algae can also be introduced by contaminated swimwear or toys that were used in a river, pond, lake, or ocean with algae.
Algae prevention is a lot easier than treating an existing large algae problem. That’s why it’s so important to keep your pool water balanced, clean your filter system and wash off any swimwear or toys that have been used in natural bodies of water.
What Are The Different Types Of Pool Algae?
Knowing what type of pool algae you have will help you treat it. First, figure out what color algae is in your pool. Then, keep reading for a complete step-by-step walkthrough on how to get rid of algae.
Green Algae
Green algae is the most common form of algae found in swimming pools. You can typically see green algae floating in your pool or clingining to your pool walls and floor. Green algae can be caused by lack of proper sanitation and filtration. This type of algae can cause your pool water to turn green. In order to treat your water for green algae, you want to brush your walls and floor every day, turn your chlorinator on high, and use an algaecide along with a shock treatment.
Mustard Algae
Mustard algae is a chlorine-resistant form of green algae that can grow in your swimming pool. It is called mustard algae because of its yellowish-tan color. It often resembles dirt or sand at the bottom and sides of your pool. In order to treat for mustard algae, you will want to brush your walls and floor daily, vacuum out on waste in order to bypass the algae from your filter, shock your pool with about double the recommended amount, and treat with an algaecide.
Black Algae
Black algae is a super resistant and hard to kill algae that can grow in your swimming pool. It can appear in small, black dots or patches along your pool walls, floor, or surfaces. Pools with porous surfaces like concrete, gunite are more susceptible to black algae because it can penetrate and grab hold of the walls. In order to treat for black algae, you will want to clean your filter, brush your walls and floor daily, shock your pool with a heavy dose, and add a strong algaecide.
How Do I Get Rid of Algae In My Pool FAST?
1. Vacuum Your Pool Manually
Automatic or robotic pool cleaners aren’t well suited for cleaning algae. You’ll need to manually vacuum your pool on your filter’s Waste setting. This allows you to bypass your filter, preventing contaminated, algae-filled water from recirculating back into your pool.
When you vacuum your pool manually, pay special attention to areas with algae. And be sure to refill your pool’s water as you vacuum, maintaining your water level at least halfway up the skimmer. If you want to learn how to properly vacuum your pool, check out our guide on how to use a manual pool vacuum.
2. Brush Your Pool Walls and Floor
Scrubbing the algae off your pool walls helps chlorine get deeper into the remaining algae. It also loosens up contaminants so they can be killed and filtered out.
Using a stiff pool brush on a pole, brush the walls and floor of your pool. Pay special attention to corners, crevices, and shady areas where algae is usually worst. As you go, your water will become cloudy, obstructing your view, so brush the tougher spots first.
If you have a concrete or gunite pool, use a pool brush with stainless steel bristles to remove algae from your pool walls. Otherwise, we recommend using a nylon bristle pool brush:
3. Test and Balance the Water
Use test strips, a digital kit, or a liquid test kit to test your alkalinity and pH. Balancing your water chemistry now ensures your sanitizer will be effective against the algae. High pH or low alkalinity will especially inhibit pool shock.
To kill green algae:
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- Use ALGAE KILLER as it kills black and green algae in swimming pools
- Use MSA II as it kills all types of swimming pool algae and resistant algae
- Use ALGI SHIELD as it kills mild green algae in swimming pools
5 steps to prevent algae growth:
- Maintain a sanitizer residual of 1-3ppm
- Do an initial and weekly application of a preventative algaecide (such as BACK UP Algae Inhibitor)
- Shock routinely
- Make sure there is adequate circulation and filtration
- Brushing surfaces is vital
To kill black algae:
-
To kill black algae:
- Use ALGAE KILLER as it kills black and green algae in swimming pools
- Use MSA II as it kills all types of swimming pool algae and resistant algae
IMPORTANT NOTE: Brushing is extremely important when treating black algae because that protective layer has to be broken in order for the sanitizer or algaecide to come in contact with the cells.
5 steps to prevent algae growth:
- Maintain a sanitizer residual of 1-3ppm
- Do an initial and weekly application of a preventative algaecide (such as BACK UP Algae Inhibitor)
- Shock routinely
- Make sure there is adequate circulation and filtration
- Brushing surfaces is vital
To kill mustard algae:
-
- Use MSA II as it kills all types of swimming pool algae and resistant algae
5 steps to prevent algae growth:
- Maintain a sanitizer residual of 1-3ppm
- Do an initial and weekly application of a preventative algaecide (such as BACK UP Algae Inhibitor)
- Shock routinely
- Make sure there is adequate circulation and filtration
- Brushing surfaces is vital
How Do I Get Rid of Algae In My Pool FAST? Part 2
4. Shock Your Swimming Pool
Adding shock to your pool super-chlorinates your water. And this extra dose of sanitizer will kill algae growth. The more serious your pool algae problem, the more shock you’ll need.
We recommend using calcium hypochlorite shock, or cal-hypo shock, as an effective algae treatment. Follow the package instructions to determine the dose for your pool size, then multiply that by two, three, or four depending on which type of algae you’ve got.
- Green Algae: Double dose of shock (x2)
- Yellow or Dark Green Algae: Triple dose of shock (x3)
- Black Algae: Quadruple dose of shock (x4)
5. Filter Out The Pool Algae
After your shock treatment kills the algae, it’ll turn your water a cloudy blue. Don’t panic! That’s just dead algae. When algae dies, it turns from green to gray and the dead, gray algae particles need to be filtered out. Run your filter continuously for a minimum of eight hours or until the water clears up.
6. Test Your Pool Water Again
Make sure your water chemical levels are balanced and your chlorine is back to normal before anyone gets back into the water. Adjust your alkalinity, pH, and chlorine levels as needed. You may also want to test your cyanuric acid and calcium hardness levels since you’ve removed water from your pool and replaced it with fresh water.
7. Clean Your Pool Filter
Your filter just processed a lot of contaminated water. And the last thing you want is your dirty filter slowly adding microscopic algae spores back into your pool. Deep clean your filter cartridges by soaking them in diluted acid, or by replacing them entirely. If you have a sand , now’s the time to backwash.
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MSA II Algaecide
Algae Killer
Algi Shield
Back Up®
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Waterwell Sta Blue (2L)
Waterwell Peroxide
SaltScapes™ Algae Remover
Burn Out®
Lite Shock
SaltScapes™ Granular Shock
Synergy System® Clear
Chlorine-Free Shock
Waterwell Shock
Black Algae Rescue
Green Algae Rescue
