Looking Out The Window & Seeing Green

Have you ever looked out your window and saw green in your swimming pool? Did it cause you to have a moment of panic and wonder what was wrong? Also, did you question how you would fix the problem? Algae is the most common pool water problem, mainly because people can see it and then they fear it. Algae in itself is not dangerous — it is the main ingredient in many health supplements and tablets. Algae brings danger when it converts sunlight into food, releasing wastes that become the feeding grounds for unwanted and harmful bacteria and other micro-organisms.

With over 20,000 species of Algae, some may question how their pool would ever be safe from Algae. Although there are many species of Algae, only a few are able to survive in pool water. Algae is constantly entering the swimming pool, as soon as the sanitizer level drops too low, the algae begins to take hold and multiply. If you have a warm day, your clear blue pool can turn to a mess with algae in just a few hours if your sanitizer level drops to low. Algae Spores that are found in the air come from algae that has dried out and become airborne by wind, coming from neighbors pools with algae problems, streams, lakes, etc.

Swimming Pool Algae’s are identified as follows:

• Green Algae
• Yellow or Mustard Algae
• Black Algae
• Pink Algae

Green Algae– Green Algae is a common “green” algae that can be free floating or wall-clinging. It ranges in severity from patches on walls and bottoms to overtaking the entire pool. As well, Green Algae can clog filters and create surface damage if left unchecked. If you have a severe Green Algae problem, your filter will need to be cleaned after ridding the pool of the algae.

Yellow or Mustard Algae– Yellow or Mustard Algae is a chlorine-resistant form of green algae. This algae often resembles dirt or sand on bottom or sides of pool. Many people with sand filters will mistake the yellow or mustard algae for sand filtering back into their pools. Yellow or Mustard Algae can be brushed away very easily, but returns quickly. When brushing it, the algae will stir up like dirt, again making the pool owner think it is dirt or sand, but will quickly reappear. Although it can create a large chlorine demand, it has been known to survive in high levels of chlorine. It resists chlorine and shock treatment. It often grows in shady areas, or areas with little circulation.

Black Algae– Black algae is a very resistant form of algae that clings to and grows into the pool’s surface and floor. Black spot algae is named because it forms black clumps or algae spots. The longer black algae is present the more treatment will be required – and the longer it will take to remove. If you have a fiberglass pool with black spots, please visit one of our five retail locations as you could have another problem instead of Black Algae.

Pink Algae-Pink slime is actually caused by bacteria, not algae. It shows up around ladders, pool lights, skimmers and areas with poor circulation before becoming visible around pool wells.

How To Rid Your Pool of Algae:

1. Treat the swimming pool with shock. If you are using chlorine, aim for at least 10ppm free chlorine (10 times the normal recommended level).
2. Keep your swimming pool equipment running around the clock, make sure your water is circulating at all times.
3. Brush the entire pool and vacuum the pool.
4. Use the Biogaurd Product, Banish. It is a fast-acting, highly effective, patented, non-foaming algicide that produces results in 24 hours. It kills all types of algae in swimming pools, that prevents you from having to shop different types of algicides for different types of Algae. Thanks to a patented chelant, Banish also prevents staining that commonly occurs with other copper-based algicides. Highly effective pool algae destroyer and prevetative fast-acting formula produces results in 24 hours. It is a Patented non-staining, non-foaming formula that kills and prevents green, mustard and black algae. Banish works in chlorine and bromine pools while not affecting pH, so pH adjustments are unnecessary after treatment.You can shock while using Banish so there are fewer steps than when using other copper-based algicides.
5. Continue to repeat brushing and vacuuming daily. Make sure to add more chlorine if the level falls below 5ppm while fighting the algae.
6. Clean and backwash your filter regularly.

If you need assistance in fighting an algae outbreak in your swimming pool, do not stress, simply visit Brown’s Pools & Spas, one of our 5 Retail locations. Make sure to bring a water sample with you, we will test the water, and give you step by step instructions on how to rid your pool of the algae.