A common problem
A green pool is caused by algae blooms and it will start as a slimy feeling on the walls and floors of the pool, before gradually blossoming into the trademark green. If you’re worried about algae in your pool being a sign of bad hygiene, don’t be – algae spores are present in even the clearest pool and it just needs the right conditions to grow. While light green indicates a low level of algae, blackish-green shows a serious problem and it’s best to call a pool technician if it gets to this point.
While chlorine can keep algae at bay, there are certain conditions where it can begin to grow. The main causes for algae to start blooming can include one or more of the following conditions:
- unbalanced water,
- warmer weather,
- poor water circulation,
- increased pool usage,
- excessive dirt and debris in the water, and
- fertilisers (or phosphates) present in the water.
Treating the algae
First thing’s first. Get rid of any excessive debris in the water and clean out your pool filter in preparation for your treatment. Next, purchase some super chlorinator to ‘shock’ your pool to kill off the algae. After letting this circulate for an hour, you’ll need to add some algaecide to make sure there is no live algae left. In more serious cases, you might then also need to add a flocculating agent. After the treatment, thoroughly scrub the pool to dislodge the algae. You’ll then need to run your filter for the next eight – 10 hours, making sure you check the filter regularly in case it needs to be cleaned out.
Remember, if you add the flocculating agent, you need to turn everything off and wait for the now dead algae to sink to the bottom before vacuuming all that muck to waste.
Importantly there are many different products on the market which purport to be effective. Please don’t think to save a few dollars on the chemicals as it will likely backfire on you!
Call in the professionals
If you’re struggling to get your green pool back up to standard, it might be time to call in the pool experts. They’ll be able to cast an expert eye over your (green) water and carry out the correct treatment. Don’t be shy about asking questions – they’ll also be able to answer any questions you have so you know exactly what you need to do if the tell-tale slimy feel reappears.
For professional help with green pool treatment, speak to the team at Pool Assist. We offer professional servicing and maintenance to ensure your pool is perfectly swimmable and looking its best. We’re accredited through with SPASA WA and all of our technicians undergo industry training to ensure optimal results for our customers. At Pool Assist, we take the hard work out for – just sit back and enjoy the water!
If you need some expert assistance with cleaning a green pool, contact Pool Assist today on 1300 62 82 62.