The last thing you ever want to encounter when you want to take a dip in your pool is a green pool caused by algae growth. Having algae in your pool can be disturbing for pool owners. It happens often, and it always looks terrible.
Many pool owners assume that the algae bloom is hard to fix, which might be right. But before you panic, it’s time you know the reason why the algae are in your pool.
We have taken time to provide effective and efficient techniques you can employ to prevent algae from taking control of your pool. We have also explained the reasons why the algae are in your pool in the first place.
Reason Why Algae Is in Your Pool
If the conditions are right, algae spores will spread quickly and take over your pool in a short period. So now, the question is, what are these conditions?
Poor Circulation of Pool Water
One reason why algae are present in your swimming pool is the poor circulation of pool water. You might not realize it while swimming, but the pool water circulates continuously throughout the pool, moving to and fro the pool and filter.
If the filter is not functioning correctly or is small compared to the pool size, there is a probability of dead spots in some parts of the pool. These dead spots can contribute to the growth of algae. Algae grow in still water. As long as the water is flowing continuously, you don’t have to worry about it.
Low pH level in the Pool Water
There are three essential things that you need to check apart from the pH level; the cyanuric, calcium, and alkalinity levels. When last did you have the water level in your pool tested? A high pH level in the pool water shows a significant level of alkalinity. When added to the low amount of chlorine, it could cause the algae to bloom.
You need to ensure that these levels are correctly balanced because some particular materials, such as calcium, actively participate in the combat against algae growth in the pool.
Low level of chlorine in the Pool
One of the biggest reasons algae is present in your pool is the inconsistent or low amount of chlorine present in the swimming pool. When chlorine is added to the water supply of the pool, hypochlorous acid is created. This acid can kill germs and bacteria.
If the chlorine present in the pool is low or inconsistent, it could also amount to why algae are in your swimming pool.
Poor Water Filtration
The water in the pool needs to be filtered regularly. If you are currently running the filter for a particular period, you should elongate the time frame. If the pool water is more compared to the pool filter size, you need to consider replacing the filter.
Ensure the pool filter that you would install is appropriate for the swimming pool to prevent another algae bloom.
Sometimes, it does not matter how the algae got into your pool. It is there now, and you want to eliminate the algae as quickly as you can. Keep reading to learn tips that would make it easy for you to eliminate the algae in your swimming pool without using a vacuum.
7 Techniques to get rid of Algae in Your Pool without a Vacuum
One visible sign that algae are present in your pool is discoloration. The color of the pool may vary depending on the algae that have infested the pool. It could be yellow, green, or blue-black.
Now let’s discuss the techniques and tips you can use to eradicate algae in your pool without a vacuum.
1. Brush the Floor And Walls of Your Swimming Pool
Scrubbing the walls and floor of your swimming pool will help loosen whatever algae are clinging to them and get it into the pool water. By doing this, the algaecide or chlorine shock will be more efficient in killing the algae later on. We will discuss making use of an algaecide and shocking your pool later on.
A stiff brush on a pole will be useful in brushing the floor and walls of your pool. Ensure you pay attention to shady areas and corners, which is where algae are usually worst. As you keep scrubbing, the water would become cloudy, now obstructing your view, so ensure you scrub the tough spots first.
2. Test and Balance your Pool Water
Before you apply any treatment, ensure you make use of your digital kit, test strips, or liquid kit to test the alkalinity pH levels of your pool water. It would be best if you balanced the pH level so that whatever chemical you use will work effectively in killing the algae.
If the pool is at the recommended level, then you don’t have to bother about it. Otherwise, you have to adjust the alkalinity and pH levels of your pool.
3. Shock Your Pool
This technique is one of the most efficient and inexpensive means of getting rid of the algae in your pool. You will need hand gloves, eyewear, a bucket, and a bag(s) of Calcium Hypochlorite Shock. Ensure you have your hand gloves and eyewear on before you start. Then fill up your pail with water, a five-gallon bucket, preferably, then add the shock to the water and stir.
Ensure you apply the mixture to the affected areas directly. Some resistant types of algae require more aggressive treatment. So if the growth is massive, you’ll have to double the shock. Doubling the shock will increase the amount of chlorine, which will kill the algae.
We would advise you to shock your swimming pool at night or dusk to prevent the sun from eating up most of the chlorine in the water before it gets the chance to eliminate the algae. Fun fact – you can also put your equipment in the pool while you shock it, so your tools would also be sanitized.
4. Make Use of an Algaecide
Compared to a vacuum cleaner, using an algaecide to get rid of algae in your pool is super smart. When you explore the market or talk to people, you will find algaecides designed specially to eradicate algae in pools. Some people make use of algaecide regularly to keep their pool free of germs.
It is always advisable you make use of an algaecide that has been designed for a specific type of algae. There are green algae, black algae, and yellow algae. Each of them has special algaecides used in treating them. It is advisable you know the type of algae in your pool before you buy an algaecide.
However, if you are willing to spend a little bit more, there is a multipurpose algaecide. Ensure that before you make use of the algaecide, and the pool pump is running. After you’ve used the algaecide, let the pool filter run for about 12 or 24 hours to achieve the desired results.
5. Filter out your Swimming Pool Algae
When the shock treatment or algaecide kills the algae, the pool water will turn cloudy blue. Ensure your filter runs continuously for over 8 hours until the water clears up totally.
You might also add a pool water clarifier to speed up the clearing process. The clarifier binds the small particles that are hard for the filter to pick up, so your filter gets to remove them quickly.
Ensure you check whether the pool water needs to be topped off before turning on the pool pump.
6. Test the Pool Water Again
You may decide to use your traditional testing methods, or you can run a sample of your pool water to the nearby pool store for proper analysis. You would want to be sure you have balanced water chemistry and the chlorine level is now normal before anyone dives back into the water.
7. Clean the Pool Filter
The worst problem you could ever encounter is a pool filter that is gradually filling your pool back with algae particles that could start another bloom. Clean the pool filter thoroughly by soaking it in muriatic acid, or you can replace it. Ensure the pool is turned off while you are cleaning it.
Final Thoughts
A vacuum cleaner is not necessarily needed to get rid of the stubborn algae in your pool. Are you surprised? We have provided techniques you can employ, things you can use, which would be useful in eradicating the algae in your swimming pool before it grows out of your control.
Before you go about eradicating the algae in your pool, you should also ensure that you read up on how the slimy nuisance got into your pool. You can have an alga-free pool all year with these tips in mind.
About Author
