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Owning a pool can be a lot of fun. However, when the once-inviting, clear water turns green, though, that is a whole other story. Green pool water can turn your pool from a great place to take a dip into an unappealing pond - and it is one of the most common complaints and issues raised by pool owners. Fortunately, having green pool water is a temporary problem and is not too difficult to manage. Read on to find out how to get rid of green pool water - and how to keep it from happening in the first place.
What Causes Green Pool Water?
To cut right to the chase, green pool water is algae infestation that has bloomed and is now thriving due to the water condition. A so-called "algae bloom" can turn your pool water from clear to green overnight. Despite your best efforts to do what you think is right, your pool might suddenly exhibit green water. It is important to keep in mind that green pool water does not just spontaneously occur for any good reason; the usual culprit behind an algae bloom is imbalanced pH levels in the water or lack of maintaining the proper sanitizer level.
Under optimal circumstances, the pH level of the water in your pool should be between 7.4 and 7.6. Although the pH level is acceptable within the range of 7.2 to 7.8, this should not be your target when bringing it into balance. The desire or ideal pH level is 7.4 to 7.6. When the pH level gets excessively high or excessively low, the chlorine that is supposed to keep algae at bay does not work as effectively. Just because you are adding, chlorine to your pool does not mean that the chlorine is doing its job. Chlorine requires optimal pH levels to do its very important work, so letting the pH level get unbalanced can cause teeming levels of algae in your pool. Pool chemicals alone cannot maintain water clarity and safety. The other component is proper water circulation. Clean the skimmer and pump baskets. Backwash, clean or regenerate you pool filter; depending on the filter type you have, to ensure that it is capable of performing optimum filtration without starving for water or impeding the flow.
How To Get Rid of Green Pool Water
If your pool water has turned green, there is a faster, more effective method of treatment that you should follow to remedy the situation. Do not think that if you buy algaecide and apply allot of it that it will get rid of the algae. It will not, so save your money. Based on what we learned above, the first thing you need to do is measure the pH level of your pool's water. If your pH tests too high (above 7.6), use pH decreaser (granular sodium bisulfate or liquid muriatic acid) to lower it. If the pH is too low (below 7.4), use pH increaser (granular sodium carbonate, soda ash) to raise it.
After addressing and adjusting any pH level imbalance, brush the sides and bottom of the pool thoroughly to loosen any attached algae. Add liquid or granular chlorine to the water - in other words, "shock" it with "six times" the weekly maintenance dose of chlorine your pool requires to super chlorinate. Administer this large shock dose all at one time. The recommended shock dose required for weekly maintenance for a clear pool is 1-lb. or 1-gallon of full strength pool shock per 10,000 gallons of pool water to achieve proper super chlorination (5 to 10ppm). The reason we specify "full strength" shock is so that you will now become aware that there are pool shock treatments sold, primarily by mass merchants, which contain far less than a full strength 65% calcium hypochlorite and therefore will require over twice as much product to achieve the expected result. Next, run the filtration system for a minimum of twenty-four hours straight; this will help circulate the chlorine in order to kill off and oxidize the algae as efficiently and effectively as possible. The next day, vacuum the pool thoroughly in order to get rid of any remaining algae. If after circulating a minimum of 24 hours and the pool is not yet clear, test the chlorine level. If the chlorine level is low, you still need to add an additional couple of pounds or gallons of shock to complete the cure because the contaminant level was very high.
Preventing Green Pool Water
Like most pool problems, the key to avoiding green pool water is simple: regular weekly pool water testing for proper pH and primary sanitizer levels and then addressing imbalances promptly. Develop a pool care "routine" that requires shocking the pool with the right amount of chlorine for your pool capacity on the same day once per week. If you experience periods of heavy rain or excessive heat, you may have to shock your pool more frequently. By developing a pool care routine and running the filter enough each day, you can avoid algae blooms and other many other pool water problems. Many pool owners find it beneficial to add an algaecide to their weekly pool care routine. Algaecides and algaestats are primarily for algae prevention, rather than for a cure to existing algae bloom. They provide a second-line of defense against algae and reoccurring pool algae. Remember that owning a pool does not mean working hard to keep it in great shape - Maintain a minimum of 1-3ppm of chlorine residual at all times and develop a weekly pool care routine. Do not miss your day to shock the pool. It will require only minutes of your time each week to stay ahead of potential pool problems and prevent green pool water.
