Green algae …. yellow algae … black algae… oh my!
There are about 20,000 known species of algae. Luckily, we really only have to deal with about 4 different types in our backyard swimming pools. (Red algae is another form altogether and it comes from the mold family rather than the algae family).
Normally, if your water is balanced correctly, and you have enough sanitizer in the water at all times, algae will not start growing. However, certain algae strains can get used to the same level of chlorine and start growing. Super chlorinating the pool once a week should help to prevent the algae from growing. This involves simply raising the chlorine level 10 times the normal reading.
Sometimes algae will grow even if you are sanitizing the pool correctly. Algae, which is like a plant, thrives in warm weather and warm water, and if there is a good food supply, it will start to grow. All pool water has a certain amount of phosphates in the water. That is the perfect algae food. The more phosphates, the easier for algae to grow.
- If you are having major algae problems, it is possible you have an overabundance of phosphates in the water. We can test for phosphates, and have a chemical which can reduce those phosphates to a smaller level, so there is a less chance for algae to grow.
Normally, algae begins to grow because we tend to forget about the pool and do not add enough sanitizer to the pool. One way to help stave off the growth of algae, at least in low levels of chlorine, is to add an algaecide to the water on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. The algaecide helps to kill algae, freeing up some of the chlorine to work on all the other bacteria and wastes that build up in the water.
- Copper kills algae, thus many algaecides contain dissolved copper. At Crystal Pools, we recommend this form of algaecide, unless you have a mineral purifying system that is already adding copper to the water.
- If your system is already adding copper to the water, then we recommend using a poly-complex formulated algaecide.
- Is your pool already green? We recommend adding an algaecide, followed up with a double or triple shock treatment.
- Have black spots on the bottom of your pool that seem to be growing? Chances are it is black algae, which is difficult to remove. In this case, we recommend a stronger algaecide called black algaecide. This will help dissolve the protective casing that forms around this type of algae.
- Got that yellowish fine algae? Look for the containers called yellow algaecide.
- Pink mold or red algae is also very difficult to remove once it gets started. That’s when the pink algaecide should be used.
Each of these algaecides have different formulation and strengths to work on these different types of algae. Confused? Let us help. Stop by any of our locations, and our staff will be happy to recommend the algaecide that is right for your specific algae problem.