Algae comes in many forms – well, 3 main ones to be precise. And in any shape and color, they’ll be unwanted guests at your next pool party or even at your family’s next evening at home or staycation. In Part 1, we looked at basic preventive maintenance, which will reduce the incidents of algae growth. We also introduced the first of the 3 main types of algae – black algae. Now we’ll look at how to address black algae growth as well as consider how the other 2 types – green algae and mustard algae – differ and how to handle them when they appear.
Black Algae Treatment
Black algae will not be able to be easily brushed off the wall of your pool with a regular pool brush or even with a brush especially designed for algae. The best way to treat it is to take the following steps. First, test your pool water and make sure chemical levels are in balance. Then, apply a pool shock product. (If you have a plaster pool, you’ll also want to scrub the algae with a pumice stone; however, do not do this with any other type of pool surface.) Next, brush affected areas forcefully, and vacuum up any debris. After that, add a black algae-specific treatment, and run your filter for a full 24-hour period.
After taking those steps, re-examine the affected surfaces to ensure that no black algae remains. If you need to go back and brush and vacuum, be sure to add more product as well; however, wait at least 2 days before repeating that step. Once you no longer have visible signs of black algae, retest your pool’s chemical levels and make sure they’re balanced.
Green Algae Basics
While green algae is certainly the most common algae type, it’s thankfully also the easiest to kill. Green algae floats on the surface of the water, giving it a greenish, cloudy appearance. It gets its color from chlorophyll and often attaches itself to pool floors and walls. It is usually slimy to the touch. Frequently occurring as a result of less-than-stellar sanitation and filtration, green algae growth is commonly prompted by items that enter the pool after having been exposed to natural bodies of water, which may contain algae. From pool toys and flotation devices to swimwear and flip flops, this pesky algae can attach itself to just about any surface.
Green Algae Treatment
You can respond to green algae with the same basic steps used to address black algae: test water and balance chemical levels, and then apply a pool shock product and forcefully brush any affected surfaces. After that, you’ll want to apply an algaecide specifically designed to target green algae, and allow the water to circulate for a 24-hour period. After that, re-brush the affected surfaces and backwash or vacuum in order to remove any dead algae. The last step is to again test the chemical levels of the water and re-balance it.
Continue reading with Part 3.
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