In our first article in this series, we looked at a couple of the ways people typically try to fight black algae growth in their swimming pools. After you’ve carefully scrubbed the area containing the algae until no visible algae remains and treated the area by rubbing with chlorine tablets, there are still several steps you should take.
What Else Should be Done to Kill Black Algae?
Next, you’ll need to clean out the filter in your pool. If your water is dirty, it’s the perfect breeding ground for black algae. That’s one of the many reasons it’s so important to stay on top of all your regular pool maintenance tasks.
Aside from cleaning your pool, you’ll need to take a close look at all the items that enter your pool, such as toys, swimsuits, and pool equipment. Even if you don’t see algae growing on these items yet, go ahead and give all of them a good scrubbing or, in the case of swimsuits, a machine wash. This will help to get rid of any miscellaneous black algae spores.
Finally, give your pool a shock. Instead of your regular shock treatment, give it one that is three times as powerful as you usually do. After shocking the pool, you’ll want to run the filter for a full 24 hours at a minimum. After several days, shock the pool again with the normal amount of shock chemicals. For a triple shock, you’d use three pounds of chlorine for 10,000 gallons of water. For a regular shock for 10,000 gallons of water, you’d use one pound of chlorine.
What if This Plan Doesn’t Get Rid of All the Black Algae the First Time?
As the old saying goes, “If at first, you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Keep going through this entire process repeatedly until the black algae spots are completely gone. It’s not uncommon to have to go through the process more than once to see the desired results.
What Will Prevent Algae from Returning to the Pool?
The only way to keep algae from coming back to take up residence in your pool once it has been eradicated is to make a habit of careful pool maintenance.
What Maintenance Steps Will Prevent Algae Growth?
Run regular tests on your water to make sure that the chemical levels are what they ought to be. You’ll want to test the pool’s pH, chlorine, and alkalinity on at least a regular basis. If any chemicals are out of balance, add the needed amount to correct the problem.
You should also keep your pool accessories and equipment clean. Shock your pool weekly. Brush and vacuum your pool. Get rid of debris by running your pump on a regular basis. Just as a dirty pool attracts black algae, a clean pool repels it.
Getting rid of black algae is important. If left to grow and fester, it can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria. So follow the steps laid out in this article series to stop and prevent black algae before it gets out of control.
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