It can be a difficult experience to see your beautiful blue pool turning green. But there are methods to rectify the situation.
If your pool has turned extremely green then you may have to seek professional help to drain it completely and get it acid washed. But if you can see at a depth of six to eight inches below the surface of the pool then you can clean it yourself.
Is It Bad To Swim In A Green Pool?
Every pool owner wants to know the glaring question once they start noticing a shade of green appearing in the water. Whether it’s safe to swim depends on how dark the water is.
Green water means algae has started to grow in your pool. It’s common for people to swim in green lakes or ponds that are clearly full of algae. So, it might seem like a green pool is safe. The determining difference here is that pools aren’t natural. They’re closed ecosystems, unlike a lake.
Algae alone won’t harm you. But as it grows, so do the harmful things that feed on it, like bacteria and parasites. Lakes have an established ecosystem. The water is cleaned by other organisms that feed on these bacteria and parasites.
If pool water isn’t controlled enough to clear the algae, it isn’t clean enough to remove bacteria. Swimming in this water could potentially expose you to harmful microorganisms. These are able to enter your body through the mouth, your eyes, a cut, or any other vulnerable opening in your body.
If the water is only very slightly tinted, swimming may be safe. There’s no green buildup on the walls when you can still clearly see into the pool. But there’s no way of knowing what’s present in the water without professional equipment.
It’s best to avoid swimming in a green water pool altogether. Not because of algae, but because of the potential unseen harmful organisms that could accompany it. If your pool is green, you might want to get some algaecide and follow the steps below.
Follow These Steps to Get Your Blue Pool Back
1. Test Your Water Chemistry Levels.
This is necessary to determine the cause of the green water. The most common cause of pool water turning green is algae. Pool water can also turn green due to free-floating copper ions. Green pool water indicates a low level of chlorine. This promotes the growth of algae.
You should determine the pH level of the pool water before shocking your pool. A pH level of 7.2 is ideal for shocking the pool.
If your pH level is low then you can use sodium carbonate to increase the pH. Sodium bisulfate can be added to decrease the pH levels. Add the products according to the manufacturer’s instructions and test the level after a few hours.
2. Clean Your Filter and Brush the Pool.
Inspect your filter and clear out any debris like leaves, sticks which may be clogging the filter. It may be a good idea to backwash the filter before starting the shocking process.
If you cannot see the main drain of your pool then run a brush over the estimated location of the drain. The drain should not be clogged due to leaves or debris.
Sand filter should be back washed for five minutes. Your cartridge filter should be rinsed thoroughly. It is necessary for the filter to run efficiently so that the chemicals can be disbursed properly throughout the pool. Change the filter settings to enable it to run 24 hours a day for proper cleaning of the pool.
Scrub your pool with a pool brush before adding chemicals. This is necessary to dislodge the algae stuck at the surface of the pool. Proper scrubbing breaks up the algae and the chemicals can kill them faster. Scrubbing a fiberglass pool is easy and does not require much effort.
3. Shock the Pool.
Once the pool water reaches the desired pH level it’s time to shock your pool. You can shock your pool with granular chlorine or a shocking product with 70% chlorine.
If you are purchasing granular chlorine then buying a 25-pound container of granular chlorine is better than buying small bags.
Switch on the filter pump and distribute the granular chlorine evenly over the pool. If you are using a shocking product then follow the manufacturer’s instructions on adding the product to the pool.
Initially, the water will look cloudy and dirty but as the water runs through the filter it will begin to clear up. You may have to shock your pool more than once if the algae growth is dense.
4. Cleaning the Residue.
After a few hours of circulation, you can add algaecide to kill any residual microscopic spores. The algaecide must be given 24 hours to work in the pool.
A good algaecide will kill all the minute algae spores and prevent them from returning. Also adding a flocculent will enable the small debris to clump together. It will be easy to remove them.
5. Filtering the Pool.
Good circulation is incredibly important. Your pool water will start returning to normal after 24 hours of filtering and circulation. The water will still be cloudy. You will need to brush up any stubborn green areas in the pool.
If you are using a sand filter it will take a week for the water to turn clear. You should backwash your sand filter to remove the dead algae stuck in the filter. You will need to clean your cartridge filters a couple of times a day during the filtering process.
You can vacuum the swimming pool to remove the dead algae completely. The filter should be run till your pool water turns clear.
After the whole process check your water chemistry levels using a water testing kit.
As you must have realized cleaning a green pool is not easy. It is better to maintain your pool properly to prevent the water from turning green.
Here Are Some Tips on Maintaining Your Pool Water to Prevent It from Turning Green
1. Maintain Proper Chlorine Levels in The Water.
A drop in chlorine levels can lead to algae formation. Invest in a good chlorinating system for your pool. It could be an in-line, floater or salt system. Your chlorinating system should be able to maintain the chlorine levels in the water. Fibreglass pools work well with saltwater chlorinator. Tablet chlorine floater also can be very effective.
2. Monitor the Water pH Levels.
The ideal pool pH level is between 7.4 and 7.6. This pH level is necessary to prevent algae growth. Make sure to test your pool’s pH level 2-3 times weekly.
3. Brush Your Pool Regularly.
Brush the sides and crevices of your pool regularly. If you own a fiberglass pool you can do the brushing yourself without putting in too much effort. Brushing prevents the buildup of algae.
The smooth surface of fiberglass pools does not attract algae formation. Brushing will dislodge any dust on the surface of your pool. Take care to pick up any fallen leaves or branches in your pool. Decaying leaves attract algae and bacteria.
4. Cover Your Pool.
Covering your pool when you are not using it is a good method to prevent dust and debris from entering the pool. A pool cover will also protect your pool water from the sun’s rays which hasten algae formation.
5. Maintain an Efficient Filtering System.
Algae multiply in stagnant water. Check your filtering system from time to time. Clean your filter basket and skimmer.
An efficient filtering system is necessary to keep the water moving and to disburse the chemicals added to the pool. Contacting a Brisbane Fibreglass Pools Installer in South East Queensland to help assist you in fixing green pool water, is a wise decision!
