1300 792 161

info@ecopools.com.au

What Causes Algae In A Swimming Pool

Imagine that overnight your sparkling-blue Brisbane swimming pool you just had installed turns green and unsightly. What could explain this sudden change? There is a culprit lurking everywhere, silent and ready to green your blue pool in no time – a seemingly harmless single-cell organism called algae.

What is Algae and how can you prevent it from ruining your swimming pool?

Algae

Algae is not harmful to human beings even though the sight of it in swimming pools can be off-putting. There are various types of algae – green algae, mustard algae and the infamous black algae. Algae lives cosily in a swimming pool that is not set at the right pH level and can multiply seemingly overnight, affecting the look and quality of your pool water. Although Algae in itself is not harmful, it can lead to other infectious organisms such as the potentially deadly disease E. coli. For this reason, it is essential you prevent and destroy all algae in your Brisbane swimming pool.

pH Level

As the saying goes about prevention and cure, it is important to test your pool’s pH levels regularly so that it is maintained at a level of between 7.2 and 7.6. This is the perfect level that will prevent algae from breeding.

Scrub

If you do find algae on the sides of your swimming pool or on the floor, give it a good scrubbing and disseminate the algae from its comfy living space. Or course, the scrubbing will not kill it, but will only displace it. Eventually it will settle, but won’t have a strong enough grip, yet.

Vacuum

At this point, preferably the next day, you should vacuum the Pool with the Filter set on waste. Now that the displaced algae will have settled, it is still not strongly attached to the sides and bottom of your pool, which will make it easier for you to suck up all the algae until most of it is gone.

Chemicals

Now it’s time for the chemicals to kill off any remaining algae and other unwanted organisms. Use an algaecide and leave it on filter overnight. This will kill off any of the algae that still wants to breed and continue to make your swimming pool a nightmare.

Clarify

Leaving the pump on, you can also add a clarifier to ensure that your swimming pool remains sparkling clean. The blue will return and you will be swimming soon enough without that nasty, slippery algae in the way. Now that you have the tips on hand, be sure to test your pH levels regularly. This is your number one defence against an infestation of algae in your swimming pool. For more information contact us today by visiting www.ecopools.com.au