Have you ever seen a pool that looks like it’s been dyed green? That’s called a green pool and it happens when algae growth takes over. Algae are microscopic organisms that live in water, and they can cause major problems for swimming pools.
Green pools can be unsightly and unsafe, making them something to avoid at all costs. Here’s what you need to know about green pools and how to keep your own pool from turning green.
Why Do Pools Turn Green?
The most common reason for a pool to turn green is because of an imbalance of chemicals in the water. If the pH, alkalinity or chlorine levels are off-balance, then algae will start growing rapidly in the water—causing it to turn greenish-blue or even brownish-green in color.
Algae thrive when there is not enough chlorine in the pool as well as too much organic matter like pollen or leaves left behind by rainstorms or windy days. Without proper upkeep of the chemical balance, your once crystal clear swimming oasis could quickly turn into an uninviting swamp.
Another way that pools can become overrun with algae growth is due to poor circulation and filtration systems which don’t keep up with debris entering the water from swimmers or other sources such as rainwater run-off from nearby areas. This means that bacteria may be able to start growing unchecked leading eventually leading towards an unsightly mess of slimy vegetation floating on top of your pool surface.
How Can You Prevent a Green Pool?
The best way to prevent your pool from turning green is through regular maintenance and cleaning procedures such as: testing chlorine levels regularly; brushing down walls weekly; skimming debris out daily; vacuuming once per week; maintaining proper pH 7–7.2; keeping alkalinity between 80–120 ppm parts per million; adding algaecides when needed; backwashing filters regularly; using shock treatments monthly if necessary; running filtration systems long enough each day 8–12 hours. All these steps together should help maintain healthy chemical levels while preventing any build up of organic matter which could lead towards an unwelcome outbreak of unwanted plant life.
How Can You Treat a Green Pool?
If you find yourself dealing with an already existing case of algae infestation there are several things you can do depending on severity: Shock treatment – this involves adding large amounts of chlorine all at once into your pool which should kill off any existing algae growth but also requires careful monitoring afterwards for safety reasons.; Clarifier – this helps break down particles so they can be more easily filtered out by filtration systems.; Algaecide – this helps kill off any remaining active spores so they don’t return after being removed by physical means like brushing or vacuuming.; Manual scrubbing – if done correctly this method removes both dead/dying plant material plus active cells still clinging onto surfaces thereby providing one last line defense against further spread before returning everything back into balance chemically speaking.; Filter media replacement – if all else fails then replacing filter media inside pumps/filters may help restore flow rates back up again helping remove any remaining particles before finally restoring clarity again after several rounds rinse cycles have taken place over time
Conclusion
A green pool isn’t something anyone wants—but luckily there are steps you can take both before and after it occurs in order to prevent further issues from arising down the road. With regular maintenance plus some extra attention during peak times where conditions may favor rapid growth more than usual, hopefully you won’t ever have experience first hand what living with one entails firsthand… Good luck.
