My Pool Is Green - Help!
Imagine waking up one day, ready for a nice swim. You get all ready, but when you get outside the pool is green! If you’re new to owning and maintaining a pool, then this might cause a big shock. Lucky for you, we’re here to offer some guidance. Today we’re going to talk about what causes this colorful phenomenon, how to fix it, and how to keep it from happening again!
Why is it Pool is Green?
Look, Florida gets pretty humid and there are lots of things that fall into your pool. What causes the green color in your pool is the growth of algae. Algae feeds on so many things, from dead plants to chemicals from swimsuits, and the more that pops into existence in your pool, the greener it gets. If your filtration system isn’t working correctly or your chemical balance is off, then this just makes the problem that much worse.
There are typically 5 things that could cause this overgrowth of algae, which we’ll explore:
- Too little chlorine
- Too much cyanuric acid
- pH is too high
- High phosphate levels
- Poor filtration
How to fix it:
Let’s get into how to correct each of these problems that we’ve mentioned above. First, you will probably want to use an algaecide to get rid of the algae. After that, here are some things you should check:
Chlorine
If there isn’t enough chlorine in the water, algae will start to grow more quickly. If your pool is getting green and murky, use a test strip to check the chlorine level. If it’s too low (less than 2-4 parts per million), then add more until you get to the right level.
Cyanuric Acid
Also called CYA, this is a pool conditioner and stabilizer that keeps your chlorine from degrading in the sun. If there is too much (more than 80-100 million parts per million), then the chlorine can’t do its job.
If that is your suspicion, you would take a water sample to a local pool supply store so they can properly test it to see if that’s what the issue is. To correct high CYA, you will need to partially drain the pool and then refill it, as CYA is hard to take out.
pH
Your pool should have a pH between 7.4 and 7.6. If the pH gets too high, then the chlorine becomes inactive. This can happen in any pool, but it is slightly more common in saltwater pools. You should be testing your water’s pH regularly, and if it gets too high you can add borates to lower it.
Phosphates
These little guys are what algae likes to snack on, so if your phosphate levels are high then there’s a chance your algae levels will be, too. Phosphates get into your pool in many ways, from dead plants to detergents and more. Most home kits don’t test for phosphates, but you can take a sample to your pool supply store for them to check. If needed, you can pick up some sort of phosphate remover to add to your water until it’s properly balanced.
Filtration
If your pool’s filtration system isn’t working properly, then your pool won’t be able to stay clean. Make sure that you check the functioning of your filter routinely to make sure it is doing its job to keep out all the little nasties.
How to prevent pool is green
The key to the prevention of algae growth is to be regularly checking your pool’s levels of each of its chemical components and keeping everything clean. Doing weekly tests for chemical levels and creating a cleaning/maintenance schedule to follow will go a long way to helping your pool stay fresh and clear.
No one want to get in a pool when the pool is green. A clean pool is an attractive pool, one that the kids will want to get into. For this reason, you need to consider adding a layer of protection with our pool safety fences from Baby Barrier. For decades our safety fences have helped parents have added peace of mind, knowing the fence is keeping curious kids safe. For more information on our fences and childproof locks contact us today.
