All About Algae and Beating It

There are many different kinds of algae that can be found in your swimming pool such as brown, yellow, blue, black, and pink algae. However, green algae are the most common form of algae you will find in your swimming pool. It is most often found in hard to reach places where water circulation is more difficult to achieve such as on steps and in corners. Algae also tends to grow much faster in pools that do not circulate water on a routine basis, as well as where there is lasting sunlight. Getting rid of algae is not a simple task, but it can be accomplished with the proper preparation.

About Algae And How To Treat It

Green Algae

Green algae are slimy substances that can be found on pool and spa surfaces.  The first signs of algae will be found in small clusters on pool steps or even lurking in corners. It’s at this stage that you should start to attack it. It is important to understand that algae is constantly growing, which means, when you begin the process of elimination, you must be sure to destroy all algae in your pool or else it will just come right back within as little as 24 hours.

Brushing will remove green algae, but it won’t destroy it. Now, super chlorination or shocking your water is required. Maintaining your pool regularly during swim season is key to staying on top of a green algae outbreak.

Yellow Algae

Yellow algae are also known as mustard algae because of its brownish or muddy yellow color.  While yellow algae do not typically spread as quickly as green algae, it is tougher to destroy.  Unlike green algae, brushing won’t do much to remove it from its location. At this point, super chlorination and regular maintenance is required to kill yellow algae.

Black And Blue-Green Algae

Black and blue-green algae are primarily found in lakes and ponds. You wouldn’t see black or blue algae in a swimming pool unless the pool was not being maintained for months or even years at a time. To give you an idea of how bad black algae can be for your swimming pool, just consider the fact that even the pool professionals refer to it as their worst nightmare. Unlike other algae, it can penetrate deeply into hard surfaces such as plaster and concrete. It first appears as black spots and then proliferates.  If you see signs of it, immediately use a stainless steel brush, which cracks the algae’s shell and allows sanitizers to penetrate and destroy it.

Pink Algae

Pink algae appear as slime with a reddish tint, which is known to hide around the swimming pools water line. Unlike other forms of algae, pink algae are one of the easiest to remove from your swimming pool. All that is required is a simple brushing of your pool and regular sanitization treatments in order to prevent and maintain a pink algae free pool.

Clear Algae

Clear algae can be an elusive species.  It can be difficult to detect because you can’t really see it, but you can feel it. So although it may not appear to be a concern, it can be become a bad ordeal to have since it can make it difficult for wall-climbing, automatic pool cleaners to do their job. Brush your walls and sanitize your pool water as you would with other forms algae.

If your pool has been sitting unattended for longer than one winter, you should spend some time removing everything solid you can get hold of out of the water. Using a skimmer net on a pole you should be able to fish out most of what is in the water, even if you can’t see what you are doing.

Get A Helping Hand

Do you need a break from scrubbing your pool’s floors and walls?  Consider a robotic automatic pool cleaner such as the AquaVac500.  AquaVac500, the new Hayward robotic cleaner comes equipped with a microprocessor-based program that determines the most efficient cleaning path possible using up to 94% less energy. Its Dual-Mode technology makes it possible to choose from two cleaning programs: (1) fast bottom only or (2) a deep full bottom, wall and waterline cleaning. Pool owners can simply select the cleaning frequency that best matches their pool debris load.

Find a pool professional near you for further assistance. Comment below with the type of algae you have experienced. What did you do to restore your swimming pool?