black algae

Black Algae

Black Algae is very bad news for a pool-owner or a pool-user.  Not only is is ugly and VERY difficult to eradicate, it can also cause respiratory problems when spores are inhaled in tiny droplets of pool-water.

WARNING Black algae spores can grow in the the lungs, nice and safe in a warm, chemical-free environment!

Black algae spreads in several ways.  

  1. It grows laterally along the grout lines of a tiled pool or on an cement surface, pool-liner or painted pool.
  2. It spreads by releasing water-borne spores, which colonise other areas of the pool.
  3. Water that is splashed out of the pool, will evaporate and the spores can then be trodden or blown to different areas.
  4. It can (and IS) transported from pool-to-pool on swimming costumes and other items like arm-bands and goggles,etc.

 

If you detect black algae - also known as blue-black algae - act swiftly to prevent an expensive disaster from occurring

Black algae form a layered structure where the first layer (which Superchlorination may kill) protects under-layers from further destruction

Therefore a pool afflicted with this type of algae needs a lot of work to eradicate it completely

 

Treatment for a moderate attack of black algae 

If there are only one or two patches of black algae it is sometimes possible to eradicate it without draining the pool: -

  • Apply Copper Sulphate, at a rate of 3 grams per cubic metre, via the skimmer
  • Do not overdose with Copper Sulphate
  • Check pH and adjust as required
  • Superchlorinate to 10 ppm
  • Brush the algae spots with a stainless-steel pool brush to remove all visible signs
  • Turn the pump off and use crushed Chlorine tablets, contained in a cloth bag or an old sock, and tied to a length of cord, to spot treat the algae (not recommended for vinyl-liner or painted pools)
  • On cement or tiled pools black algae spots can also be rubbed with a Chlorine tablet -  wear gloves for doing this
  • Pour a good concentrated all purpose algaecide on the algae spots and leave it in contact with the algae overnight
  • Turn the pump and filter back on, then brush dead algae from the surfaces
  • Brush the black algae each day until it is no longer visible
  • In severe cases repeat treatments will often be necessary
  • Ensure that Chlorine levels are maintained to prevent further attacks

 

Treatment for a bad attack of black algae 

  • The best solution to eradicating black algae is to drain the pool, acid-wash and jet-wash the tiles, then irrigate the entire surface of the pool with liquid chlorine (Sodium Hypochlorite)
  • Allow this to remain in contact with the tiles for at least an hour and then jet-wash the pool again
  • NOTE! - do not allow hydrochloric acid and sodium hypochlorite to mix or they will produce deadly Chlorine Gas.
  • Repeat acid- and jet-washing until every visible trace of Black Algae has been removed.

 

After the visible black algae has been removed from the pool: - 

  • Make up a 4:1 bleaching solution, in a plastic or rubber bucket, with 4 parts water to 1 part liquid Chlorine (Sodium Hypochlorite)
  • Use this mixture to bleach everything that is associated with the pool
  • This includes pool tools, auto cleaners and their hoses or cables, skimmer lids and baskets, pump strainer lid and basket, inside the pump body, the pool walls above the waterline, the pool-surround and patio, under the lip of a pool coping, floating toys, noodles and anything else you can reach
  • Thoroughly clean the filter cartridge or DE filter grids and then soak them in the same mixture as above
  • Don't forget to thoroughly clean the inside of the filter with the mixture as above
  • When the pool is re-filled, apply Copper Sulphate, at a rate of 3 grams per cubic metre, via the skimmer
  • Do not overdose with Copper Sulphate
  • Apply a Phosphate Starver solution to strip phosphates (algae food) from the water

 

We supply all plant and equipment featured on this website. All our work is Guaranteed; Parts and Labour

For free and unbiased advice, a site visit or no-obligation Quotation*, please make initial enquiries by email. Tell us a little about your pool problem and include a daytime phone number. Thanks, we look forward to meeting you soon

 

Note: - Contact our recommended Pool Professionals for supply and installation of all pool-related services: - 

All Spain and Portugal - PoolSafetySpainPoolSafetySpain - for supply and installation of Pool Safety Equipment

Costa del Sol - PoolSchool S. L.PoolSchool S. L. - Pool Services, Solar heating, Spas, 

Nerja area - PoolTechNerjaPoolTechNerja - as above

Each of the above offers years of experience, free unbiased advice and excellent, Professional service.

 

Please share this website with other Pool Owners and Users,  encourage them to read about Pool Safety, learn CPR and help them to save lives, time and money. 

Help us to make every pool a safer place - by sharing this information we can cut the number of pool accidents and deaths.  

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Ken Walker - MyPoolGuru©

Mustard Algae

 

- if you detect mustard algae - act swiftly to prevent an expensive disaster from occurring

Mustard algae

This type of algae is commonest on the shaded parts of the pool, typically on north-facing walls, under diving boards, etc.

Once established Mustard Algae is difficult to shift and almost impossible to completely eradicate it with normal levels of Chlorine

This is not because it is a particularly hardy type of algae,  nor that it is hard to kill - it's just hard to kill all of it because it can survive in the tiniest crack or imperfection of the pool surface and it often reappears quite soon after it has been treated

Treatment

consists of thoroughly cleaning the pool and application of appropriate chemicals

 

  • This ensures that there is a high Chlorine level in the pool so that when you carry out the next step any algae dislodged from the surfaces into the water will be killed
  • Remove every visible spot of algae by scrubbing -  using a good quality pool brush with stainless steel bristles
  • Do not use a stainless steel brush on a glass-fiber or liner pool as it may damage the gel-coat or liner
  • If the water has become cloudy after the scrubbing use a flocculant and vacuum the sediment to WASTE the following day
  • Make up a 4:1 bleaching solution, in a plastic bucket or garbage can, with 4 parts water to 1 part liquid Chlorine (Sodium Hypochlorite)
  • Use this mixture to bleach everything possible that is associated with the pool
  • This includes pool tools, auto cleaners and their hoses or cables, skimmer lids and baskets, pump strainer lid and basket, inside the pump body, the pool walls above the waterline, under the lip of a pool coping, floating toys, noodles and anything else you can reach
  • Thoroughly clean the filter cartridge or DE filter grids and then soak them in the same mixture as above
  • Don't forget to thoroughly clean the inside of any filter with the mixture as above
  • Apply a Phosphate Starver solution to strip phosphates (algae food) from the water
  • Apply half a litre of Hydroghen Peroxide 110-vols per 50m³ of pool water (available from a pharmacy) via the skimmer with the pump on, If you can't find it at this concentration, apply 5 litres of 30-vols per 50m³.
  • Apply Copper Sulphate, at a rate of 3 grams per m³ (4 ounces per 10,000 US Gals), pre-dissolved via the skimmer with the pump on
  • Vacuum the pool, check and adjust pH, and superchlorinate.
  • Ensure that Chlorine is kept at a proper level to prevent another attack
  • Breathe a huge sigh of relief - and remember that the price of a clean, algae-free pool is eternal vigilance!

We supply all plant and equipment featured on this website. All our work is Guaranteed; Parts and Labour

For free and unbiased advice, a site visit or no-obligation Quotation*, please make initial enquiries by email. Tell us a little about your pool problem and include a daytime phone number. Thanks, we look forward to meeting you soon

Note: - Please contact our recommended pool professionals for supply and installation of all pool-related services: - 

Andalusia and the Costa del Sol - Pool Safety SpainPool Safety Spain

Nerja area - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

*We only offer Quotations: - a fixed, agreed price that cannot, and will not, be increased. We do not give 'estimates', as an estimate offers the client no guarantee of final price

Please share this website with other Pool Owners and Users,  encourage them to read about Pool Safety, learn CPR and help them to save lives, time and money. Please help us to make every pool a safer place - by sharing this information we can cut the number of pool accidents and deaths.  Please also see our FacebookFacebook page

Ken Walker - MyPoolGuru©

Green Algae

There are at least 20,000 different strains of green algae and their spores are everywhere; in the air, in rainwater, on the grass around the pool, on the bathing suits of swimmers who have swum in a lake or river, just about anywhere you can think of.  Algae spores are entering your pool all the time

If the Chlorine level is correct at around 1-3 ppm they will be killed as soon as they enter the water and the Filter will remove them but, if sanitizer levels drop below 1 ppm, they will multiply so fast you'll wonder what happened! 

A pool can turn from a crystal clear dream to a murky green nightmare overnight if the Chlorine levels are too low, particularly so if the water is warm

If you spot algae in your pool, whether clinging to the walls or floating in the water (it will turn the water cloudy and green) - act swiftly to prevent an expensive disaster from occurring

Treatment

  • This will kill the algae and turn it from green to brown
  • Scrub the walls and floor of the pool, and then use a flocculant to settle the dead algae on the pool bottom
  • The next day, vacuum the dead algae to ‘Waste’
  • Turn the Rotary Valve to 'Circulate' and run the pump for 2 hours to concentrate the remaining dead algae in one or two spots on the bottom
  • Vacuum the dead algae to ‘Waste’ again
  • Backwash the filter
  • Check and adjust pH
  • If there are still signs of Algae, Superchlorinate again
  • Ensure Chlorine levels are maintained to prevent a re-occurrence

We supply all plant and equipment featured on this website. All our work is Guaranteed; Parts and Labour

For free and unbiased advice, a site visit or no-obligation Quotation*, please make initial enquiries by email. Tell us a little about your pool problem and include a daytime phone number. Thanks, we look forward to meeting you soon

Note: - Please contact our recommended pool professionals for supply and installation of all pool-related services: - 

Andalusia and the Costa del Sol - Pool Safety SpainPool Safety Spain

Nerja area - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

*We only offer Quotations: - a fixed, agreed price that cannot, and will not, be increased. We do not give 'estimates', as an estimate offers the client no guarantee of final price

Share this website with other Pool Owners and Users,  encourage them to read about Pool Safety, learn CPR and help them to save lives, time and money. Please help us to make every pool a safer place - by sharing this information we can cut the number of pool accidents and deaths.  Please also see our FacebookFacebook page

Ken Walker - MyPoolGuru©

Algaecides

 

Algaecides - are chemicals that are added to the swimming pool water to kill algae

While algaecides can kill algae at high dosages, most are utilised as algaestats, which inhibit or prevent algae formation if Chlorine levels fall

The best algaecide and algaestat programme is a properly maintained sanitizer level of 1-3 ppm Chlorine or 2-5 ppm, coupled with a regular, scheduled Superchlorination

Warning: Using algaecides may damage an ORP controller

There are 4 main groups of algaecides: -

We supply all plant and equipment featured on this website

All our work is Guaranteed; Parts and Labour

For free and unbiased advice, a site visit or no-obligation Quotation*, please make initial enquiries by email. Tell us a little about your pool problem and include a daytime phone number. Thanks, we look forward to meeting you soon

*We only offer Quotations: - a fixed, agreed price that cannot, and will not, be increased. We do not give 'estimates', as an estimate offers no guarantee of final price.

 

Note: - Please contact our recommended Pool Professionals for supply and installation of all pool-related services: - 

Andalusia and the Costa del Sol - Pool Safety SpainPool Safety Spain

Nerja area - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Each of the above offers years of experience, free unbiased advice and excellent, Professional service.

Share this website with other Pool Owners and Users,  encourage them to read about Pool Safety, learn CPR and help them to save lives, time and money. Please help us to make every pool a safer place. By sharing this information we can cut the number of pool accidents and deaths.  Please also see our FacebookFacebook page

Ken Walker - MyPoolGuru©

 

Subcategories

Algaecides