The summer is flying right by, and we cannot believe it is already September. Thankfully, we still have plenty of fun in the sun ahead of us. Around this time of the summer, we at The Pool Butler often see many people dealing with the same, ever-so-irritating situation–a green swimming pool.
Lucky for you, we are here to tell you exactly why your pool is green and how to make it look good-as-new!
Why Is Your Pool Green?
When the chlorine in a pool drops below 1 ppm, it is no longer effective at sanitizing the pool. One possible result is an algae bloom. When algae grows in a pool, it begins to change color, and eventually, the algae can turn the pool green.
The most common treatment to get rid of the algae is to shock your pool. In other words, you need to super-chlorinate the pool because chlorine kills algae.
For regular pool upkeep, you can use one pound of granular calcium hypochlorite chlorine for every 10,000 gallons of water. But during an algae infestation, it takes a lot more to turn a green swimming pool back into something you would want to swim in.
The Water Is Probably One of Three Colors
Teal - This is the least problematic of the greens. To shock a pool of this shade, you need 2 lbs of calcium hypochlorite for every 10,000 gallons of water.
Green (may appear swampy) - This is slightly more serious, but don’t fret. This color calls for 3 lbs of calcium hypochlorite for every 10,000 gallons of water.
Black - If you have a black pool, it may (it will) need more work and at least 4 lbs of calcium hypochlorite for every 10,000 gallons of water.
Process Break Down
Before shocking, test the water to ensure that the pH balance is between 7.4 and 7.6 and the alkalinity is between 100 ppm and 150 ppm. Also, make sure the filter is running.
Shocking should be done at night, as chlorine is susceptible to degradation by the sun’s UV rays. To begin, pour the bag of calcium hypochlorite into a bucket of pool water. Next, evenly disperse the mixed bucket around the perimeter of the pool. Once the first attempt is complete, wait until the morning to determine whether a second shock is necessary. If the water is still green, repeat the process.
Stay in Control
After you’ve shocked the pool once or twice, the water will appear cloudy instead of green. At this point, keep the filter running and watch for a rise in filter pressure—if the pressure rises 20-25%, clean or backwash the filter. Continue to test the chemicals to make sure that the pH levels are between 7.4 and 7.6, the alkalinity is between 100 ppm and 150 ppm, and the chlorine reading stays between 1 ppm and 3 ppm.
Keep the filter running 24 hours a day. When the cloudiness fully clears up, take it down a notch and only run the filter for 15 hours a day.
Don’t forget to continue balancing your pool water weekly. For an outdoor pool, Cyanuric acid (CYA) is added to chlorine to stabilize the water because it protects chlorine from the sun’s UV rays. Trichlor and Dichlor are chlorine products that already have CYA added. CYA makes free chlorine levels last much longer, but if CYA levels are low, the sun can quickly dissolve the chlorine. However, too much CYA reduces the chlorine’s necessary sanitizing properties. To keep your pool properly balanced, CYA levels should never surpass 50 ppm, and chlorine levels should always be about 7.5 percent of CYA levels.
Once the pool is back to normal, and the water is glistening in the sunlight again, the job is done! If you are concerned about algae, you may choose to add an algaecide weekly to keep your pool sparkling.
Never Deal With a Green Pool
A green pool can seem overwhelming, and shocking a pool can be more complicated than you might think. The best way to avoid a green pool is to keep your pool clean, and The Pool Butler can help. Pool cleaning takes skill and hard labor, and if you miss even a couple of cleaning you could be in danger of a green pool. Avoid the hassle and the risk. Contact The Pool Butler to arrange your cleaning service today.
