Are you awestruck seeing your above ground pool turned in to green? Don’t get stressed. It is normal and there are several reasons for this phenomenon. Don’t freak out and let us find the cause for this.
Are you thinking about whether it’s safe to swim in the green water? It would be better not swim in an above ground pool that has turned green. You should treat it before you use it.
Here in this article, you would get complete solutions and information on how to clean a green above ground pool:
What Makes Your Above Ground Pool Turn Green?
No matter what the problem is, we are always supposed to begin sorting it out by finding the cause. Here, the cause for the greening of the above ground pool varies greatly depending on the pools. However, the mostly seen causes are:
1. Lack of chlorine:
You should add chlorine to your pool at regular intervals. Because, chlorine kills germs and other pathogens in your pool water. Lack of chlorine initiates and promotes the growth of algae. Moreover, if your pools pH is higher than the recommended level, it can affect the chlorine level.
2. Lack of cyanuric acid:
You pools chlorine level must be stabilized to keep the water clean and safe for swimming. Therefore you should use a chlorine stabilizer. Cyanuric acid is one of the most effective chlorine stabilizer that acts as “sunscreen for chlorine”. It helps to protect the chlorine from the UV rays of the sun. If your pool water is lack of cyanuric acid, your pools chlorine level will be affected. Consequently, the pool water will turn green.
2. Lack Of Vacuuming And Clean Up:
You must ensure regular vacuuming and cleaning of your above ground pool to remove debris and dirt. If you don’t vacuum it regularly, chances are something falling and dying in your backyard pool. Consequently, the pool water will turn into green.
3. Deposition of pollen from nearby plants:
Pollen are too small to filter them out. As a result, they accumulate in the pool and their huge deposition makes your pool green.
4. Excess deposition of oxidized metals:
Various metals might be introduced to the water along with the chemicals used for balancing the chemistry of the pool. These metals get oxidized when you shock the pool. An increase in the deposition of oxidized metals like copper would turn your pool into green. This might also stain your pool finish.
5. Improper filtration and circulation Of Pool Water:
You must ensure the proper water circulation to keep it clean and hygienic. It also helps to spreed the chemicals to the pool water properly. Your pools Improper filtration and circulation might turn the pool water into green. If you’ve an above ground pool pump , you need to run it regularly to ensure a good water circulation system.
Is It Safe To Swim In A Green Pool?
It is very unsafe to swim in pools that are not maintained well with proper pool chemistry. Swimming in a green pool is also not advised by Health experts.
“I would not go swimming in green water unless I had test values of the various chemistry patterns. I would want to know the chlorine, the alkalinity, the pH—all the values.” -Joseph Laurino, Ph.D., chairman of the recreational water quality committee with the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals tells SELF.
Here are the reasons why you should avoid swimming in a green above ground pool:
- Bacterial growth: Increase in the growth of algae might become the root cause for bacterial growth in your pool water. If you swim in a green pool, the harmful bacteria can easily enter into your body parts through water and might cause many diseases.
- Breeding of mosquitoes: The growth of algae would make the pool a bed for mosquito breeding. The pool water might get filled with mosquito eggs and larvas. This kind of water is very unsafe to swim.
- Skin infections: Exposure to various kinds of bacteria in green pool water might cause itchiness and prolonged exposure might, in turn, severe the infections caused by itchiness.
- Slippery: The growth of algae in the pool water would make the entire pool slippery. This would increase the chances for physical injuries.
- Low visibility: The algal growth decrease visibility in the water. It also makes it difficult to find if someone fell unconscious in between while swimming.
- Changes in hair color: If the cause for the phenomenon is excess deposition of metal oxide, swimming in this kind of water would cause a change in your hair color. You might come out with green hair after swimming in a green above ground pool.
Therefore, it would be better to avoid swimming sessions in a green above ground pool. It may cause several damages to your body and hair. We would suggest you have a check upon the pool chemistry at regular intervals to make sure that the pool water is safe for swimming.
How To Clean A Green Above Ground Pool?
List Of Tools And Chemicals You Must Have:
- A Pool Cleaner ( Robotic one would be best )
- Pool Brush
- Test Strips.
- Pool shock with more than 70% of Chlorine.
- Pool Clarifier.
- Sanitizer.
- Algaecides
- Optional ( pH Increaser, pH Reducer, Alkalinity Increaser, Chlorine, and Calcium hardness Increaser to adjust the chemistry of pool water )
Clean A Green Pool Fast: (Step By Step)
Step 1: Test Your Pool Water
To begin with, test your pool water to make sure that the chemical balance is within the recommended level. Also, make sure that the pH scale is between 7.2-7.6. Because pH level plays such an important role when in comes to using sanitizer, especially chlorine. When your pH is at the recommended level, chlorine does its job perfectly.
Step 2: Adjust The Chemicals
If you need to adjust the chemicals, then you need to do certain things. To begin with, clean the pool filter and the basket for a great water circulation and filtration. Next, add pH increaser or dcreaser if you require to adjust the pH level. If you’ve made any adjustments to these chemicals, you need to make sure to run the pool pump for about 3 hours. So that, your pool water can absorb those chemicals.
Step 3: Remove Debris And Dirt
Debris and dirt can absorb your pools chlorine. Therefore, you need to ensure that your pool is free from those unwanted particles. However, if you find leaves, acorns, sticks etc. in your pool water, you should remove them as much as you can. Use an above ground pool cleaner or a leaf net to get the job done with less effort and time. In addition, you can use use an automatic pool skimmer to capture the floating debris precisely.
Step 4: Brush Your Pool Properly
Brush out the entire surface of the pool, especially the most affected areas of your pool where algae has clumped together ( behind ladders and steps ). Remember that a very small amount of algae is more than enough to turn the pool green again within a couple of days. Therefore, brush the pool with the utmost care and clean it well.
Step 5: Refill Your Pool With Fresh Water
After brushing and cleaning the pool, you can refill the pool with fresh water.
Step 6: Shock The Pool
Now you have to shock the pool to get rid of all the microscopic organisms. While treating a green pool you are advised to choose a pool shock with more than 70% of chlorine. Chlorine is very effective in treating algae in the pool water.
Shock the pool twice to make sure that you have got rid of algae from the pool. Also, you are recommended to shock the pool multiple times according to how green your pool is. If it has a very dark color, better shock the pool 4 times. After you’ve shocked the pool you need to run the pool pump for at least 24 hours.
However, if you don’t know, how to shock a pool, you can watch the following video:
Step 7: Run The Pump 24/7 Until The Pool Clears Up
You need to make sure that you run the pump 24/7 until it clears up. To speed up this process, you should clean your pool filter twice a day.
Step 8: Add Pool Clarifier
After the addition of chlorine shock, your pool might have turned cloudy. It is normal and would take some time to get clarified. If you are in a hurry, you can add a pool clarifier to get rid of the cloudiness quickly.
Step 9: Run Your Pool Filter
You are supposed to run the filter for at least the next 24 hours to get rid of all the remaining debris and dead algae.
Step 10: Test The Pool Chemistry
After filtering the water for 24 hours, you should check the chemistry of the pool again. Check the pH levels, alkaline levels, and chlorine levels. And adjust those levels if needed.
Bonus Step: Addition Of Algaecide And Sanitizer
Add sanitizers frequently to keep the pool disinfected and clean. You can add algaecide during regular water maintenance to avoid the return of algae.
Now, your pool is all set to swim. You can start enjoying your summer.
Final Thoughts:
A green pool with algae is one of the most unpleasant situation for many pool owners. However, learning how to clean a green above ground pool is a straightforward task with proper steps to make the job easier.
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