How To Use Shock Against Algae

May 20, 2020 sandeelane

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It’s amazing how quickly a small bag of Shock can change the water in your pool from cloudy to crystal clear over night! It’s like a magical potion you put in your pool and a miracle happens! It’s best to add it after the last swim of the day. I have an above ground pool and when I had a 1 HP pump the power was quite strong and I would pour the shock slowly into the inflow of water going into the pool. Now I have a 1/2 HP pump which is not as strong, but still very efficient. I find it is now better to sprinkle the shock around the perimeter of the pool. Make sure the wind is blowing away from you and anyone else around. Be sure to leave the filtration system on all night so the water is well circulated and the powerful S hock can destroy the bacteria that’s floating around and making your pool water look milky, murky or green and not crystal clear the way you want it to be.

Adding a bag of Shock once a week after a vacuum and backwash will help keep your pool crystal clear. Between a weekly Shock treatment and maintaining the Chlorine levels on the higher side, you will be able to control/stop the bacteria that create many hidden and sometimes not so hidden problems. A lot of rain and high pool usage will also change your water so testing your water daily is a great idea and easy to do with a test strip. You’ll quickly be able to remedy a problem before it gets out of hand.

Pool chemicals will aid in swimmers comfort….what does that mean? Well, it is a very nice way of saying that without the chemicals, bacteria grows and when there is bacteria in a pool it starts to multiply quickly and creates an unsafe swimming environment. People will get itchy skin, swimmers ear, eye infections, tummy pain from swallowing water…..and worse….

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Chlorine and Shock – which is a super chlorination, kill bacteria that cause infections like: Cryptosporidium, Giardiasis, Shigellosis – these all cause you to have stomach pain, cramping and yuck – diarrhea and vomiting.

E. coli is another bacteria that survives in water – this gives you all the same symptoms as above only severely and up to 10 days or more! E Coli is what tends to close public pools and 100’s of people get sick!

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I’ll teach you more about recognizing and preventing algae in a moment, but first I’d like to address this: I realize you want to use a pool cover to maintain warm water and keep the bugs and leaves out of your pool, but, I don’t really recommend it. Covers are best used for winterizing and not for times when you are using your pool regularly. Using the net daily and vacuuming weekly is much better for maintaining a clean pool. You see, apart from being difficult to put on every night and storing it every day, the cover turns your pool into a petri dish for bacteria and algae. If you do decide to use it, you may notice your pool floor is a bit slimy and the water is greenish in the morning when you take the cover off, or even more green if you don’t remove the cover until later in the day, or much worse if you miss a day or two. You’ve probably turned the filtration system off as well if you’ve been away or are just too busy and forgot to turn it on.

You may not realize it, but you are creating the perfect cozy environment for bacteria and algae to grow. That green, brown and black algae love stagnant, non moving water. It’s undisturbed, warm, cozy, protected by a pool cover and a great place to just flourish quickly….and even quicker if your pool chemicals are not at their ideal levels.

Algae also love the summer! The longer, hot days create warmer water, combined with more pool use and sunshine which tends to help chlorine evaporate more quickly, causing the sanitizing and bacteria killing chlorine levels to dip too low. It doesn’t take long at all for the algae bloom to just create a party in your pool. You and your family will be shocked and saying, “Yuck! What happened to our water!”

No one wants to swim in an algae infested pool! You may first notice the bacteria in your pool making the water appear cloudy and milky. Or it will start to appear in small grayish spots on the pool floor and when you step on it or rub it, it clouds up a little and seems to “magically” disappear….but it is just tricking you! It secretly floats in the water and regroups in another spot, invites it’s friends and multiplies! If left unremedied algae will begin to also form and the bacteria feeds on it. Algae appears green, brown/mustard or black.

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Not sure what algae looks like in your pool?

Green algae floats in the water and make your water appear green or greenish. It’s microscopic, so if you are seeing clusters floating, I’m sorry to say, but you have a rave party happening in your pool!
Black algae is in the cracks and crevices and is hard and fixed in place. It needs to be scrubbed to be removed. Your water may be clear, but it is still there and likes to fix itself onto pool parts, like under the ladder, and hangs on tight!
Brown/Mustard algae is on the walls and floor and looks like a thin layer of sand. This is the disappearing algae, you rub it and it dissipates…than just regroups in another spot.

The greener the pool, or the more black spots you see, or the more abundant and larger the sand spots, only means you’re algae problem is getting bigger by the day, and it does, and it will multiply really, really fast!

How Do I Fix It??

Let’s Remedy the Problem!!

Green Algae is the most common and will attach to the walls and floor of your pool making it slimy. It also just floats in the water which is what makes your water appear green or greenish. This is the easiest algae to remedy. The greener the water the bigger the outbreak. It is a microscopic single cell plant and you won’t see it until it has invaded your pool, seemingly over night. You have the following 2 choices on how you would like to deal with your green pool:

The first remedy is to make sure your pH is at the correct level and double Shock the pool. You may need to do this a few times. Keep your filtration system on to make sure the chemicals are well circulated. Back wash to waste before each additional shock addition to clean your filter system. No swimming until the Chlorine levels are back to normal. After Shocking and the pool looks clear and the levels are normal, you could also do a double dose of Algaecide. Adding Super Clarifier 4-12 hours later will help improve the filters efficiency and remove dead algae and organic debris. Maintaining consistent Chlorine levels, a weekly Shock and using Algaecide once a week will prevent new Algae from growing. Be sure to back wash and clean your filter weekly.

Here is the alternative method for a green pool. You could use a flocculant like hth Green to Blue. What this will do is kill the algae particles with a high potency Chlorine and they will drop to the bottom of the pool over night. You’re pool must have a vacuum to waste system because there will be a lot of dead algae on your pool floor and vacuuming is the only way to remove it all. You will probably need to vacuum and fill your pool a few times to remove it all. This is tedious, but does work. It may take a few days to totally remedy the problem. Be patient, it will clear, I promise!

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Testing your water and making sure it is always balanced is helping it to work like a well oiled machine. You’ll keep your water clean and clear and it is far easier than fixing a bacteria problem later down the road. Depending on your water, you may need pH up or pH down. Using a test strip will let you know for sure. Read this easy to understand article, it will easily help you to understand the chemicals better, especially pH: https://sandeelane.com/how-to-use-hth-pool-chemicals/ .

Black Algae won’t change the color of your water, but will congregate in the cracks, seams and crevices and it tends to likes shady areas. Your water will remain clear, so it will be easier to spot this very dark algae. Black algae has a jelly like slimy layer which protects it from Chlorine and Shock. The bigger problem is that the longer it goes unremedied, the deeper its roots go and the larger and harder it is to get rid of. Before shocking the pool you’ll need to scrub this algae to break the slime layer or you could use a Chlorine tablet and rub it on each black spot to break the jell layer and kick start the killing process.

Make sure your water is balanced with the pH and Alkalinity levels. In the evening put in a double dose of Shock and leave the filtration system on all night. No swimming until Chlorine levels come down to normal again, which won’t take long. If you still see Black Algae repeat the double Shock treatment. When the Chlorine level comes down add a double dose of Algaecide. Adding Super Clarifier 4-12 hours later will help improve the filters efficiency and remove dead algae and organic debris. Be sure to back wash to waste and clean your filter.

Mustard or Brown Algae can be difficult to remove as it is also Chlorine resistant. It tends to scatter itself over the pool walls and floor and looks like a thin layer of sand. For brown algae you will need to remove all toys and wash them off. Wash all swim wear as well. Make sure you pH and Alkalinity are at the proper levels. Brush the pool walls and floor. Throw in a double Shock treatment. Run the filter system over night. Vacuum to waste, add water, double shock again and run the filter all night, and vacuum to waste again, add more water. If you think you need to repeat this again then do so. Rinse your paper filter system or back wash your sand filter. Add a double Algaecide treatment. Run your filter system to circulate the water as often as possible, at least over night for 10 hours. Adding Super Clarifier 4-12 hours later will help improve the filters efficiency and remove dead algae and organic debris. No swimming until the water is balanced and clear again.

It’s easy to prevent Algae:

keep your pump running at least 10 hours or more daily.
Keep the filter basket clean.
Keep the pool chemicals balanced: Chlorine, Stabilizer, pH Down or pH Up and (Alkalinity Up – only if you need pH Up).
Back wash weekly or when the in flow has a weaker flow of water.
Keep the filters consistently clean.
Shock weekly.
Test daily.
Algaecide weekly.
Metal and Stain Defense weekly.

Keeping the Chlorine levels on the higher side and maintaining those levels are vital for a great pool. It’s also important to keep the pH levels consistent as that is vital for the Chlorine to work efficiently and also helps it to last longer. Stabilizer helps to prolong the life of Chlorine. Without it you’ll be amazed at how quickly the Chlorine evaporates from your pool. Don’t be surprised though at how quickly the Chlorine level will fluctuate during a heat wave. Test strips aren’t very expensive so just test your water regularly and you will have no problem maintaining a great pool.

Remember, the 3 keys to a great pool are: Circulation, Filtration and Chemicals. Use the test strips often and you’ll easily be able to regulate your water. ALL pools need chlorine, a floating Chlorine Dispenser, pH, Alkalinity, Stabilizer, Metal and Stain Defense, Algaecide and a weekly Shock treatment to maintain a consistently safe swimming environment for all swimmers…..and especially for beautiful mermaids!