Why is my pool green, and how do I fix it?

In South Africa, summers get pretty hot, and South Africans love a good swim, whether it’s in the ocean, a dam, river or pool. Having your own pool is an absolute joy and it’s a great place for family and friends to get together and enjoy the summer rays while going for cool-down dips. However, if you are a pool owner, you may have gone outside one fine, sunny day and greeted by an unpleasant sight: a green pool.

Pools turn green when there is not enough chlorine in the water, and algae starts to grow. Algae loves low chlorine levels and warm temperatures, something we’re not short of in. An algae infection also happens very quickly. Allowing the chlorine levels to drop for a little as a day or two may be enough for algae to take over your swimming pool. This problem should be treated immediately, because if left untreated, it gets very bad. 

So, what do I do?

The first step is to determine whether a chemical self-treatment will be enough. If your pool has a light green colour, chances are good you can fix it yourself. But, if you’ve been away for some time or left your slightly green pool untreated and it has since become a dark green, almost black colour, the pool will have to be drained, acid washed and refilled by a professional. 

If your pool is light green, you can follow these simple DIY steps and tips:

1. Shock it!

Add a shock treatment to the pool water. This will rapidly increase the chlorine levels and kill the algae in the water, and stop it from growing and spreading.

2. Brush it!

Using a pool brush, clean all the green algae from the walls and floor of your pool. This will require some elbow grease, and is made easier by letting specialised pool cleaner equipment, like Kreepy Krauly, run while you do it, so that it can pull up all the bits you’re brushing off. 

3. Let it run!

Let your pool pump run for 24 hours. This will give it enough time to filter all the water through the filter sand, and clear up any cloudiness in your pool. Remember to also backwash and rinse a few times to get rid of all the particles build-up. 

4. Test it!

A pool testing kit will help you assess if your water has the right level of chlorine. Add chlorine or throw in a floater, and keep testing your water until the levels are right. 

5. Maintain it!

Cleaning your pool regularly is of utmost importance. A well-maintained pool that has balanced water and is cleaned regularly won’t go green, and is a joy to have and a great place for social summer activities.

Tip:

While shocking your pool, avoid swimming in it, the high level of chlorine will burn your eyes and skin, and even more so in children or people with sensitive skin. So rather pause pool activities for a few days before diving back in. 

Here is a selection of anti-green pool products BRIGHTS supplies:

BRIGHTS has an amazing range of other pool chemicals and pool products on sale from 17 November to 20 December 2020. View all our specials, including pool products here.