Why do pool algae keep coming back into my pool? This is the first question that comes to the mind of every pool owner, after skimming, vacuuming, and running a pump non-stop.
Sometimes after using Algaecide, algae go away and everything is fine and then suddenly it comes back. So, the algae keeps coming back and there are a few reasons why that could happen.
Keeping a pool algae-free needs expensive chemicals and frequent professional cleaning, which can become a financial burden. In this article, we will discuss the reasons behind algae growth and provide some tips and tricks that you and your swimming pool makers can adopt to prevent algae growth.
Defining Algae in the Pool
Algae are living organisms that are similar to plants, like plants, algae make their own food through a process called photosynthesis. Algae can be found in oceans, rivers, ponds, lakes, and pools. Many types of Algae have been around for more than 2 billion years, but the algae in pools are microtypes.
These algae grow in water with unbalanced chemicals, poor circulation, or exposure to excessive sunlight. These organisms multiply quickly, turning the water green, yellow, or even black, depending on the type of algae present.
Most Common Types of Pool Algae
There are hundreds of algae types have been discovered, but we will discuss the most common types that typically attack the pool.
Brown Algae
Brown algae, which is better known as kelp, has around 1800 species. Most are marine and found in colder water. Brown algae is the largest and most complex type of marine algae which is olive or yellowish brown. It attaches to rocky coasts or floats freely in warm and mild climates.
Black Algae
Black algae are the hardest to remove from your pool because they form deep roots in porous pool surfaces, such as plaster and concrete. They appear as small, dark spots with green textures and a protective outer layer that shields them from chlorine treatments. If you do not take certain action quickly then it can spread rapidly and make the pool difficult to restore.
Green Algae
Green Algae are mostly found in freshwater such as pools, attached to the pool walls and surface. On top of the water, it looks like a layer of green scum. Green algae also serves as the source of food and oxygen for some aquatic organisms in fresh lakes. Filtration problems and hazy water are the major causes of green algae developing in the pool.
Pink Algae
Like other algae types, pink algae rather than occupy your whole pool, develops at the corners of the pool or can stick to walls of pools. This algae type is also known as pink slime and appears as a slimy, pink, or reddish film that often develops in shaded areas, such as pool corners, ladders, and plumbing fixtures.
Pink algae thrive in pools with poor circulation and low chlorine levels but with proper maintenance, you can easily remove it from the pool.
Yellow Algae
Yellow algae or mustard algae is a stubborn type of pool algae that appears as yellow or brownish dust-like patches on pool walls and floors. It grows in shady, poorly ventilated areas and withstands regular chlorine. Like green algae, it does not spread as quickly but is more persistent.
Pool Algae Causes
Lack of Sanitization
The first and probably the biggest reason is lack of sanitization or neglect. So, if you are not keeping your sanitizer level in your pool at a normal operating level that’s recommended for that type of sanitizer like chlorine; you need to keep your chlorine level at 3 PPM. if your chlorine dips below that, your pool is susceptible to algae growth.
So, obviously, we do not want to that happen, which is why we have things like automatic chlorinators that constantly add chlorine to your pool.
Water Chemistry is Off
Another reason is that your chemistry is out of whack. Maybe your pH and alkalinity are low, or maybe they are high. And when these things are low, even though you might have enough sanitizer in the pool, it’s not gonna be nearly as effective if those things are in balance. So, if you are using those things in balance and have enough sanitizer you are protecting your pool from algae infections.
Poor Circulation
If you have parts of the pool that are not being circulated well, the parts could be corners, crevices, underneath ladders, or on steps. And you are not churning all of that water and letting it go through your filter system.
Then a couple of things can happen, one you are not dispersing the chemical through your water enough, and then those little pockets consume algae. The other thing could be floats, bathing suits, or things that you maybe took to the ocean, and you got algae on that thing and come back to your pool it will add algae to your pool as well.
Pool Algae Prevention
We have already discussed some of the best algae prevention that you can follow to avoid algae growth. Let’s see a few more tips that can protect your pool from algae.
- Minerals: With plenty of minerals available, copper, gold, or silver in stabilized form can slow down the algae growth in your pool.
- Phosphate Remover: Phosphate is a key food source for algae. Fertilizer runoff and fallen leaves can raise phosphate levels, but this chemical helps remove it.
- Potassium Tetraborate: it blocks algae from using carbon dioxide as food, preventing its growth and spread
Conclusion
Every pool owner has algae problems at some point. Wind, sun, and heat constantly conspire to create conditions for those small microscopic plants to appear, but routine sanitization and occasional oxidation should keep algae away, right?
Algaecides are antidotes that can attack algae differently and some formulas are more effective against certain types such as phosphate remover or potassium tetraborate. Remember, regular cleaning, proper filtration, and shock treatments can help you protect your pool from any type of algae.
