3 Common Reasons for a Green Swimming Pool

Struggling with a green swimming pool makes for a long summer. The first signs of an algae bloom is typically when the pool water turns cloudy and possibly has a slight green tinge or when the pool walls start showing a slight yellow or green buildup in the shady areas of the pool. But just as important as recognizing the beginning signs of algae before it gets out of hand, is understanding why the algae problem is occurring in the first place. Identifying the reason will help avoid future occurrences and make pool ownership a lot easier. Following are three very common reasons for a green swimming pool.

Insufficient Chlorine - The most obvious reason a swimming pool will turn green is when the free chlorine level drops to zero. Without chlorine in the pool water, an algae bloom can quickly develop, as fast as overnight, especially in the hot summer months when the water temperature is warm. Typical reasons leading to a lack of chlorine are simply forgetting to put chlorine in the pool in a timely manner and neglecting to shock the pool water after a pool party that uses up all the available chlorine.

Lack of Filtration - if the pool water is not filtered sufficiently, green pool water will soon develop. A lack of filtration can develop for several different reasons. A dirty filter is the most common reason. Other reasons are a clogged skimmer or pump basket, a low water level that causes the pump to run partially or fully dry, and simply not setting the timers to run a long enough filter cycle.

Incorrect Chlorine Stabilizer Level - an element of pool water chemistry that most do-it-yourself pool owners aren't aware of is the chlorine stabilizer level. Having the proper level of chlorine stabilizer (also know as conditioner or cyanuric acid), is crucial to proper chlorine efficiency and pool water sanitation. The stabilizer level needs to be kept between 30 and 80 ppm in order to protect the chlorine from the sun. Any reading outside this range will render any chlorine added to the pool virtually inactive and essentially ineffective. Without properly active chlorine in the pool water, persistent algae problems will be just around the corner and be responsible for many future headaches. It is recommended to monitor the conditioner level throughout the year using a cyanuric acid test kit.



Struggling with a green swimming pool isn't a fun experience and can be very time consuming. It can get even more complicated when the pool store just keeps recommending shock, algaecides, and other products when those solutions won't necessarily solve the problem and aren't treating the real problem. Follow the tips above to identify the reason for the green pool developing. As soon as all three of the issues discussed above are confirmed to be in order, an excellent combination algaecide and clarifier to use to clear up the pool in 24 hours is Algatec.

 

 

More Articles on Water Problems