If your pool is looking like a swamp, rest assured you are not alone! Many of us have faced the dilemma of a green pool, which doesn’t just look uninviting but can also be very unpleasant to swim in.
If you are wondering why your pool has turned green and what you need to do to fix it to its usual pristine state, keep reading or watch our video above – we have put together this helpful blog and video with everything you need to know.
Why is My Pool Green?
Finding a green pool isn’t really very pleasant and you might be wondering if you have done something wrong as part of your pool care or if it is dangerous to swim in. If you find yourself asking “why has my pool turned green?”, a chemical imbalance is usually to blame.
Algae:
Most people with green pool water have experienced algae overgrowth.
If your natural water circulation or chemical balance isn’t what it should be, algae can turn your pool green and cloudy.
Overgrowth of algae in a pool tends to be concentrated and can present health hazards, so if you have algae it is important you do not swim until your water is clear.
Pollen and metals:
With its natural green tinge, pollen can cause your pool water to turn green.
The same is true for metals, particularly your ladders or pump parts, which can oxidise in the water due to a chemical imbalance or reaction.
To prevent pollen, cover your pool when it is not in use.
Free chlorine:
Chlorine helps to purify water and when levels are balanced you know algae growth will be prevented.
If you do not have enough chlorine, algae will begin to increase and turn your water green.
Be careful adding chlorine, as too much can cause your metal components to oxidise.
Checkout our website, or the label of our chlorine products to help guide you through balancing your water with chlorine if you are unsure.
pH:
If your water’s pH reaches over 7.8, it stops chlorine doing its job.
You might be adding the proper amount of chlorine, but if the pH is high the chlorine will be ineffective and algae will begin to grow.
You will need to use a pH reducer to bring your levels down – these include muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate.
Filter:
Your pool filter removes pollen, algae and other debris from your water.
If your filter is not running for at least 8 hours a day, it may lead to cloudy water due to ineffective cleaning.
If you are running it long enough, you may need to clean or change the filter itself or perhaps even replace the pump and filter.
Phosphates:
Algae can thrive on phosphates and if your level is too high the algae will thrive.
You can balance your water using Hy-Clor 3 in 1 chlorine or another sanitiser for the best results.
How to Clean A Green Pool: The Water Treatment Process
Your pool might be green but it doesn’t need to stay that way.
If you are wondering how to fix green pool water, there are straightforward strategies that guarantee great results.
Step 1 – Test your water to understand the cause and what elements are out of balance. Test strips and the Hy-Clor mobile app make this very easy.
Step 2 – Balance key chemicals such as pH, Alkalinity, Stabiliser
Step 3 – Get your chlorine level up to 3 parts per million
Step 4 – Add algaecide
Step 5 – Add clarifier or flocculant
Testing
Testing your water will indicate why it is green in the first place. Most likely, something is off with the chemical balancing and having your water assessed using the Hy-Clor testing kits and Hy-Clor App, will help accurately identify the issue – and present the best green pool recovery solution.
Firstly, start by testing the pool water to ensure the pH is between 7.2 and 7.6 and make sure to test the water weekly at the same time of the day.
By placing your thumb over the testing bottle, take a water sample elbow deep at the deep end of the pool.
Correctly adjusted water will significantly reduce the costs of maintaining a pool and keep your swimming experience enjoyable.
Balancing
If your pool water concentration is out of balance, adjusting the chemical levels can restore the clarity of the water, prevent any health risks or equipment breakdown and ensure you keep getting the most out of your pool.
Testing gives you an idea of the levels of alkalinity, pH, calcium and chlorine in your pool water and it is from this testing that you can balance effectively.
After you have tested the water, run the pool pump continuously for the next 24 hours.
You will need to make sure the skimmer basket is empty of debris and that you have brushed the pool walls thoroughly.
A stabiliser helps protect your pool’s chlorine from UV rays and salt is crucial for conversion to chlorine.
When your alkalinity is balanced, you will limit any rapid pH changes and control your pH overall, thus maintaining water quality.
Make sure you only add one chemical at a time and distribute them with the help of your pump.
Chlorinating
Chlorine is a sanitiser which protects your pool water against contaminants.
We know that low chlorine levels can turn your pool water green.
Your continuous chlorine level should always be between 1 and 3 parts per million to prevent algae overgrowth, bacteria increase and unsanitary water.
You have a few options when it comes to chlorinating your pool:
Granular chlorines:
With multifunctional granular chlorine, you can chlorinate, shock treat and kill algae all in one.
Pool tablets:
These are great ways of maintaining pool levels and slowly dissolve in your water to keep chlorine and stabiliser levels optimal.
Liquid chlorine:
This is quick-acting chlorine that instantly kills bacteria and provides outstanding sanitisation and algae control, without affecting your stabilisation levels.
Shock treating:
This should be done each week to remove any contaminants causing cloudy water, smells and eye irritation. These products kill any bacteria, break down any waste that can’t be filtered out and maintain sparkling, pristine water.
Our advice is to sanitise the pool and kill the bacteria, germs and viruses by using Hy-Clor 3-in-1 granular chlorine.
Chlorine is a highly efficient sanitiser as it has a residual effect which protects against additional contaminants introduced to the pool through swimming and weather.
Using Algaecides
Algae can grow fast. It loves high pH levels, low chlorine levels, poor filtration and warm water.
Green algae can usually be easily controlled, while yellow and black algae are often more difficult to eradicate.
You can effectively prevent algae by monitoring pH and chlorine levels and by using a combination of algaecide and phosphate remover to remove any food source keeping the algae thriving.
A clarifier will also improve filtration.
Removing algae is pretty straightforward:
- Scoop out any visible algae
- Use a brush to break up hard spots on your pool surfaces and ladder
- Following the instructions, add Hy-Clor’s Super Algaecide to help your pool stay clear of algae.
If not treated, algae grows fast and can turn clean water into a cloudy or green unattractive pool overnight.
Using Clarifiers
Cloudy water is usually caused by environmental, filtration, or chemical factors.
To get your pool water back to its crystal-clear state, you can add in Hy-clor’s Water Clarifier.
By doing so you will be able to bind small particles together so that they may be captured by your filter.
If you have a sand filter, also add Hy-Clor’s Cloud Out tablets directly to the skimmer.
Keeping your pool or spa water clear and sparkling not only looks great but assists your filtration system, reducing the amount of chlorine and other chemicals used which helps reduce overall pool running costs.
Next, the filter needs to be backwashed or if you have a cartridge filter clean that again to remove the dead algae.
You can also use a flocculent to drop all debris onto your pool floor – you will need to vacuum it up the next day.
Lastly, re-test the water to ensure it is balanced by using the Hy-Clor app, giving you the advice on the quality of the water and what products are required to keep it crystal clear.
How to Make a Green Pool Fix Permanent
Keeping your pool pristine isn’t as difficult as you might think.
It all really comes down to knowing why your water is going green in the first place.
Keeping up with regular green pool water treatments, such as testing and balancing, covering your pool, knowing how to clean green pool water, and making sure your filter is working properly, are all great ways of keeping your water pristine.
FAQs about Green Pool Recovery
You may have algae growing on the walls of your pool. A brush can help loosen the algae and a test can indicate any issues with levels.
Baking soda naturally gets rid of algae, so is a good spot treatment, but we generally do not recommend it as a method to restore pool water. Too much can affect the alkalinity and cause issues down the track.
Yes. While chlorine prevents algae, adding too much chlorine can also cause metals to oxidise and turn your pool a different green altogether.
If you are wondering how to fix a green pool fast, use shock treatment for almost instantaneous results.
You should see results within about 24 hours of treating your pool.
Recover Your Favourite Pool
Green pool water can be a worry, but there are effective fixes to get your pool looking as good as new again.
Regular testing and chemical balancing can help you keep algae and other potential contaminants at bay.
Our HY-CLOR team is on hand to offer green pool recovery, so contact us today.
You can view Hy-Clor’s quality products at Bunnings online or take your water sample into your nearest Bunnings and use our state-of-the-art Hy-Clor kiosk to test your water and get started with Hy-Clor’s products to recover and fix your green pool.
