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How to Prevent Algae Growth in Your Pool
Algae growth is a common problem many pool owners will have to contend with. It can lead to unhealthy, unsightly water that you don’t want to swim in, so taking measures to keep your pool algae-free is important.
If you’re worried about your pool turning green, there are several things you can do to get ahead of the game and stop any algae growth in its tracks!
Algae are small, aquatic plant organisms that harvest sunlight to make their food. You may see different coloured algae forming in your pool – green algae tend to be the most common, but yellow, red and black algae may also make an appearance.
Depending on the type, algae can be free-floating, giving water that unpleasant, uniformly discoloured appearance or it can grow more stubbornly on walls and floors.
When the conditions are right, algae can grow very quickly, so we recommend making sure the conditions aren’t quite right for algae to thrive in your pool!
Algae spores can easily enter your water, whether via plant debris or contamination from swimmers. Once they’re in your pool, algae spores will quickly start to multiply, especially if you’re not doing maintenance to combat them. Algae growth can be caused by:
Ensuring your chemicals, circulation and filtration are all working as they should is key if you want to prevent issues with algae.
When it comes to pool care, oftentimes, prevention is better than tackling a problem once it’s occurred. It is easier to prevent algae spores from growing and multiplying than it is to eradicate a more intense problem.
Here are some things you can do to stop algae from making a home in your pool.
Without proper circulation, water can become stagnant, and algae like it when they can settle in, so it’s important to keep your water moving, maintaining good circulation and flow.
Check that your pool pump system is working as it should – your water must ‘turnover’ at least once a day to ensure a good level of circulation.
Similarly, you’ll also want to check your pool’s filtrations system. If your filter becomes too clogged with dirt, it will do a poor job of removing new instances of dirt and debris, giving algae another reason to stick around.
Backwashing your filter will help remove waste so it can continue functioning at its best. Backwashing the filter every week, especially during the peak of the swimming season, ensures it’ll do a better job at capturing contaminants and supporting your pump system.
Keep a close eye on your water levels to ensure they’re primed to prevent algae formation. Make sure all of your pool chemicals are in the ideal range – weekly checks with water testing kits and strips will help ensure you can make regular adjustments if necessary.
If you're a new swimming pool owner or need a refresher, our guide on how to balance your pool water may prove useful.
Pay careful attention to your chlorine levels, as it’s usually your sanitising chemicals that help kill algae spores before they can grow. Chlorine levels should be kept in the ideal range (1-3 ppm) at all times – chemicals dispensers or feeders can be helpful when it comes to continuously and conveniently dosing your pool water.
Shocking your pool introduces a more intense level of sanitisation, dealing with any sneaky algae your regular chlorine might have missed. Weekly pool shock treatments can also quickly bring chlorine levels (or alternative sanitisers) up to where they should be, leaving fewer opportunities for algae to flourish.
Along with being part of your weekly maintenance schedule, you should also shock your pool after it’s experienced heavy use, as this is a prime time for algae to join the fun.
Another chemical that’ll be invaluable in your anti-algae arsenal is, of course, pool algaecide.
Algaecide is essential if you want to get rid of any algae that have already formed, but it can also be used in clean, seemingly algae-free pools to stop unseen algae spores from developing into a less-easily-dealt-with problem.
If your pool is particularly prone to issues with algae growth, it can be a good idea to make doses of algaecide part of your regular routine, although, with proper maintenance and other chemical treatments, it may not be necessary to use algaecide weekly.
Algae will settle on your pool walls and floor, so regularly using a pool brush to dislodge new formations is a good idea. Make sure any cracks, crevices and corners with poor circulation get a good scrub. Use a specialist pool brush to suit your pool type to ensure you don’t damage your liner or pool shell.
Once any dirt or algae spores have been dislodged, use a pool vacuum to remove the leftover contaminants.
When it’s not in use, make sure you cover your pool with an appropriate covering. This vital step protects your water against dirt, debris and an influx of algae spores that can easily be introduced into the water via wind and rain.
Solar pool covers can be especially good options during the on-season as they’ll help keep your water as well as prevent spores and contaminants from getting in when you’re not using the pool. Certain selective transmission solar pool covers are also designed with algae prevention in mind, as they let less light through, making the conditions unideal for algae.
If you want to keep your pool algae-free, careful maintenance and mindful prevention are the way to go!
Stock up on all the essential swimming pool chemicals and water treatments to ensure your pool stays clean and any algae know to stay away.
