How to fix a green pool

Dec 4, 2022
Pool Maintenance | Swimming Pool

No one will want to swim in a green pool, not only is it unsightly and cause infections, but it will attract mosquitos and other bugs. The quicker you act the easier it will be to get the pool water back to normal.

Every step should be followed in order to kill the algae efficiently.

  • Test the pH levels by using AquaChek testing strips or a liquid testing kit. The PH levels you will find in our EN pool maintenance document or our ES pool maintenance document
  • Adjust the levels and then test the water again to make sure that you are in the right parameters. Adjusting the levels will ensure that the shock treatment will be effective as possible. If the levels are either too high or too low, it will not help the shock treatment kill the algae.
  • If you have a concrete swimming pool, using a algae brush instead of your normal nylon brush is recommended to brush the walls, floor, and step area where the algae are attached to. This can be time-consuming as the algae can be very stubborn, but it is important to get the algae floating in suspension, this will allow the chlorine to kill the algae.
  • Shock the pool using Chlorine shock which is usually best done at night. For the best results use a shock that contains at least 70% chlorine. Remember the dosage on the container is for normal shock treatment, depending on the color of your pool the dosage will need to be doubled or even tripled.
  • After the pool has been shocked run your pool for a minimum of 8 hours, better still we would recommend running the pump for 24 hours a day until the water is clear. This will help to clear the water quickly.  If the pool is still green or even has a slight tinge of green after 24 hours, repeat the treatment again. Your pool should end up being a cloudy blue.
  • If your pool is cloudy blue, then you have successfully killed all the algae in the water. Now you can use a flocculant if you want to clear it more quickly. Make sure to run the pump for at least another 8 hours, then turn the pump off and let it settle, any small particles will bind together and fall to the floor area.  You will now be able to vacuum to waste.

If your pool is cloudy blue, then you have successfully killed all the algae in the water. Now you can use a flocculant if you want to clear it more quickly. Make sure to run the pump for at least another 8 hours, then turn the pump off and let it settle, any small particles will bind together and fall to the floor area.  You will now be able to vacuum to waste.

Now you can start to enjoy your swimming pool again.

To maintain a healthy pool make sure you test at least once a week and adjust the parameters accordingly. Use an algicide treatment on a weekly basis along with your other chemicals, algicide concentrate is a preventive treatment.

Need help?