It’s common for every pool owner to have to deal with algae at some point whether you’re a new pool owner or a seasoned professional. There are many different types of algae so it’s likely that you will have to deal with algae at some point. The important part of handling algae is working to kill it off before it fully blooms in your pool water and ends up causing bigger issues. Maintaining a clean, algae free pool is important to having a fun summer in the sun with friends and family! We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about algae in your pool and what to do about it.

Algae spores can constantly land in your pool water through the wind, rainfall, or even contaminated pool equipment. From there, depending on the conditions of your pool, algae can begin to bloom very quickly causing major problems. Poor water circulation, filtration, and poor pH levels can all create the perfect environment for algae to begin reproducing their own spores rapidly and make your pool look gross. While algae can be harmless to the average swimmer, there are some types of algae that can be more dangerous than others. Knowing what these types are and how to distinguish them will be important in combating the algae problem in your pool.

As we mentioned, there are a variety of different types of algae in your pool. They can be classified by these colors: green or blue algae, yellow or mustard algae, and black. In order to get rid of these different algae types, it’s important to be able to identify which type is in your pool. From there, you will be able to use the best course of action for treating the algae.

Green

This is the most common type of algae that can be found in your pool. You will typically see this kind of algae free floating in your water or building up on the side of your pool. If this is left untreated, it has the potential to turn your entire pool green. The good news is that it’s the easiest type of algae to kill and get rid of since it primarily forms due to poor circulation or lack of.

In order to completely kill green algae, you can add chlorine tablets or an algaecide to help rid your pool of algae. Keep in mind this may take some time to completely circulate through your swimming pool’s filtration system.

Yellow 

Another type is yellow algae or also it can be referred to as mustard algae. This algae is most commonly found in the areas of your pool that don’t receive a lot of light on a sunny day. It’s the second most common type of algae and due to its color, some pool owners may think that it’s just sand that’s built up in your pool. This makes yellow algae in your pool even more difficult to get rid of.

In order to get rid of mustard algae, you must completely shock your pool. Not just a normal shock either, this must be a super shock that can penetrate through the built up algae to kill it. A really high dose of chlorine is needed to achieve this and if you don’t use a high dose, the algae could remain in your pool all season long.

Black 

The last type of algae that we will discuss is black algae. It will look like there are little black specks or dots built up all around your pool. It has very strong roots and spores making it extremely difficult to get out of your pool with normal pool cleaning and maintenance. If you have black algae in your pool, it’s not safe to swim in the waters until the black algae is completely gone.

In order to get rid of black algae, you will need to heavily shock your pool and use a good brush to scrub all areas of the pool where black spots are present. It’s recommended to use a chlorine and acid shock along with intense brushing to remove it effectively.

Once you ensure that your pool is free of algae, now is the time to look at fun pool accessories and equipment to add. Make your pool complete with Global Pool Products pool equipment like slides, rails, pool basketball goals and more! Contact a local dealer near you today to add this to your own swimming pool.