The growth of algae commonly causes green pools. If your pool is starting to become green, it means that the pool has little to no chlorine in it. Chlorine is known to be the number one effective pool chemicals in eliminating algae. Thus, a pool without it becomes cloudy and green in color. 

Did you know that it can still be transformed from green to clean no matter how cloudy and green your pool is? Here are some tips on how you can clear up your green pool. Follow these tips, and you will have a clean and sparkling pool in no time. 

Vacuum Your Pool 

If your pool is not that green, then vacuuming it could be enough to remove all the algae on the pool’s surface. However, make sure that you vacuum your pool to waste. This means that you will set the valve of your pool filter to waste. 

All the water that was vacuumed will not go back to the pool. Instead, it will be expelled, so expect that the pool water level will decrease. This is an effective way of getting rid of all the algae from your pool’s surface.

During the vacuum process, make sure that you get rid of as much dirt and algae as you can. However, if the pool is too green, it means that algae growth is already excessive. In this situation, vacuuming to waste will not be enough. 

In this case, performing an acid wash should be your best option. This way, all the heavily attached algae on your pool’s surface will be killed and removed. You must perform the acid wash properly to ensure that the algae will be completely eliminated. 

Brush Your Pool Surface

If your pool can be cleaned by simple vacuuming, do not forget to brush its surface correctly. During an acid wash, a thorough brushing of the entire pool surface is part of the process. So even the simple pool cleaning process should also include brushing. 

It is also best to use algae brushes when trying to eliminate the algae. Avoid using the ordinary brush you were using during your maintenance cleaning. 

Algae is so difficult to remove, and a heavy-duty brush is the best tool to use to remove it from the pool’s surface. A soft-bristle brush will not do its job, and algae will still be visible on the pool even after cleaning it. 

Test the Water’s pH Balance

After ensuring that the pool is now free from algae, the next thing you need to do is to check the pool water’s pH balance. You can use a liquid test kit or test strips to know the level of pH and alkalinity of your pool’s water. 

Make sure that you write down the result of the water pH test because you will need it later on. You can as well test the water for its chlorine level and include it on your notes. Once again, these results will be relevant for the next step. 

Usually, the chlorine level after doing the cleaning will be relatively low or even non-existent. However, you do not need to worry about your chlorine level at this moment, as it can change after we are done with the next step of making your pool from green to clean. 

Shock Your Pool 

The next step is to shock your pool. This is where the chlorine level of your pool water will increase. Shocking a pool means adding a high amount of chlorine into the pool water to kill algae and sanitize the water. 

Choose a shock that contains 70% chlorine. It is also best to shock your pool two times. Remember, you must shock your pool properly to achieve great results. Use granular chlorine to use in this process. 

For heavy algae-infested swimming pools, shocking your pool two times can still not be enough. It is recommended to shock the pool three times instead to ensure that all algae will be killed and to avoid it from growing back. 

Pumping and Filtering Your Pool 

After shocking your pool and already establishing it is done properly, it is now time to pump and filter it. After shocking the pool, turn your pool filter on and let it run until the water on the pool becomes clear.

This may take a while, which is why you must have long patience in doing this process. Commonly, the pool water will become clear after five days of running the filter after the shocking process. 

However, you can also opt to add a pool clarifier to your pool to clear the water quickly. After you add the pool clarifier, let your filter run for at least 24 hours to ensure that all the dead algae will be removed from the water. This will also ensure that the chemical you used to shock the pool will be completely dissipated. 

Test the Water Again

Now that you have added chlorine to the pool water during the shocking process, it is recommended to do a water test again. You will need to test the water for pH, alkalinity, and sanitizer.

Adjust the chemicals accordingly based on the result of the test. For example, after adding chemicals or water to balance the chemicals in your pool, you will need to test it again. Repeat the process until you achieve the right balance of pH, alkalinity, and chlorine on the water. 

After finishing this process and your pool has already transformed from green to clean, the last step you must do is keep the algae from returning. For you to be able to do this, you must check your pool’s chlorine level regularly. Make sure to maintain a healthy level of chlorine in the water to avoid algae from coming back. 

Getting Pool From Green to Clean is Not Easy

As you read through this article, you might think how easy it is to make your pool from green to clean. However, what you might not know is that pool maintenance is a complicated task to do. Not only is it time-consuming and tiring, but it can be ineffective if not done correctly. So, if you think you can not handle it on your own, contact the experts now.