Treating Algae in a Salt Swimming Pool

Salt chlorination for residential swimming pools is a growing trend. The salt water is easier on the skin, eyes, and hair and chlorine is automatically created and added to the water whenever the pool pump is running. This automation can make for easier pool maintenance and less chlorine handling. But all the other pool maintenance tasks remain similar and many of the potential pool problems remain. For certain, salt pools are not exempt from developing algae issues. Follow the steps below to treat algae in a salt swimming pool.

Clean Filter - check the pressure gauge on the main pool filter. If the filter needs to be cleaned, do it as the first step in treating the algae problem. A clean filter and good pool water circulation is crucial to successful algae eradication.

Super Chlorinate - turn the salt chlorinator to super chlorinate mode and then turn on the pool pump.

Brush Algae - with the pool pump on and the salt chlorine generator in super chlorinate mode, thoroughly brush any visible algae on the pool walls, steps, or bottom. This will get the algae off the surfaces of the pool and suspended in the water where it can more easily be killed.

Treat with Algaecide and Clarifier - after brushing, treat with an algaecide and clarifier. Be sure to use an algaecide that is made specifically for salt pools. Some algaecides have metals that can damage the salt cell. Algatec is a great product that is safe for salt pools and has an excellent track record. It will leave your pool algae free and crystal clear.

Run Pump Until Pool Water Clears - modify the timers to allow the pool pump to run continuously until the water clears. This could take 24 to 48 hours or more.

Clean Filter Again - as soon as the water clears, clean the main pool filter one more time to remove any dead algae.

Now that the swimming pool is crystal clear again, reset all the pool equipment timers to their normal settings. Keep swimmers out of the pool until the chlorine level drops back down to normal levels of 1 - 5 ppm. Lastly, be sure to research and understand why the algae became a problem in the first place and fix that issue.

 

 

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