Green pool water is one common problem that plenty of pool owners encounter. There really is nothing worse than opening up your pool and finding that it is green. It could be that you have been away on vacation or that you have not used your pool in a while.

The cause of your green pool water is algae. This is a micro-organism that quickly grows in warm pool water but can be easily controlled and eliminated when you use the right pool chemicals. The first step that most pool owners take is to add chlorine which is one of the best sanitizers for pool water and stops algae from growing.

You need to stay on top of the level of chlorine that your pool contains because if you neglect it you may encounter an algae bloom that will make your water become very green. The effective level of chlorine should be three parts per million (3ppm).

Shocking Your Pool

In order to destroy the algae that has taken over and turned your pool that beautiful shade of green, you will need to “shock” your pool. This is the process of “superchlorinating” the water. The best time of the day to shock your pool is in the evening or at night when the sun is down.

The reason for this is that the sun will burn off the unstabilised chlorine in the shock much quicker than normal chlorine. Daytime shocking of your pool is simply not as effective. Unless you are using a stabilised chlorine.

You will need to dissolve the chlorine shock before you add it to your pool by dissolving it in a large bucket of warm water. Fill the bucket with warm water and then add the chlorine to it to fully dissolve the shock before adding it to your pool.

By dissolving the shock in advance you will ensure that it is the most effective that it can be and also that you will not bleach your pool liner.

How Much Chlorine Is Required To Shock?

The amount of chlorine to be used is based upon how many litres of water your pool holds and the strength of chlorine used.

Which Products Should you Use?

We offer a variety of excellent products that will eliminate algae and get your water back to normal in no time at all. Each of these is excellent and will get the job done:

1. Lo Chlor Pond and Fountain Algaecide and Clarifier – this product is used in ornamental ponds and fountains and does not contain chlorine. You will need about 50 ml for every 450 litres of water. One 500 ml bottle will treat 450 litres of water.
2. Lo-Chlor Winteriser Algaecide is a good product to keep your pool free of algae through the winter. You only need to use one treatment every three months.
3. Algon's Hotzone Algecide controls heavy algae growth including black and mustard algae. http://www.ozpoolsupplies.com.au/algons-hotzone-algaecide.html
4. Lo chlor blackspot 900 algaecide is used for white plaster or tiled pools (no liner) only. The product is applied directly onto blackspots and then scrubbed with a wire brush after 24 – 36 hours.
5. Lo Chlor Miraclear Algecide suitable for most pool types and green algae

Let us know if you need advice at any time.

It is extremely important to keep your swimming pool clean by balancing the pool chemicals correctly. If you do not keep the water clean people who use the pool can become ill with ear infections, rashes and stomach infections.

Proper pool chemical balance means that the numbers of microorganisms that exist in your pool are being maintained at a safe level.

Water testing and cleaning your swimming pool

In order to keep your pool safe, the chemicals must be tested daily when it is being used often. Water balance must be tested for sanitiser levels, total alkalinity, pH and calcium hardness. Sanitiser is maintained to prevent the growth of microorganisms that can cause disease.

Water balance and the correct concentration of algaecide help to prevent pool surfaces from being stained by algae.

The amount of sanitiser required to keep your pool clean is determined by a number of factors including:

• the temperature of the water;

• contaminants such as skin oil and suntan lotion that are added to the water by bathers;

• how many people are using the pool;

• how much rain has recently fallen;

• the frequency that you use your pool.

Pools are kept clean with chlorine products that control algae. Your pool has its own special chemical system (salt, chlorine, ioniserr or Bioniser) which was decided on by you and your pool expert when you had your pool installed. These chemicals must be constantly tested and monitored to ensure that they are in the correct balance.

It is important to use the right amount of sanitiser

Sanitizing your swimming pool is easy when you use the right amount of the correct chemical. Read the label of the product to determine the correct amount and ensure that you are handling the product safely. Swimming pools that dispense their own sanitiser through a chlorine producing device have detailed instructions for their use. Always ensure you are using the right chemicals that go with your pool's chemical system.

Algae Control

It is important to control algae in your swimming pool because it can make pool surfaces dangerous and slippery. If algae blooms out of control it can cause sanitisers to become less effective. This provides viruses and bacteria with an environment that helps them to grow. Regular use of a sanitiser prevents over growth of algae.

There is a certain balance for the swimming pool chemicals in your pool and it depends on the system that your pool is set up with. Testing kits are available that show you which chemicals need to be topped up or how your chemicals may be out of balance. Once you have been using a test kit for a while you will be able to see rather quickly what is out of balance and what needs to be added to correct the deficiency or overage.

Contact us if you need advice about how to keep the proper chemical balance of your swimming pool.

We thought we’d note down a few more FAQs which we get regularly.  Hope they help and please let us know if you have any more questions.

My eyes are sore when go into my pool - what's wrong with my pool?
 
The problem probably lies with your pool water’s pH level. If the water is too acidic it can cause eye irritation, etching on pool surfaces, skin irritation and cloud the water.

The recommendation for pH is between 7.2 and 7.6. It is important to check pool chemicals each day when the pool is in constant use, because any sort of foreign substance can change the water’s chemical composition.

Chlorine can be an irritant because of the heavy smell, but it can also make the skin itchy and may irritate the eyes.

If your eyes “burn” when you get out of the pool, rinse them immediately with cool clean water and avoid swimming in your pool until you can correct the pH level or lower the chlorine concentration.
 
My swimming pool is very cloudy - how do I fix that?
 
No one wants to swim in a cloudy pool, but there are times when the water can become cloudy and it makes for a less inviting environment. The main thing is to determine the reason for the cloudiness and then to correct the water condition with the appropriate solution. The two main reasons for cloudy pool water are mechanical problems or chemical imbalances.
 
The first thing you need to check is that the filter you have installed in your pool is the correct size.

The pump should be the correct size for the filter because if the pump is too small it will not filter the water properly.

Make sure that the filter is clean and that water is able to flow through it. If the filter is etched or too soiled, you may need to replace it with a new one to ensure optimal filtration results. Your filtration system should be running anywhere from 8 to 12 hours daily in summer and you need to brush or vacuum the pool regularly to keep any build-up of residue and dirt at bay.
 
Once you have considered mechanical issues, you can examine the chemicals in the pool and check the water quality.

Pool water clarifier is used to gather smaller particles together so that they can be captured in the filtration system. Clarifiers are not the entire answer to clearing up your pool water because they can cause short cycling and clog your filter.

One of the main causes of cloudy pool water is improper chlorination. If you do not have adequate chlorination, algae can start to develop and cloud your water and once it reaches a certain stage, it will bloom causing your water to change to a green colour.
 
High calcium hardness (CH) is when the CH of your pool water is over 300 ppm and your water’s temperature is high which can also cause cloudiness.
 
If your pH is too high (more than 7.8), the chlorine won’t react as quickly and may not kill the algae which can cause your water to become cloudy.
 
When your total alkalinity is too high (more than 200 ppm), the result may be cloudy water. High alkalinity can also make chlorine much less effective. Total alkalinity is a measurement of the ability of the water to buffer, to resist change, and to neutralize acid content in your pool water. Total alkalinity needs to be adjusted in order to stabilize the pH contained in the water.
 
What level should I maintain my chlorine?
 
Chlorine needs to be added continuously to your pool water so that it is combined with any organic contaminants contained in your pool, killing off bacteria and then rendering the chlorine inactive.

Chlorine should not be dumped into the pool in large quantities on a regular basis because it can damage pipes and other expensive pool equipment.

Automatic chlorine feeders and floating puck holders are the best choice for safe and gradual pool chlorination.
 
What's this I hear about shock dosing a pool? What is that?

Shock dosing is another term for super chlorination. It is a way for you to make your pool water safe while cleaning it via increasing the amount of chlorine three to five times the normal amount for a very short time.

This important step should be done along with regular pool maintenance.
 
Shock dosing should be done after sundown to ensure that the sun’s UV rays do not affect the pool chemicals.

The chemicals that you will add to the pool should be dissolved in a separate bucket of pool water that you have removed from the pool. Be sure to fill the bucket with water first, and then add the chemicals to the water.

Add the chemicals to the bucket and stir them until they are fully dissolved before adding them to the pool water.

The filtration system should be running and the bucket of dissolved chemicals should be poured in front of the return line fitting. Pour slowly so that the bucket contents are distributed throughout the pool and do not settle on the floor of the pool.

Always add chemicals to water, not water to chemicals and wear safety goggles to prevent splashing chemicals into your eyes.
 
How long should I wait after shocking a pool before I go in?
 
Take a reading of the pool water before you go for a swim. It IS NOT RECOMMENDED to swim in water that has too much chlorination, you should wait until you get a reading of 3 ppm or lower before re-entering your pool.

What effect does rain have on my pool?
 
Rain water may have an effect on your pool in several different ways. Firstly, rain can be acidic and when this is mixed with your pool water, it can effectively lower the pH level of your pool water. Heavy rainfall can dilute chlorine levels reducing the effectiveness of bacteria protection, and may allow algae to start to grow.
 
When chemical levels are not what they should be, pool water is out of balance and can be uncomfortable to swim in because it makes the skin itchy or causes a rash.

It can also damage the surface of the pool liner or etch equipment and corrode pipes. Checking the balance of your pool’s chemicals on a regular basis is the best way to ensure that everything is where it should be.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Have you visited our Ebay store?

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Saltwater swimming pools are becoming a popular choice among people who are installing a pool. Once you have decided on size and type of pool, the next choice is saltwater or freshwater. Saltwater does have many advantages and some disadvantages over traditional freshwater pools.
 
The main advantages of the saltwater pool include:

• A constant delivery of pure chlorine. When you have a saltwater system in place, the chlorine is produced by converting the salt electrically. The process is quite simple and does not take any more energy than a standard swimming pool. With standard pool water you need to constantly manually introduce chlorine into the system.

• The water is softened through the process of chlorination without you having to add a softener to the water.

• People with sensitive skin are much less likely to have a reaction to the saltwater pool. Traditional systems with chlorination can make skin itchy and dry it out. It can ruin hair (especially coloured hair) and it simply smells bad. You won’t have to worry about burning eyes and you certainly won’t need to rush out and spend a great deal of money on pool chemicals.

• Lower chlorine levels – the salt that is converted to chlorine is less harsh.

• Low salt levels – people generally think of a saltwater system as being like ocean water, but you can think of it more like bath salts. The effect on the skin is much like that of good bath salts too, making skin feel softer and smoother.

• You won’t have to store dangerous and corrosive chemicals for your pool (like chlorine). All you need to store is the salt that you need to add to your water (but only when the levels require it).

• Low maintenance – you can go away for a few weeks without having to worry about returning to an algae infested pool.

This all sounds so excellent that you can’t wait to get started with a saltwater system for your own pool. We do have to cover off the disadvantages, and there are a few of them.

• Saltwater systems can break down certain types of stones or pebbles, but most pools that are recommended for saltwater systems do not use those types of stones. A good pool builder will be able to recommend the right stones for a saltwater system so that you won’t have to worry about stone/pebble breakdown.

• Saltwater pools can be much more corrosive to metals than traditional pools.

• The chemical reaction that is required to produce salt in the system causes a substantial rise in pH so you need to manually add acid every week to lower your pH levels if you are maintaining your own pool.

• The learning curve for maintaining a saltwater pool system can take more time to learn how to get your pool water chemistry just right.

• Saltwater pools are more expensive to install but once installed, they cost less in chemicals.

• Saltwater can damage nearby plants from wastewater, splashing or backwash.

Please let us know  if we can provide any advice pertaining to salt water swimming pools.