You’d think salt would kill pool algae. Sort of like slugs. But no, pool algae is impervious to salt, so you’ve gotta do a little more work to remove it from a saltwater pool. But we bet you’d still rather do that than remove slugs, right?
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⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to How To Remove Algae From A Salt Water Pool
00:53 - Why Algae Happens In Salt Water Pools
01:49 - Step 1. Brush Pool Surfaces With An Algae Brush
02:26 - Step 2. Vacuum To Waste
02:40 - Step 3. Test And Balance Water
02:55 - Step 4. Shock Your Pool
04:29 - Pool Care Video Course
05:05 - Step 5. Shock Again and Run Filter
05:25 - Step 6. Test Water Again
05:38 - How To Prevent Algae In Your Pool
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Swim University has made swimming pool and hot tub care easy for more than 10 million homeowners. And each year, we continue to help more people with water chemistry, cleaning, and troubleshooting. We know taking care of a swimming pool or spa can be difficult. And it’s hard to find a trusted source of information. We get it! This is the reason we created Swim University.
😎 Visit our website for more in-depth information on swimming pool maintenance: https://www.swimuniversity.com/
💦 Download our pool maintenance video course and get 10% off by using the promo code VIDEO: https://www.swimuniversity.com/pool-care-handbook/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description'>https://www.swimuniversity.com/pool-care-handbook/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description
⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to How To Remove Algae From A Salt Water Pool
00:53 - Why Algae Happens In Salt Water Pools
01:49 - Step 1. Brush Pool Surfaces With An Algae Brush
02:26 - Step 2. Vacuum To Waste
02:40 - Step 3. Test And Balance Water
02:55 - Step 4. Shock Your Pool
04:29 - Pool Care Video Course
05:05 - Step 5. Shock Again and Run Filter
05:25 - Step 6. Test Water Again
05:38 - How To Prevent Algae In Your Pool
🏊♂️ Our Favorite Pool Maintenance Gear: https://www.swimuniversity.com/pool-maintenance/'>https://www.swimuniversity.com/pool-maintenance/
📡 Subscribe to our channel if you want more information on swimming pool and hot tub maintenance: https://www.youtube.com/swimuniversity
Swim University has made swimming pool and hot tub care easy for more than 10 million homeowners. And each year, we continue to help more people with water chemistry, cleaning, and troubleshooting. We know taking care of a swimming pool or spa can be difficult. And it’s hard to find a trusted source of information. We get it! This is the reason we created Swim University.
😎 Visit our website for more in-depth information on swimming pool maintenance: https://www.swimuniversity.com/
So how does that you get into a saltwater pool? How do you get rid of it? How do you keep it from coming back? Why do some hot dogs still come in packs of six, but hot dog buns come in packs of eight? All these questions are frustrating, but only one only one is unanswerable. While I can't help you with your next cookout, I can help you remove algae from a saltwater pool. So, let's dive in quick disclaimer. Everyone has their own way to maintain a pool, but in the end our goal is to help you and the information in this video is based on my personal experience in the pool industry and the research that we've done here at swim, University dot-com and if I Miss anything, please leave a comment, and let me know and it'll also help your fellow pool owners and if you have an answer to the hot dog question, leave a comment with that too seriously.
So before we dive into fixing your pool, we need to know a little bit about algae and pool chemistry. There are three different types of algae that can invade your saltwater pool if green, it's yellow, which is also called mustard, algae and there's black green, is the most common and the easiest to remove, yellow and black algae are tough, but not impossible to remove. They just take a little bit more elbow grease. The second thing to know is that saltwater pools are actually chlorine, pools a device called a salt water chlorinator or a saltwater generator converts salt into chlorine through a process called electrolysis.
So saltwater generators produce chlorine at a slow, steady rate, which is why saltwater pools are gentler on your skin, on your hair and on your eyes and you're, not adding a huge dose of chlorine all at once now, while this is one benefit to owning a saltwater Pool it can be a downside when it comes to algae, that slow, steady chlorine production makes your pool vulnerable to algae. If you don't keep your water properly balanced. So how do you get rid of algae once it invades your pool? Well, I'm sorry, but get ready to do some work. First, you want to brush all your pool surfaces to remove the algae and your regular pool brush will not do you need to get an algae brush with stainless steel bristles unless you have a vinyl liner pool.
In that case, you can use a regular nylon, bristled brush and you just have to scrub hotter boy, and if you have kids, this is a good time to teach them about pool care and how brushing the pool builds character and promotes strong, healthy bones and turns Them into a super hero, they'll buy it once you've brushed the algae off the walls in the floor of your pool vacuum it up make sure to vacuum to waste so that you don't send algae right back in the pool. You may need to add some water to your pool after you do this so that you can get it back up to the ideal level after vacuuming. You want to test your pool water and balance it for pH and alkalinity. You want your pH to be between seven point, four and seven point: six and your alkalinity between a hundred parts per million and one hundred and fifty parts-per-million one hundred and twenty five parts per million being ideal. Next, it's time to shock so make sure you use chlorine shock. Since your saltwater pool is like we said earlier, actually, chlorine and you need to know how much water your pool holds. You can visit swimming diversity, comm slash, pool calculator to figure out how much water is in your pool. So that way, you don't so do any math yourself, because life is just too difficult to have to do math all the time.
Once you know how much shock you normally need for your pool volume, which is generally about one pound per 10,000 gallons, you want to follow these guidelines to banish algae from your pool. If you have just a little bit of a green color like it's a teal color, you want to double the usual amount. So, for instance, if you have a twenty thousand gallon pool, you'd normally use about two bags of shock, but for this you are gon na need to double it to four bags of shock. If you have a lot of algae, which means it's dark green, you want to triple that amount so three times and if you have mustard algae this, this stuff can be chlorine resistant, so you're gon na need to triple shock it to kill it, and if you Have black algae well that one's even harder to kill so you're gon na need to quadruple shock it, and if your pool is so green that it looks black you're gon na either need to triple or quadruple shock your pool.
Now, before you go shocking, your pool all willy-nilly, I highly recommend you watch our video on how to do it. Also you're gon na want to shock at night and keep the filter system running for at least eight hours. Afterwards, let the shock work. It's killer.
Magic. Now, real quick, if you want to learn more about taking care of your pool with in-depth tutorials and guides, you should check out our pool care handbook and video course you'll, get over 31 video lessons, plus a fully Illustrated guide covering everything you need to know about. Pool maintenance - and it is, I promise you packed with money-saving tips, so you don't break the bank on your swimming pool. This is the ultimate manual for every type of pool, and it's always up to date, and because you watch this entire video, you can get 10 % off by using the promo code.
Video just go to some university comm, slash, pool care handbook or click. The link below the following morning, your pool water, should look cloudy blue. That's all that gray dead algae floating around. However, if it's still slightly green you're gon na need to shock it again with the same amount to kill that algae dead.
So, after that, I recommend that you run your filter system 24/7 to help clear it up, and you can also use some clarifier to help you achieve water. Clarity faster. So make sure that you test the water so that your chlorine has returned to the normal level, and if your water is unbalanced, you want to balance it again, get all your levels where they need to be before you. Let anybody back into your swimming pool. So now that you've done all that work to remove algae, you don't want to have to do it again, so to keep algae from attacking your pool in the first place. Follow these steps number one balance your water chemistry at least once a week. More often, if you're swimming a lot - and you want to make sure that your chlorine level stays between 1 & 3 parts per million. Ideally three parts per million number two: you want a shower before getting into your pool.
It doesn't have to be like a soap and shampoo shower just a quick rinse number three wash your swimsuits if you've been in a natural body of water or a public pool, if you've just been in your own pool and maintaining the water as normal, you can Just do a rinse that'll, be fine number four balance, your water chemistry did. I say that one okay, if I did it's worth repeating number five, you want to clean your pool, toys and other equipment between uses, wipe down, floats and other things with diluted, bleach or a bleach based cleaner to kill algae and to keep mildew from forming. You want to rinse those well to get rid of all the bleach before you put it back into your that's gon na protect your equipment number six! If your saltwater generator has a boost mode that releases an extra dose of chlorine, use it weekly or more, if necessary, and just remember, to use it at night after everyone's out of the pool to give chlorine time to dissipate number seven balance your water chemistry and Keep chlorine at three parts per million. This is important all right if I missed anything or if you have any further questions about getting rid of algae in a saltwater pool.
Please leave a comment and if you want to learn more about pool maintenance, troubleshooting product reviews or even taking care of your hot tub, please subscribe to our channel for more videos like this one. That's it and as always, happy swimming you.
I have a cartridge filter for my pool with no waste option. Is there another way to vacuum the algae out vs. relying on the cartridge to do the work?
My metal brush constantly loses its bristles in the pool….
so, you don't facto in cya levels in your recomended chlorine level of 1-3ppm?
First year of using salt. Strip tests seem to be different than pool store? Pool water looks good, chemical pool report looks good but we have little clear slim stuff floating around in the pool? also minimal green algae on pool ladder. In ground , vinyl liner pool.
Hi does the Muriatic acid can also remove the algae ?
Hi!
Here in France we use Shock Bromine to fight mustard and black algae. It is pretty efficient as thede algae are not résistant to that. It prevent you from putting uge amounts of chlorine in the pool as it is not good for equipements also.
Bromine is usually used for spa sanitisation here. What about the US?
So does a saltwater pool taste salty?
How often should you shock a saltwater pool?
why hot dogs come in packages of ten and hot dog buns come in packages of eight. See, the thing is, life doesn't always work out according to plan so be happy with what you've got, because you can always get a hot dog.
For some reason the algae in my pool is very strong and when I try to brush it off with the special brush it doesn't come off very easily. Even when I'm scrubbing extremely hard it still doesn't come off. Any chemicals or things I can use to help?
Can you use flocculant in a salt water pool? And after treatment vacuum to waste? Are you in Nepean ?
How can you adjust pH and alkalinity separately? Last time I checked as you increased alkalinity, pH went up.
Can you use a steel brush on a brand new pebble sheen pool?
First time owning a saltwater pool. Had the pool last year but it was solely chlorinated.
Hi I’m in Thailand the water gets really hot in my concrete tiled pool I have a salt machine when the water starts turning cloudy and green they make me shook it whit 90% stabilized granular chlorine is that ok because back home in Canada we only use 65% stabilized chlorine to shook pools Service area Orleans??
Answer to the hot dog question. Supply and demand. If you create an oversupply of one item than you effectively create a demand for another. Which = more sales.
I dont remember him saying that you have to use sodium hypochlorite and not calcium hypochlorite to shock a salt water pool, otherwise the calcium forms scale in the chlorinator. This is an important detail he left out. Unfortunately Pinch Penny sells such a product and the one pound size is 7 bucks. If you even have to shock a salt pool once a week that is 28 bucks monthly, and if you have algae really bad and have to double or triple the amount that is a lot of money! Are you in Barrhaven ?
G’day SU! Thanks for the insightful content. My salt water pool doesn’t have a Vac-to-waste option ad so I can never really get all the fine dust out as it just recirculates, swimmer socks help but are not enough – any tips?
Oh, in Australia we get out hot dog buns in packs of 6, soz 🤣😬🤣
I have a marblelite/gunite saltwater pool. It is a struggle to keep green algae away during summer as the surface is rough and perfect for algae. Also I dont want to run the filter for long periods of time as electricity is expensive. It is a struggle. I have increased my chlorinator setting. Hopefully this will help.
I have watched this video 209 times Are you in Orleans ?
You did not mention Algaecide. Is that a waste of money? Service area Barrhaven??
Can you use a stainless steel brush on a pebble tec surface?
Amazing load of useful, concentrated, clean, clear, easy to digest amount of info. My friend has a salt pool and he swears how its 1000x better then chlorine and how his wife had sever allergic reaction to chlorine and now with salt water its all gone. And as it turns out that salt turn into chlorine via electrolysis lol.
Thank you friend, you answered a ton of questions, without unnecessary intro, bs talking and other annoying b.s. big tanks, especially-
1) you’re frustrated and
2) its +105F outside,
3)your pool turned green a week ago,
4)wife and kids are pushing you to fix it,
5)you’ve tried a few trick , nothing worked and
5)you been searching for help online –
these kinds of videos are gold.
MEGATHANKS!
do you recommend "super flock out"
Maybe extra buns are for our vegetarian friends.
my salt pool looks clear and my water test well. should I be worried that when I do brush month I see brown cloud up? Service area Ottawa??
I cant get rid of a fine dusting of algae on the bottom every morning. Should I change my sand? Been 6 yrs
Typical problem: Your salt cell dies, you order one on line to save some bucks…Mean while your pool starts turning green…A week later you replace the cell, super chronate setting for 3 days straight and hope it clears up…I will also Shock it externally in hopes to help it clear up…
Did I hear you say stainless steel bristle brush on a plaster pool? Seriously? Not happening on my pool, I can tell you that.
Do you have any videos on salt water pools for beginners? Like the start up, balancing, all that good stuff.
Probably have 8 buns in the pack cause everyone has that one sibling in their family that starts eating the buns before the hot dogs are cooked haha
I thought sodium bromine or yellow out was the best for mustard alge
Why do I get 2 separate/different readings(alkalinity) with one same sample when I go to 2 different pinch-a-penny stores?
The bane of my existence is the fact that my pool has a cartridge filter. So no vaccuming to waste as it all goes back through. It can eventually be gotten out through endless rinsing of the cartridge but it is such a pain.
Great video, I have my first salt water pool 🙂 and for now there is no algae but I do my home work every day to keep water in balance.And yes, I keep my pump running 24h.
Very Good and well made video.
I have three 200w 42v solar panels connected in parallel (21amp) running to a salt chlorination cell hanging over the side of the pool, haven't had a single problem with alge since, going on 2 years now.
pool is semi salt from years of liquid chlorine use. (which I also have not had to add)
Seriously though Matt; regarding your recommended alkalinity figure of 100-150 ppm, after reading around on a lot of different pool forums, it appears to me that the general consensus these days is towards a lower figure of around 60-100 ppm. Indeed the prevailing philosophy is that TA is not quite as critical as previously thought (within limits of course), and whatever figure your pool is "comfortable" with and works for you is fine. If I can expand on this from my own personal experience; a year ago I took over responsibility for my own pool chemistry after my pool maintenance company were getting it wrong resulting in a few mishaps. 10,000 gallon, SWG, overflow pool. I discovered the TA was near zero. After reading up online (including joining your own Swim University forum) I set about treatment with a target figure in mind of 80-100 ppm TA, with small but regular doses of baking soda – a couple of pounds at a time. Of course each addition of baking soda results in a small rise in pH. What happened over the next few months was that I got locked into a cycle of constant addition of baking soda to attempt to reach the target TA combined with frequent additions of muriatic acid (31%) to maintain a pH of 7.4-7.6. Each week I was having to add about a gallon of muriatic acid and several pounds of baking soda to try and achieve the desired balance. With the TA up to around 80 in the end I stopped the baking soda addition completely and slowly reduced the acid addition. The TA drifted down but the pH ended up a lot more stable. Now my pool has a stable TA of about 25-30 ppm and I typically have to add about a quart of acid once a week to counteract a slow pH creep tendency that my pool has. I occasionally add a splash of algaecide/clarifier purely as a preventative measure if the pool appears to lose a bit of it's 'sparkle'. And that's what works for me.
Regarding the hot-dog issue; buy 6 packs of hot-dog buns, 8 packs of hot-dog sausages, several cases of beer, and invite 23 friends over for a pool party. 2 hot dogs each! Are you in Kanata ?
Thanks, answered a lot of questions and very informative!!
Do you own a salt water pool?
great content!!