Results for "algae prevention"

Algae Green Pool Medium 3-7 days for full treatment 304 👍 0

Can Pool Algae Cause a Rash? Health Risks & Prevention

Around noon yesterday I finished scrubbing down my pool walls but this morning there's green stuff growing back — could this algae be what's causing the rash on my arms? I've been swimming in it a few times and now I'm wondering if that could be causing the skin irritation I've been experiencing. The pool store told me it's algae and that I need to treat it, but I'm curious about the health risks.

Can pool algae actually cause rashes or other skin problems? I'm worried about my family swimming in it, and I want to understand what I'm dealing with before I start dumping chemicals in. Any guidance on how serious this is and what I should do to fix it would be really appreciated!…more

Read answer

Salt Water Medium 2-5 days depending on severity 388 👍 1

Do Salt Water Pools Get Algae? Prevention & Treatment Guide

Converted to salt water two seasons ago and thought algae would be a thing of the past. Woke up last Tuesday to green patches forming on the shallow end walls despite my salt cell running full blast. Starting to wonder if salt pools are really as algae-proof as everyone claims.…more

Read answer

Algae Green Pool Medium 30 minutes 397 👍 0

Do Pool Covers Cause Algae? Prevention & Solutions Guide

Last month I moved into a house and discovered the previous owner's pool cover routine left me with constant algae blooms despite maintaining proper chlorine levels. I've been dumping shock and algaecide like crazy, but it keeps happening whenever I cover the pool.

Is the cover actually causing this algae growth? I thought covers were supposed to help keep pools clean, but mine seems to be doing the opposite. What am I missing here? There has to be a way to use a cover without turning my pool into a green swamp every week.…more

Read answer

Editor's Pick

Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Pool Vacuum (2026)

Wall-climbing scrubber brush and Wi-Fi control — ideal for in-ground pools up to 40 ft. View on Amazon →

Sponsored

Algae Green Pool Easy 15 minutes daily maintenance 354 👍 0

Does Covering Pool Prevent Algae? Complete Prevention Guide

I turned around at 2 AM to find my crystal-clear pool is now swamp green — desperately need to know if a cover will stop this algae disaster before tomorrow's party. The guys there keep pushing more and more expensive chemicals, and I swear they're just trying to upsell me on everything. Now they're telling me I need a pool cover to prevent algae, but I want to know if this actually works or if it's just another way to get money out of me.

I'm looking for honest advice here - does covering my pool genuinely prevent algae growth, or am I still going to need all those pricey chemicals even with a cover? I'd love to find some DIY solutions that actually work instead of constantly throwing money at this problem.…more

Read answer

Algae Green Pool Medium 3-5 days 257 👍 1

Can Pool Algae Be Brown? Types, ID & Treatment Guide

According to my pool guy I've done everything right — shocked twice, scrubbed every surface, ran the pump nonstop — but this mysterious brown crud keeps coming back. I know green algae is the usual suspect, but this stuff is definitely more brown/yellowish. Is that even a thing with pool algae?

I'm trying to figure out if I need to shock it like regular algae or if there's some other treatment I should be doing. Don't want to waste a bunch of chemicals if I'm treating the wrong problem!…more

Read answer

Algae Green Pool Easy 15 minutes 351 👍 0

Do I Need Algaecide in My Pool? Pool Care Guide

I opened three different algaecide advice sources and got three different answers: pool guy says skip it, store says weekly doses, forums are completely split. I see algaecide products at the pool store and some neighbors swear by them, but I'm not sure if it's actually necessary or just extra insurance. Should I be using algaecide regularly, or only in certain situations? I just want to make sure the water quality is safe and clean for my kids to swim in without overdoing it on chemicals.…more

Read answer

Algae Green Pool Medium 15 minutes reading, varies for application 294 👍 1

How Pool Algaecide Works: Complete Chemistry Guide 2026

I replaced three different algaecides in two months, my 20,000-gallon pool still gets green spots weekly, AND my perfect chlorine levels aren't preventing anything. I've tried copper-based and polyquat algaecides, but I'm curious about the actual chemistry behind how these products work to kill algae.

My current chlorine levels are around 2-3 ppm and pH is 7.4, but I still get green spots forming on the walls every few weeks. The pool guy says algaecides work differently than chlorine, but he couldn't explain exactly how. I'd love to understand the science behind what's happening at the cellular level when algaecide contacts algae, and whether I should be relying more on higher chlorine levels or these specialty chemicals for prevention and treatment.…more

Read answer

Salt Water Medium 45 minutes 236 👍 0

Do Salt Water Pools Stay Clean? Complete Maintenance Guide

Already three weeks into this rental with a salt water pool I've never maintained before and getting nasty algae blooms plus cloudy water. My generator is running fine and producing chlorine, but somehow I still have to test chemicals, brush walls, and fight green water.

What am I missing here? Does the salt water system actually keep the pool clean on its own, or is there still a bunch of regular maintenance I need to be doing? I feel like I got sold a bill of goods about how "easy" salt water pools are supposed to be.…more

Read answer

Algae Green Pool Medium 45 minutes 279 👍 0

Can Pool Algae Grow Without Sunlight? Indoor Pool Facts

Starting to see algae in my 8-year-old indoor pool despite zero sunlight exposure — is this equipment failure or normal aging? My pool has been covered for months now with zero direct sunlight hitting it, but I'm still dealing with algae growth! I thought algae needed sunlight to survive, so this doesn't make any sense to me.

I've been throwing chemicals at this problem left and right, but the green keeps coming back. The pool is basically in complete darkness under the cover, yet somehow this stuff is thriving. Can algae actually grow without sunlight, or am I missing something obvious? I'm starting to think there's more to this than just blocking out the sun.…more

Read answer

Algae Green Pool Medium 2-4 hours 252 👍 1

Does Cloudy Pool Water Mean Algae? Diagnosis Guide

Walked out to my 20,000 gallon inground pool this morning and the crystal clear water from three days ago is now completely cloudy. They've been asking to use the pool, but I'm worried this cloudiness might mean we have an algae problem that could make them sick.

I'm not sure what's causing the cloudiness - could it be algae starting to grow, or might there be other reasons? How can I tell the difference between algae and other issues that cause cloudy water? I want to make sure I properly diagnose what's wrong before letting the kids back in the pool.…more

Read answer

Algae Green Pool Medium 3-7 days 260 👍 0

Can Pool Algae Be White? Types & Treatment Guide

The white slime on my pool walls tripled in size after I followed three different YouTube cleaning tutorials. I've been treating it like regular green algae - shocked it multiple times, balanced my chemicals, the whole nine yards. But this white stuff just keeps coming back and it doesn't look like any algae I've dealt with before.

Is white algae even a thing? Or am I dealing with something completely different here? The texture is almost... fluffy? And it seems to stick to surfaces more than regular algae. I'm starting to think I need a different approach but I don't want to keep throwing chemicals at the wrong problem.…more

Read answer

Product Ranking 8 compared

Best Robotic Pool Cleaners

4.6 (28,500 reviews)

Algae Green Pool Medium 15 minutes reading 253 👍 1

How Does Pool Algae Form? Understanding the Science Behind It

Since my neighbor's pool sparkles like a resort while mine transforms into a green lagoon every month, what's their secret to preventing algae takeover? The staff always tries to sell me multiple expensive bottles of shock, algaecide, and clarifiers, claiming I need their whole treatment system. But I want to understand what's actually causing this algae to form in the first place so I can prevent it myself.

What are the root causes that allow algae to take hold and multiply in pool water? I'd rather tackle the problem at its source than keep throwing money at treatments that only seem to work temporarily.…more

Read answer

Algae Green Pool Hard 3-7 days for proper treatment, 1 day for emergency closing 231 👍 0

Can You Close a Green Pool? Complete Winter Closing Guide

Our backyard pool is completely covered in thick green algae right now, but with winter coming and two young kids who love swimming, I'm not sure what to do.

I've heard that leaving algae over winter can make things worse, but I'm also concerned about using harsh chemicals with the kids playing nearby. What's the safest approach for families? Should I treat the algae before closing, or are there other winterizing options that won't create bigger problems come spring when the kids want to swim again?…more

Read answer

Water Chemistry Medium 2 hours for testing and treatment 367 👍 0

Does My Pool Need Phosphate Remover? Complete Guide 2026

I tried everything to prevent algae blooms, but my pool only gets green when temperatures hit 85°F or higher—my pool store insists phosphate remover is the solution.

My pool currently has balanced pH and alkalinity, and I maintain chlorine at recommended levels. I'm wondering if phosphate removal should be a regular part of my maintenance routine, or if there are specific conditions where it becomes necessary. What's the technical perspective on when phosphate removers actually provide measurable benefits versus when they're just an additional expense?…more

Read answer

Water Chemistry Medium 45 minutes 233 👍 0

When Does My Pool Need Phosphate Remover? Signs & Testing Guide

Last week I bought my first pool and I'm completely lost trying to figure out if these weird water chemistry readings mean I need phosphate remover. The pool store mentioned something about phosphate removers, but I'm not sure when I actually need to use them. I've been keeping my chlorine levels where they should be, but I'm still dealing with some algae issues that won't seem to go away.

How do I know if phosphates are the problem? Is there a specific level I should be watching for, and what kind of test should I use to check? I want to make sure I'm not just throwing chemicals at the problem without understanding what's really going on.…more

Read answer

Loading more Q&A...

You've seen all 60 Q&A articles!