For home and business owners in Gilbert, Arizona, black algae is a nightmare, especially during the blazing hot summers and monsoon season. It’s a living organism that thrives on swimming pool surfaces made of plaster and concrete. It likes to nestle in corners and hard-to-reach areas and grows black spots in the shade and sun. Further, it can seep into cracks in the foundation and settle on steps in the water.
Weekly pool maintenance helps to prevent the spread of black algae and keeps your water free from bacteria and other germs that can cause several health conditions. While swimming in water with black algae won’t hurt you, it’s the growth of the black algae that photosynthesize and causes pH imbalances, poor water filtration, and low chlorine levels that make the water unsafe.
To learn more about algae removal services, tips for removing it, and the difference between professional pool cleaning and DIY pool cleaning, continue reading.
What is Black Algae?
Black algae grow in robust colonies and are single-cell organisms. They contain compounds like chlorophyll that hide the greenish color. It is most commonly found on pool surfaces and seeps into crevices and cracks, especially in plaster or concrete. It forms a protective coating on the outer layer of the cell, making it hard to detect.
Black algae is best handled by professional pool cleaning vs DIY pool cleaning because it is hard to detect and resists chlorine.
Below are five steps to prevent black algae growth:
- Brush the surface of the pool on a routine basis
- Ensure there’s enough filtration and circulation
- Shock the pool
- Add a weekly treatment of a preventive solution like Algicide
- Conduct a sanitizer inspection (1-3 ppm)
Use the two steps below to kill black algae:
- Use Spot Kill to attack black algae on the pool walls
- Use Algicide to kill different forms of black algae
Important Note: Brushing your pool surfaces and walls helps to break the protective layer, allowing the algicide or sanitizer to interact with the cells of black algae.
Treating Black Algae
Removing black algae is difficult, and if you want it gone, you’ll need more than a fast scrubbing. Algae removal services are generally recommended for the best results; however, you can try to treat black algae yourself.
Try these methods below:
- Scrub Your Pool: Use a good nylon brush and scrub the black algae with a some elbow grease behind it. You want to get tough and vigorous with getting past the protective coating. Additionally, once black spots dissapear, roots may be embedded further into the porous material; therefore, use the method below.
- Use Chlorine Tablets: Try breaking a chlorine tablet in half and scrub the infected areas of black algae. This should kill the roots and keep it from returning.
- Clean the Pool Filter: Gilbert pool companies recommend cleaning your pool filter on a regular basis because black algae grows when your pool water is chemically imbalanced.
Remember Safety First!
Always wear protective eye wear and gloves when adding chlorine or working with pool chemicals. They may be great chemicals to clean your black algea problems but they can be dangerous and toxic to your skin and eyes.
Beyond the Swimming Pool
Black algae cells can transfer from items entering your swimming pool. Scrub down your floating devices and toys with bleach before using them again in the pool water. You should also consider washing all swimming suits and trunks in the washing machine and using a hot forced air dryer to eliminate and traces of spores.
Use granular chlorine and shock your pool water to kill bacteria. Gilbert pool cleaners suggest using a heavy treatment with about 3lbs per 10,000 gal of water. It’s best to use pool shock in this amount during the evening and let it run 24 hrs before anyone goes swimming in the pool.
Next, in a few days do it again but cut the amount down to 1lb per 10,000 gal of water. Don’t get discouraged as black algea can take a few treatments before it’s totally gone. Lastly, you should continue shocking and scrubbing the infected areas until the black algea is removed.
How to Kill Black Algae Forever
The best way to kill black algae forever is with a routine pool maintenance at pH Balanced Pool. We use specialized test kits for detecting chlorine levels, pH balance, and alkalinity and make the necessary adjustments. Our team of expert pool repairs and cleaners will do the scrubbing and cleaning of black algae for you.
To remove and kill black algae forever, call or contact pH Balanced Pool today and get rid of your black plague problem once and for all.
