What Causes Algae in a Pool?

It is a bit of circular logic but if you keep your pool balanced you won't develop algae and it won't be a problem for you.

But we all get busy and forget to check on the pool or the gardeners decide to blow everything from the deck into the pool. Maybe your pump basket gets clogged and you don't notice for a few days. Or you leave your pool in spa mode and the pool sits not circulating for a week. In an ideal world simply keeping your pool balanced would solve a lot of issues, but stuff happens.

So here are some common causes of algae blooming in your pool, ways to treat it and a preventative algae treatment you can use all season long.

There are of course other ways to prevent algae growth if you would like to try them. Here are some low cost preventative things you can do:

Adding Borates to your pool to achieve 30 ppm- 50 ppm helps to inhibit algae growth.
Keeping your pH at 7.2-7.4 is also effective as the chlorine will be more effective but be used up quicker.
Use a PolyQuat 60 Algaecide but it is about the same cost as "No Mor Problems" - which is a better choice.

Here are some higher cost ideas:
Invest in a good automatic cleaner to pick up the organic debris and dirt all week long vs you vacuuming once a week.
Invest in a Ultra Violet UV system - expensive but effective if you have ever used UV in an aquarium or pond - you know it works.
Ozone systems also inhibit algae growth but are also expensive - there effectiveness is also debatable.

So I included using YellowTreat and No Mor Problems as effective ways to treat algae and an effective way to prevent algae growth.

You can learn more about their products on their website:
http://unitedchemicalcorp.com/

I also have a webpage dedicated to algae treatment:
http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/#!green-pool-and-algae-problems/cc3e

And a YouTube Playlist:
Algae Removal & Pool Chemistry:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1DBA9483805EBBF2

On my pool route I use Sodium Bromide as my main source of algae treatment. It is highly effective as Bromine is well documented to kill algae. Using a maintenance dose of Sodium Bromide also inhibits algae growth and No Mor Problems has been specially formulated for that purpose.