Green algae, Chlorophyta, gives your pool water a greenish tint, can float on the water, but more often sticks to the pool walls and pool floor and can create a slimy residue. Green algae can be the result of poor filtration or unbalanced pool chemicals. There are times that a great deal of rain can cause the pool to become unbalanced chemically and cause algae to form.

Yellow algae looks similar to pollen stuck and is found often stuck in the corner of your pool. It usually grows in the shade as yellow algae avoids sunlight. There are times that yellow algae can resemble a brownish-yellow Dijon mustard. Because yellow algae is chlorine-resistant, it takes an aggressive shock treatment to get rid of yellow algae once it is found in your pool.

Having yellow algae in your pool is generally an uncommon sight, because you have to live fairly close to a river, lake, pond or a creek. It is extremely easy for the wind to blow yellow algae into your pool.

Any chemical imbalance in your pool water will actually help that algae grow. 

So how do you treat algae?

You will need to test your pool’s chemical balance, including the pH. You will then need to sanitize (or shock) your pool with a large amount of chlorine – depending on what the chemical balance of your pool water is. We suggest that you try to shock your pool later in the day or evening, as the sunlight can cause some of the chlorine molecules to evaporate and the whole process will be much less effective.

In addition to shocking your pool, you may need to add algaecide after you shock your pool. You may need to clean your filters and brush your pool regularly to get rid of the algae.  If you have a green pool, we suggest you not try to shock the pool yourself and cause further harm. We will come out and follow a proven process to bring your pool from Green-to-Clean. In severe cases, where your water is green or black, and cloudy, it is quicker, easier and more cost-effective to simply drain the pool and have it acid-washed.