Opening your pool requires several chemicals. Amongst that chemical is; algaecide! An algaecide should be present in the opening of your pool. You know, if you didn’t shock your pool before closing it with a pool cover, then you will not like the sight of your pool when you get it open. But then, how much algaecide can you put into your pool when opening?
You should add about 12 ounces of algaecide to your pool water. In this article, we will be exploring the right quantity of algaecide to put in your pool when opening.
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Should You Add Algaecide When Opening Your Pool?
Algaecide is a necessity. If you are just opening your pool you should consider adding an algaecide because it is possible for your pool to be infested with algae. The algae may not be much that is if you shocked your pool with chemicals including algaecide before closing your pool.
If you didn’t shock your pool before traveling or before the winter season, then you should expect a high rate of algae. And you will need a lot of algaecide in the right quantity to treat your pool.
How Often Should I Use An algaecide In My Pool?
Algaecides should be added to the pool water at least once every week. Most pool owners add algaecide to the pool twice every week because they just opened the pool. Even if your pool is new or old as long as you are just opening it, then you need to add algaecide at least once every week.
When you prevent your pool from slimy intruders like algae, it means that you are incurring more fun for your swimmers in your pool. Because the cleaner the pool gets, the more exciting it gets for you to relax around.
What algaecides do is to, backup your pool water, and prevent algae from plaguing it. However, algaecides should be added to your pool, after every shock has been added weekly.
Can You Put Too Much Algaecide In A Pool?
Every chemical has a limit. And there are consequences for adding too much algaecide to your pool.
Since algaecides are an important chemical in fighting any kind of algae in your pool, then you should know that algaecides are highly effective and can affect your pool if anything goes wrong. That is why it is highly important for you to know the right quantity for the size of the pool.
Read: How Much Algaecide To Put In Pool For Winter
What Happens When You Pour Too Much Algaecide In Your Pool?
When you notice that your pool water has turned foamy, then it means that the presence of algaecide is too much. It means that you have added more than the quantity that should be added to the pool.
You will notice that small bubbles will begin to appear on the surface of the water pushed through the return jet and then back to the pool. sometimes, bubbles and foam in your water can be mistaken to mean too much algaecide.
However, when you notice that the bubbles or foam are smaller in size, then it means that they are a result of too much algaecide. The presence of bubbles and foam in your pool can sometimes be a result of air in the pool lines.
So be careful to check this out and be sure that you haven’t added too much algaecide in the pool.
Another thing you will take note of when there is too much algaecide in your pool is that you will not be able to ignore skin irritations. You will notice that when you are in a pool with high algaecide, there will be skin and also eye irritations.
This is due to the chemical imbalance in the pool. add ing too much algaecide in your pool can result in unstable pH and sometimes, a switch in the alkalinity levels. When you notice the stinging in your eyes when you are in the water, then you will realize that the pool has algaecide issues.
How Can You Tackle The Issue Of Too Much Algaecide In Your Pool?
A counterproductive pool is a result you will always get from adding too much algaecide in the pool. but then, how can you tackle this issue? One of the natural remedies for reducing algaecide in your pool is by allowing it to naturally reduce.
The only thing is, you may not be able to swim in the pool until the algaecide wears out. In fact, when evaporation takes place, the algaecide will naturally dissipate. You can also employ the method of backwashing the pool.
When this is done, your sensitive skin and eyes will enjoy normal water without stinging. But then, you can always dilute the swimming pool by adding fresh water to dilute the algaecide in the pool. But there are times when this method may not work because how much quantity of water do you have to pour into the pool, to get the algaecide diluted?
How Do You Open Your Swimming Pool?
You must have covered your swimming pool over the winter with some pool cover. Take that pool cover off since you are opening your pool for the first time in 5 or 6 months.
Now locate the filter system and connect the filter system to the pool itself. Then you remove the winter plug. The winter plug is located along the pool wall just around the skimmer.
You can access the winter plug by removing the skimmer plate from the skimmer opening, then you can easily see the winter plug.
Remove it! Add water to the swimming pool that is, if it’s necessary. But before adding water to the swimming pool, you should check to see if the water level of the pool has reduced ever since you closed it during the winter period.
So check the poll water level before adding fresh water to the pool.
Get ready to vacuum the walls and probably the floor, of your pool. In fact, you may decide to vacuum the entire swimming pool. so you can perform a quick scrub by grabbing the necessary tools and gently scrubbing the pool walls.
If you have a pool test kit which we think is necessary for every pool owner to have, kindly test your pool water alkalinity level and pH level as well. And then, try to adjust if necessary.
Then add some pool shock to your pool, and then add some pool algaecide to it. Ensure you add the right quantity of algaecide to the pool water.
Can You Swim With Algaecide
Algae generally make your pool undesirable and unhealthy for swimming. And since algaecide is used to shock your pool to kill algae, then you need to wait until the algaecide has been infused into the water for at least an hour or more.
When you swim in the water for about an hour after the algaecide has been added to the pool, then you are safe!
Are There Different Kinds Of Algaecides?
Although there are different kinds of algaecides. But generally, there are about two kinds. There is the Regular algaecide and Longlife algaecide. The regular algaecide must be added to the pool every two weeks.
While the Longlife algaecides are usually used at the beginning of every swimming season. Specifically, in the spring or summer seasons. You see, the Longlife algaecides are safe for immediate swimming.
That is, after adding it to the pool, you can now swim in the pool without any issue. This kind of algaecide contains copper which makes it generally safe for swimming.
However, you must ensure that you use the right quantity. Otherwise, using the wrong quantity can turn your hair into a green or blue shade. To be on the safer side, swim in the pool after 1 to 2 hours.
Regular algaecide does not contain copper, but they contain some aluminum compounds that are safe for immediate swimming. However, it is better to swim in the pool for one to two hours.
Because adding too much regular algaecide in your pool can cause skin irritation and eye irritation as well.
Final Thoughts
Pool opening requires a lot of chemicals. However, if you have been into the pool business, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise to you. Most pool owners know how important it is to add algaecide to their pool when opening. This is as a result of the several benefits that an algaecide adds to the pool.
An algaecide kills and prevents algae in the pool. So if you’ve left your pool unattended for a long time, or you have left your pool since the winter period for a period of 5 to 6 months, then you definitely need the presence of an algaecide in your pool.
You don’t have to add too much algaecide. The key is to know the required quantity of algaecide to add to the pool. and for every 5000-gallon size pool, add 12 ounces of algaecide to the pool.
