Algae (I think) in home pool.

Naf

Tesco recently had some 8' pools on sale, so we grabbed one thinking it would be great for the summer. Got it all set up (2 hours filling from the hose!!) and the kids played in it a bit.
Initially I got over excited about the possibility of getting it heated, got a pump and heater, all before I realised that it'd take around 36 hours to reach a nice warm temperature, so the heater went back.
Not knowing much about maintenance, I didn't originally have a cover, and despite keeping the filter pump running 24/7, the pool is now rather green; which I assume is algae.
At this point, is there anything I can do to remedy the situation; how am I best to go about cleaning it out before refilling, and do I need to dose it up with chemicals to prevent it happening again, or will keeping the cover on and the pump going be enough?
Also, come winter, would keeping the pump going be enough to prevent it freezing? Or do I need to pack it up?

Hintza

You need a floating chlorine Dispenser:-



Best pack it away in the winter bit make sure the mice can't get it.

Tabatha_Kitten

Empty out, start again and use the proper chemicals in the first place and test on a regular basis.
Pointless killing the algae now because unless you have a decent pool hoover you will still have algae in the pool, it will just be dead algae.
Disconnect the pump & pipe work in winter or it will freeze & split.

cyclonebri1

Naf wrote: »

Tesco recently had some 8' pools on sale, so we grabbed one thinking it would be great for the summer. Got it all set up (2 hours filling from the hose!!) and the kids played in it a bit.
Initially I got over excited about the possibility of getting it heated, got a pump and heater, all before I realised that it'd take around 36 hours to reach a nice warm temperature, so the heater went back.
Not knowing much about maintenance, I didn't originally have a cover, and despite keeping the filter pump running 24/7, the pool is now rather green; which I assume is algae.
At this point, is there anything I can do to remedy the situation; how am I best to go about cleaning it out before refilling, and do I need to dose it up with chemicals to prevent it happening again, or will keeping the cover on and the pump going be enough?
Also, come winter, would keeping the pump going be enough to prevent it freezing? Or do I need to pack it up?

That is the key to your issue, if you don't expose your pool/pond to UV daylight, algae cannot thrive, end of.

The statement you didn't originally have a cover? well do you now.

The issue of chemical treatment is another issue that I will leave others to explain in connection with bathing pools, my limited area of expertise is garden ponds.

In that respect green water is often very healthy water, you can see it, it's growing plant life. It's the bacteria you can't see and need treatment against that is the issue.

Hope that helps in some way

Naf

Figured I'd be best emptying it; pulled the plug just now.
So once its cleaned up and refilled, will the combination of cover (I do have one now) and filter pump keep algae at bay? And just a chlorine dispenser to keep bacteria levels down?

Hintza

Get it wrong momentarily and your pool will be the same colour as your lawn. Its all a nightmare.

shegirl

It'll be fine with the cover,chlorine and filter.Why are you leaving the filter on 24/7 though?We've hot a 12 foot steel frame pool that's 3 foot deep and don't have the filter on that much!We only have it on when pool isn't in use too.

Pack it up for winter,especially as I'm guessing it's an easy up pool?there's no point in leaving it out and if it's an easy up one you'll just be risking damage and punctures in the top (neighbours had theirs done by a cat lol).Empty it,clean it,dry it out,talc it,fold it up and shove it back in the box

I'd recommend getting a net for anything that decides to pop in when the cover is off too-I've had to rescue numerous caterpilllars!!!

Naf

TBH, I just wasn't really sure how much I needed the filter on. I figured that by keeping it running I'd help prevent algae etc. because the water would be constantly moving, and constantly being filtered.
I'd never have thought of talc though, thanks.