A green pool can be an unwelcome sight, especially when you're ready to enjoy a refreshing swim. Whether your pool is light green and slightly cloudy or a dark green swamp where the bottom isn’t even visible, don’t worry. With the right steps and consistent effort, you can turn your pool back into a crystal-clear oasis. Let’s break it down.

Step 1: Assess the Severity of the Problem

The first step is to identify how green your pool is.

• Light Green: If you can still see the bottom, the problem is likely manageable with less effort.
• Dark Green: If the bottom is invisible, more aggressive treatment will be needed.

Step 2: Shock the Pool with Chlorine

To tackle the green water, you need to eliminate bacteria and algae by shocking the pool. For a typical pool size of 20,000 to 30,000 litres:

• Use a minimum of 20 litres of liquid chlorine for heavily green pools.
• Run the pump on the filter setting and backwash regularly to maintain the filter’s efficiency.

Monitor the water closely. Within six hours, the pool should begin changing from green to a cloudy blue.

Step 3: Maintain Chlorine Levels

After adding the initial 20 litres of chlorine, check the chlorine levels. If the reading is zero, add 5-litre increments of chlorine until you achieve a consistent chlorine residual. This step ensures the bacteria and algae are completely killed.

Step 4: Clear the Organic Material

Once the pool has turned cloudy blue, it’s time to remove the remaining organic material. This is where flocculants come in handy.

• Flocculant vs Clarifier: For heavy green pools, always use a flocculant. It works like a magnet, clumping dead particles together and sinking them to the bottom of the pool.
• Follow the instructions on the flocculant bottle. Generally:
  1. Run the pump for 6 hours, then turn it off.
  2. Allow the flocculant to settle, forming clumps at the bottom.
  3. Vacuum the debris out of the pool.

Step 5: Balance Your Pool Water

If the water isn’t perfectly clear after the first round, repeat the flocculent process. Once clear, test and balance the water chemistry.

• Adjust pH, alkalinity, and chlorine levels as needed.
• Remember to backwash and rinse the filter frequently to maintain efficiency.

Tips for Faster Clearing

• The size of the pool relative to the filter matters. Smaller filters on large pools may take longer to clear.
• Consistently running the filter and keeping up with backwashing will speed up the process.

Final Thoughts

While the process may take a few days to a week for heavily green pools, patience and persistence are key. By following these steps, you’ll be back to enjoying a sparkling pool in no time!

If you need pool chemicals or expert advice, visit The Spa Shop. We're here to help you every step of the way.