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Pool algae is caused by low chlorine levels, poor water chemistry, or bad filtration. It can also be introduced into your pool by swimwear or toys that are used in natural bodies of water. If you notice the early stages of algae, it’s time to act fast. Leave it for too long, and it will multiply rapidly, turning into a full-scale algae bloom.
Unfortunately, typical doses of chlorine will not kill pool algae. And running your pool filter will not eliminate algae spores.
To get rid of algae in your pool, follow these step-by-step deep cleaning procedures. Then, avoid algae blooms in the future by using these smart pool algae prevention measures.
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial below, or keep reading for the complete troubleshooting guide on how to get rid of algae in your pool.
This is the ultimate guide to keeping your pool sparkling clean throughout the year that contains everything you need to know about taking care of your pool the right way.
Algae spores are everywhere. They can get into your pool through rain, dirt, and even wind. But those pervasive algae spores become a problem when they multiply in your pool water, turn into an algae bloom, or start growing on your pool walls. Low chlorine levels, improper pH levels, dirty filters, or pool circulation create the perfect conditions for algae growth. Algae can also be introduced by contaminated swimwear or toys that were used in a river, pond, lake, or ocean with algae.
Algae prevention is a lot easier than treating an existing large algae problem. That’s why it’s so important to keep your pool water balanced, clean your filter system and wash off any swimwear or toys that have been used in natural bodies of water.
Knowing what type of pool algae you have will help you treat it. First, figure out what color algae is in your pool. Then, keep reading for a complete step-by-step walkthrough on how to get rid of algae.
Pink algae, also known as pink slime, is not an algae at all. This pink slime found on pool surfaces is actually an airborne bacteria. Compared to green algae, there’s an entirely different process to get rid of it, which includes adding a pink algaecide. If you think you have a pink slime problem, check out our guide on how to get rid of pink slime in your pool.
You can get rid of algae quickly by vacuuming and brushing your pool, balancing your pool’s water chemistry, and then shocking and filtering your pool water. Just be thorough as you clean your pool surfaces. If you leave behind even a small number of algae spores, it won’t be long before they regrow and bloom again.
Automatic or robotic pool cleaners aren’t well suited for cleaning algae. You’ll need to vacuum your pool manually using your filter’s Waste setting. This allows you to bypass your filter, preventing contaminated, algae-filled water from recirculating back into your pool.
When you vacuum your pool manually, pay special attention to areas with algae. Be sure to refill your pool’s water as you vacuum, maintaining your water level at least halfway up the skimmer. If you want to learn how to properly vacuum your pool, check out our guide on how to use a manual pool vacuum.
Scrubbing the algae off your pool walls helps chlorine get deeper into the remaining algae. It also loosens up contaminants so they can be killed and filtered out.
Using a stiff pool brush on a pole, brush the walls and floor of your pool. Pay special attention to corners, crevices, and shady areas where algae is usually worst. As you go, your water will become cloudy, obstructing your view, so brush the tougher spots first.
If you have a concrete or gunite pool, use a pool brush with stainless steel bristles to remove algae from your pool walls. Otherwise, we recommend using a nylon bristle pool brush:
The wide pool brush with 360-degree reach helps clean hard-to-reach surfaces and tough crevices. Perfect for any type of pool, including vinyl liners, fiberglass, and painted concrete.
Use test strips, a digital kit, or a liquid test kit to test your alkalinity and pH. Balancing your water chemistry now ensures your sanitizer will be effective against the algae. High pH or low alkalinity will especially inhibit pool shock.
A simple but effective liquid test kit for chlorine pools and hot tubs.
Adding shock to your pool super-chlorinates your water. And this extra dose of sanitizer will kill algae growth. The more serious your pool algae problem, the more shock you’ll need.
We recommend using calcium hypochlorite shock, or cal-hypo shock, as an effective algae treatment. Follow the package instructions to determine the dose for your pool size, then multiply that by two, three, or four depending on which type of algae you’ve got.
Here is the type of cal-hypo shock we recommend:
This fast-acting, quick-dissolving swimming pool shock kills bacteria, controls algae, and destroys organic contaminants in pools.
Remember to shock your pool at dusk or night. If you shock during the day, the sun will eat up most of the chlorine before it has a chance to kill the algae. And put your cleaning equipment, like your vacuum head or pool brush, in the shallow end of your pool so your tools will get sanitized while the shock is in the water.
Be sure to run your filter for eight hours or overnight to circulate the shock. If there’s still a significant amount of algae in your pool, repeat the brushing and shocking process again.
If you need help shocking your pool, check out our guide on how to use pool shock.
After your shock treatment kills the algae, it’ll turn your water a cloudy blue. Don’t panic! That’s just dead algae.
When algae dies, it turns from green to gray and the dead, gray algae particles need to be filtered out. Run your filter continuously for a minimum of eight hours or until the water clears up. And you can use our water clarifier to speed up the process. 👇
Clears cloudy pool water by combining particles, making it easier for your filter to remove. Great for all pools. Also compatible with salt water pools.
Make sure your water chemical levels are balanced and your chlorine is back to normal before anyone gets back into the water. Adjust your alkalinity, pH, and chlorine levels as needed. You may also want to test your cyanuric acid and calcium hardness levels since you’ve removed water from your pool and replaced it with fresh water.
Your filter just processed a lot of contaminated water. And the last thing you want is your dirty filter slowly adding microscopic algae spores back into your pool. Deep clean your filter cartridges by soaking them in diluted muriatic acid, or by replacing them entirely. If you have a sand or D.E. filter, now’s the time to backwash.
Want to stop your pool from ever turning green again? Check out our pool care video course. You’ll learn how to keep your pool chemistry in check so you never have to deal with algae outbreaks in the future.
Technically, you can use an algaecide to kill algae. But we don’t recommend using it to get rid of a large algae problem. Algaecide is very expensive compared to chlorine. And it can introduce a lot of copper to your pool water. However, algaecide is effective for early-stage algae growth, small amounts of algae, or as a preventive measure. For more information on using algaecide, check out our article The Truth About Using Pool Algaecide.
Algaecide is also handy for killing off lingering algae after you’ve cleaned your pool. Once you’re done vacuuming, brushing, and shocking your pool, wait for your chlorine levels to fall below 5 ppm. Then add a dose of algaecide. Brush your pool to loosen any last bits of algae you can’t see. The algaecide will help kill remaining algae particles before they’re filtered out.
Here’s the algaecide we recommend. Add this as a final step in the algae clean up process or as a preventative measure in your pool:
A copper-free algaecide to help prevent your pool from turning green.
Yes, you can use pool flocculant to treat the early stages of algae growth. This additive bonds to floating algae particles, making it easier to vacuum them out of your pool. But if you have anything more serious than a mild green algae problem, we recommend you follow the full cleaning plan.
Here is the
A fast-acting formula that drops cloudy water particles to the bottom of the pool so you can vacuum it out. Safe for all pools.
Here’s how to use
Following these basic pool maintenance principles will help prevent future algae issues.
Looking for more help with algae in your pool? Here are some common questions and answers.
Technically yes, but it’s not recommended. Algae itself is not harmful to swimmers, but pools with lots of algae can contain harmful bacteria and pathogens like E-coli. And cloudy water caused by algae can be a hazard if swimmers can’t see the bottom of the pool. Avoid swimming in a pool that isn’t properly sanitized and cleaned.
Getting rid of algae in a saltwater pool is exactly the same process as a traditionally chlorinated pool. Remember, a saltwater pool is a chlorine pool. You are just adding salt instead of a chemical to generate chlorine. Like a traditional chlorine pool, you’ll want to use calcium hypochlorite shock, also known as cal-hypo shock. For more information, check out our guide on how to remove algae from a saltwater pool.
Phosphate removers work by cutting off the nutrient source for algae. The more phosphates in the water, the more there is for algae to consume. But phosphate removers won’t solve any underlying water chemistry issues, like low chlorine or improper pH levels. If you keep your water sanitized with chlorine, algaecide, and the occasional pool shock, you won’t need a phosphate remover. Be sure to check out our complete guide on phosphates in pool water.
Yes, shock is the key ingredient to killing algae in pools. Shock raises the free chlorine levels in your pool water to the point where contaminants like algae die off. Depending on the severity of your algae growth, you’ll need to add 2-4 doses of shock. And it’s normal to see cloudy water after killing algae with shock. The water should clear up after you run your filter. Just be sure to vacuum and brush your pool before using shock. This helps remove and loosen up large amounts of algae.
Here’s the type of shock we recommend:
This fast-acting, quick-dissolving swimming pool shock kills bacteria, controls algae, and destroys organic contaminants in pools.
Matt is the founder of Swim University. He's been in the pool industry since 1993. His mission is to make pool care easy for everyone. Each year, he continues to help more people with water chemistry, cleaning, and troubleshooting.
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