Avoiding Algae in Chlorinated Swimming Pools

 

Steps Toward AVOIDING Swimming Pool Algae

• Back to the General Algae Avoidance page

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Swimming Pool Algae AVOIDANCE Steps for Chlorine Pools

DO's

• DO use a chlorine feeder, floater or salt generator.
• DO purchase USE a complete testkit.
• DO test and maintain appropriate chlorine and stabilizer levels. See table.
  
• DO shock with the right chemical. See table below
• DO limit your chlorine chemicals to the basics: bleach, cal hypo, dichlor, trichlor, or cal hypo.

DON'T's

• DON'T use oxygen shocks unless you have no other choice.
  Oxy-shocks are NOT algicidal, and may result in creating algae-fertilizing residue.
• DON'T use 4-n-1, combo, or 'Lite' shocks.
  They are overpriced and appear to contribute to many problems
  
• DON'T let your stabilizer level go below 30 ppm.

 

USE the following table to determine appropriate minimum chlorine levels:

Water temperature	Stabilizer Level	Min. Cl level
below 75 deg. F.	below 10 ppm	1 ppm
	10 - 20 ppm	1 ppm
	30 - 50 ppm	2 ppm
	60 - 90 ppm	3 ppm
	100 - 200 ppm	5 ppm*
75 to 85 deg. F.	below 10 ppm	1 ppm
	10 - 20 ppm	2 ppm
	30 - 50 ppm	3 ppm
	60 - 90 ppm	5 ppm*
	100 - 200 ppm	8 ppm*
above 85 deg. F.	below 10 ppm	1 ppm
	10 - 20 ppm	2 ppm
	30 - 50 ppm	3 ppm
	60 - 90 ppm	5 ppm*
	100 - 200 ppm	8 ppm*

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USE the following table to determine appropriate shock material:

Your method of chlorinating:	Calcium Level	Stabilizer Level	Appropriate shock material
bleach	any	< 40 ppm	dichlor
	< 240 ppm	40 - 70 ppm	any
	> 240 ppm		bleach or dichlor
	< 240 ppm	> 70 ppm	bleach or cal hypo
	> 240 ppm		bleach
cal hypo	< 240 ppm	< 40 ppm	dichlor
		40 - 70 ppm	any
		> 70 ppm	bleach or cal hypo
	> 240 ppm	< 40 ppm	dichlor
		40 - 70 ppm	bleach or dichlor
		> 70 ppm	bleach
trichlor	< 240 ppm	< 40 ppm	dichlor
		40 - 70 ppm	any
		> 70 ppm	bleach or cal hypo
	> 240 ppm	< 40 ppm	dichlor
		40 - 70 ppm	bleach or dichlor
		> 70 ppm	bleach
salt	< 240 ppm	< 70 ppm	dichlor
		> 70 ppm	bleach or cal hypo
	> 240 ppm	< 70 ppm	dichlor
		> 70 ppm	bleach

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