In a swimming pool or spa algae are those green brown yellow black or pinkish slime that resemble fur growing on the steps and in corners places where circulation may not be optimum.
Black algae in pool photos.
It ll grow back quickly if your treatment isn t aggressive enough to ensure none of the roots hang around.
Black algae can get into your pool several ways but one of the most common is from swimming suits that have been in the ocean.
None are true algae but classes of bacteria that manufacture their own food by photosynthesis.
Like yellow algae black algae can bloom even in the presence of normal sanitizing levels and proper filtration.
If the algae problem is extensive use a filter cleaner rather than just plain water.
This type of algae forms in a layered structure with the outermost layer protecting the lower layers.
Technically a cyanobacteria not algae at all this nasty offender makes its own food so it grows and grows.
It s an example of a cyanobacterium.
This form of algae commonly enters a pool inside the swimsuit of a person who s recently been to the ocean or from contaminated pool cleaning equipment introduced by a traveling pool guy.
The protective layer that forms on black algae makes the algae otherwise impervious to regular sanitizers so you must brush the algae to break through this layer so that chlorine and algaecides can kill the organism.
Properly balancing all of your pool s chemicals and normal swimming pool care will greatly reduce the chances of black algae but may not eliminate the opportunity to get it.
It s related to spirulina another type of blue green algae and to red algae which also grows in swimming pools.
Black algae have deep roots that work their way into.
Those pesky little spores stick to the cloth and hop off in the pool the first chance they get so be sure to use bleach to clean them.
Be splash happy and black algae free in 5 simple steps.
The majority of swimming pools are exposed to several hours of sunlight per day and it s sunlight that will speed up algae growth.
If there s only a small amount of black algae in the pool you can probably get away with backwashing your pool filter for sand or de filters or rinsing the filter cartridge.
If you have black algae in your pool you have black algae in your filter.
Remember to brush and vacuum your pool because this will reduce the dirt.
Having your swimming pool chlorine alkalinity and hardness adjusted correctly is very important.
Brush daily for a week with the proper brush for your pool paying special attention to algae affected areas.
Black algae is a thread like growth that develops on rough surfaces in swimming pools.
Not only that its roots dig into concrete surfaces making it tough to kill black algae in your pool.
This algae may appear black in the pool but when you retrieve a sample and rub it on a piece of white paper you ll notice a greenish tinge.
Now you know you ve definitely got it let s kill it.
Maintain proper pool chemistry levels.
Removing black algae from your pool.