Brown Algae & Swimming Pool Chemistry

Brown algae, swimming pool care and spa chemistry. Weekly tips and pool maintenance for your in ground, above ground and salt water pool systems.

Pool Water Maintenance

This is a very ugly kind of algae that will make your pool very uninviting, especially when you have a big party the next day. Killing it takes a little time, energy, and effort.

Algae in swimming pools is normally a direct result of poor swimming pool water chemistry and weekly pool maintenance which will result in improper pool water balance and:

These steps should be taken to ensure you'll have your spa perfect and the pool perfect for you and your family.

You don't need more swimming pool problems.

If you've read the other page for green swimming pool algae, well, this one's pretty similar. Clearing up green algae and brown algae takes the same steps and your pool needs the same chemistry help. These swimming pool maintenance tips will help you along the way.

Prevention Is The Key

The right above ground and inground pool maintenance will greatly reduce the opportunity for brown algae pool water. Having your swimming pool chlorine, pool alkalinity, and calcium hardness adjusted correctly is very important.

Remember to brush and vacuum your pool because this will reduce the dirt accumulation and brown algae pores from sticking (gunite swimming pool) to the pool’s surface.

Brown Algae Close Up

The Best Way To Clear Up Brown Algae

If you have a brown algae swimming pool, you must take immediate action in killing the algae. Doing this will lessen the risk of staining and will lengthen the pool water life.

First You Should:

Purchase a high quality leaf rake, (not those simple blue square skimmers) and scoop out as much debris from the bottom and top of the pool as you can. If you're able, make sure the bottom drain is clear and free from debris.

Continuously run your filter and be sure to backwash 2 times per day until the water is clear once again.

If you have a DE filter be sure to re-coat the grids with each backwash.

Also watch that the pool’s water level does not get below a minimum of 2” from the bottom of the skimmer.

You want to get rid of the dead algae.

If your chlorine is 1.0ppm then raise it to 10ppm or above. You must do this in order to kill the algae. Don’t skimp on the chlorine. I mean put the hammer down.

You must reach that 10ppm or above because if you don’t it’s just wasting time and money.

To super-chlorinate you must do this all at once, not over a few hours or days. If you're running your chlorine at 1.0ppm, then bring it up to 10ppm or even 12ppm..

The water will turn from a brown to white or grayish. Also, there will be dead algae on the bottom of the pool. This can be filtered out through vacuuming.

Swimming Pool Hose & Vacuum

Keep brushing and vacuuming to rid the pool of any residual algae. Keep filtering and back-washing to get rid of the swimming pool algae. If you have a DE filter, you'll need to re-coat or recharge the grids with each backwash.

If you have a cartridge filter, remember to take the filter out and clean it two (2) times per day with a regular garden hose, never a power washer.

Remember, when you have a swimming pool algae problem, there is no quick fix. It will take time, effort, and patience to clear up your pool.

When your swimming pool chlorine is down to 1.0ppm-3.0ppm the pool will be safe to swim in once again.

Don't allow anyone to swim in the pool until the brown algae is gone and the water has cleared up.

Calculate How Much Swimming Pool Chlorine?

1. Take the number of gallons in the pool and multiply by 8.34. This tells you how many pounds of water are in the pool.
2. Take the number 1,000,000 (a million) and divide it by the answer you have from your first calculation. This will tell you how many parts per million that 1 pound of chemicals will be present in your pool.
3. Take the number 10 and divide it by the answer you got after the second calculation. This tells you how many pounds of chlorine you will need to add to get 10 ppm.