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Brown Algae & Swimming Pool Chemistry

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Swimming Pool Care



Brown algae is never fun but you can remove and control it by using the proper amount of pool chlorine and a good algaecide.

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, but it's better than the alternative, a big flower pot.

Algae in swimming pools is normally a direct result of poor swimming pool chemistry or bad swimming pool care. These steps should be taken to ensure you'll have the best pool around and keep that swimming pool algae away from your pool.

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 chemical help. These pool cleaning tips will help you along the way.


Prevention Is The Key

Properly balancing all of your pool’s chemicals will greatly reduce the opportunity for brown algae pool water. Having your swimming pool chlorine, alkalinity, and 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 to the pool’s surface.

SAFETY FIRST

  • Always take the proper precaution in dealing with these types of chemicals and read the manufacture’s labels.

  • Use heavy duty rubber gloves and goggles and keep pool chlorine out of reach of children and pets. Again, I recommend using granular chlorine.
    • It’s easier, a bit safer, lighter in weight, easier to store, and 1 pound of granular chlorine equals 1 gallon (8lbs.) of liquid.


    The Best Way To Clear Up Brown Algae

    When you walk outside and see brown algae , well, that's never fun, especially when it’s a major weekend and you have all of your friends over.

    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.

    There's much information out there in internet land concerning how to get rid of your brown algae and killing swimming pool algae.

    Many sites will tell you the proper amount of chlorine you'll need, an algaecide, and this and that. They all have a grain of truth to them.

    But I'm going to tell you, free of charge, the best way, and the reasons, to get rid of your pool algae problem:

    First You should:

  • Bring the pH, alkalinity, and hardness into line. Never add chlorine without first adjusting these three. Adjust your pH to 7.0-7.2, alkalinity to 85-100, and hardness to 150-250ppm.

    But wait!! You've read on this site to keep your pH level at 7.6-7.8. What is the deal with 7.0-7.2? Well, glad you asked, and here it goes.

    I suggest you use granular chlorine, a.k.a. Calcium Hypochlorite, to shock your pool. This kind of pool chlorine has a pH level of 12.

    Now, anything over the pH level of 8.0 and you're only using about 25% of the chlorine, which means, you've lost 75% of the active swimming pool chlorine. When you add your pool chlorine, your pH will automatically go up, so get that pH down!! If you start the pH a bit lower, you're using more active chlorine than you would if your starting pH was a bit higher.

  • Brush, and I mean really brush, the bottom, sides, and steps to loosen any algae that may be adhering to the surface. Don't be scared.
    • 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.

  • Super-chlorinate, or shock, the pool bringing up the chlorine 10 times what you normally run.

    • 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. Coming close won’t cut it. Close is only good with horseshoes and hand grenades.

    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..

  • Use a pool algaecide specifically designed for killing brown algae and follow the instructions on the container.

    • You’ll notice this is working when your water turns 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 the bottom of the pool.

    Keep brushing and vacuuming to rid the pool and any residual algae and remember to 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.Brush and filter, then brush and filter, and then after you do those, well you guessed right, it’s time to brush and filter some more.

    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.

    Obviously you would NEVER allow anyone to swim in the pool until the brown algae is gone and the water has cleared up.


    How Much Swimming Pool Chlorine?

    Smart people ask the right questions. Here's the answer to that question:

    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.

    Example #1

    Here's an example with a 15,000-gallon pool:

  • 15,000 X 8.34 = 125,100. There are 125,100 pounds of water in a 15,000-gallon pool.
  • 1,000,000 divided by 125,100 = 8, well, close enough. This means each pound of chemicals added to the water will be 8 parts per million.
  • 10 divided by 8 equals 1.25, so you'll need to add about 11/4 pounds of chlorine to get 10 ppm.

    • Example #2

    Here's an 18,000-gallon pool:

  • 18,000 X 8.34 = 150,120. There are 150,120 pounds of water in an 18,000-gallon pool.
  • 1,000,000 divided by 150,120 = 6.66. Again, pretty close so we'll say 6.7. Or if you want easy math, just round it up to 7 to be on the safe side. This means that each pound of chemicals we add to the water, it will be about 6.7 parts per million.
  • 10 divided by 6.7 = 1.49 (what's with this math stuff?) we'll call 1.5. This means that we need to add about 11/2 pounds of chlorine to get 10 ppm.

    • Chart - Super-chlorinate Your Pool
    (Amount Needed to Reach 10 ppm)

    Type of chlorinePOOL GALLONS
    1,000 5,000 10,000 12,00015,000 20,000 25,000 50,000
    Sodium Hypo10 oz. 1 3/4 qts. 3 1/4 qts. 1 1/4 gal. 1 2/3 gal. 2 gal.4 gal. 6 gal.
    Lithium Hypo 4 oz. 1 1/4 lbs. 2 1/3 lbs.3 1/2 lbs. 4 3/4 lbs. 6 lbs. 12 lbs 18 lbs.
    Dichlor2 1/4 oz. 11 oz. 1 1/3 lbs. 2 lbs. 2 2/3 lbs. 3 1/3 lbs.6 3/4 lbs. 14 lbs.
    Calcium Hypo 2 oz. 10 oz. 1 1/4 lbs.2 lbs. 2 1/2 lbs. 3 1/4 lbs. 6 1/2 lbs. 13 lbs.

    Remember once again, don't skimp and try to save a few pennies on the chlorine. The brown algae will like it if you don't use enough.

    I suggest you get these calculations and then add another 1/2 pound of swimming pool chlorine, just to be sure.

    If you want to bring the pool chlorine level up 20-25ppm, then just double the amount of pool chlorine.

    Drop that pool chlorine hammer, scrub, and backwash to get rid of that awful brown swimming pool. Get that pool water chemistry back in line

    It will take a little blood, sweat, and tears, to clear up swimming pool algae, but don't worry. You're not the first person to have brown algae.

    Just follow these pool tips and you'll be fine.

    Go To:

    Home From Brown Algae


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