What Level of Chlorine Kills Algae?
The right mix of tools, including the proper levels of chlorine, are needed to keep a pool sparkling clean and free from algae. A robot pool cleaner is useful for picking up debris, but if you don’t have the appropriate level of chlorine, algae can easily take hold, causing your pool to turn green and unsightly. So what is the level of chlorine needed to kill algae and can pool vacuum robots, skimmers, and swimming pool robot cleaners help?
In this article, we’ll answer that question and go over how we can keep algae away with proper chlorine levels and how the right equipment, like the Beatbot AquaSense Pro, can help us keep our pool clean and algae-free.
The Importance of Chlorine in Preventing Algae Growth
Chlorine is one of the used because it helps sanitize the pool water and prevents algae formation. It destroys bacteria, viruses, and algae spores that can be found in the water. However, not all chlorine levels work equally well at combating algae. The chlorine is too low, in which case it won’t kill algae, or it’s too high, in which case it leads to other pool issues.
How much chlorine is sufficient to kill algae?
To kill algae in your pool, the level of chlorine must be high enough to break down algae spores and bacteria. The general rules of thumb for chlorine levels to fight algae are:
Free Chlorine Level: To kill algae, This level should be between 3-5 PPM (parts per million). All of this guarantees sufficient chlorine in the water to kill algae and prevent further growth. If you have algae already growing in your pool, you could have to super.103.038 the pool more temporarily (up to 10 ppm) to raise chlorine levels.
Shocking Used on Algae-Infested Pools: For your pool to break out with visible algae, maintaining the usual chlorine level is not enough. In those cases, you’ll have to “shock” your pool. Shocking the pool means adding a higher-than-normal dose of chlorine (generally 10-20 ppm) to kill algae and other contaminants that may be present. Post-shocking, you need to let the chlorine return to its normal level before swimming.
Pool pH Levels: The effectiveness of chlorine depends on your pool’s pH level. If the pH is too high (alkaline), chlorine will be less effective in killing algae. The right pH level, between 7.2 and 7.6, is very important for better chlorine performance.
Does a Robot Pool Cleaner Remove Algae?
Although chlorine kills algal blooms, a clean swimming pool is more than just having the right amount of chlorine; regular cleaning is also required to get rid of algae spores, debris, and dirt. Enter the robot pool cleaner. A pool robotic pool cleaner—with models like the Beatbot AquaSense that scrubs the pool’s surfaces, cleans the walls, and removes algae and debris from all nooks and crannies.
Regular use of a pool cleaning robot will make sure that algae spores are washed away before they settle and start reproducing. Once the algae has settled on the bottom of the walls of the pool, a pool vacuum robot is particularly good at removing it. In addition to helping to clean visible algae and particles floating in the water, the cleaner pushes the water around to help with circulation and reduce stagnant areas where algae can get a foothold.
Why Other Pool Tools Matter
Along with the robot pool cleaner, also skimmers, pool vacuum, and vacuum cleaners for pools are important tools to control algal development:
Skimmers: Use a skimmer regularly to remove debris from the surface so that organic matter does not sink to the bottom of the pool. This junk can create nutrients for algae to flourish.
Pool Vacuum: An important piece of equipment for the pool is a vacuum cleaner, which is used for deep cleaning. Algae can collect at the bottom of the pool, so it’s important to run a pool vacuum to remove organic material that will cause algae to grow.
Vacuum Cleaner Robot: A vacuum cleaner robot can provide help in doing a thorough cleaning of the pool by scrubbing and vacuuming algae, debris, and other contaminants that may exacerbate the growth of algae.
With the right chemicals and equipment, you can keep your pool algae-free and sparkling all season long.
Tips for Keeping Chlorine Levels for Algae Prevention
When you’ve gotten rid of algae in your pool, keeping your chlorine levels up and regularly cleaning your pool will help prevent algae from returning. Here we provide some tips for maintaining your chlorine levels in the proper range.
Check the Water Regularly: Regularly use a pool test kit to measure the levels of chlorine and pH in the water. This will allow you to tailor the chemicals, as needed, to keep algae at bay.
Take Care of Your Pool Equipment: See that your robot pool cleaner is functioning. Having your pool cleaner serviced regularly ensures that it will be able to remove any algae and debris from the pool.
Shocking Pool Regularly: Shock the pool periodically, especially during hot weather as this is when algae have the highest chance of growth. If there is no need and remains kosher, shocking your pool chomper once a month or with specific periods is an approach to ensure that the chlorine levels stay adequate to fight algae development.
Keep the Pool Covered – Cover your pool when not being used to keep debris out of the water. It also reduces the likelihood of algae growth.
Check Your Filtration System: Make sure your pool’s filter system is functioning properly. With proper circulation, algae growth is minimized while chlorine is evenly distributed throughout the pool.
Conclusion
A chlorine level of 3-5 ppm is necessary to kill algae and prevent further growth, that is the takeaway! If your pool is visibly algae you may need to shock the pool with a larger dose of chlorine. In combination with correct chemical management, the use of a robot pool cleaner, such as the Beatbot AquaSense Pro, and the use of different instruments such as skimmers, vacuum cleaner robots, and pool vacuum robots are very important to remove algae and maintain your pool clean and clear.
So, if you want to make sure algae do not take over your swimming pool and you have crystal-clear water all year round, balance your chlorine levels, use effective equipment to clean your pool, and keep your pool maintained regularly.