subject: Pool Algaecides - Big Word, Easy Maintenance! [print this page] Algae are small plant-like organisms that turn your pool surfaces yellow, green, blue, and sometimes pink. Unfortunately, they do more than just discolor the walls and tile of your pool. 'Floaters' can cloud your water, cling to skin, and can produce unpleasant odors.
You can't prevent them invading your pool; they're sometimes airborne, come in with your water supply, on swimmer's feet... you name it. Once there, the sunlight and warmth energize their growth. A pool cover helps slow that down, but only to a point. Luckily, eliminating them doesn't require a chemistry degree. All the different species have their individual colors but swimming pool algaecides make it easy to deal with all of them in one simple operation.
Whether you prefer In the Swim or any other brand, all algaecides work in a similar way. They operate like safe, non-toxic 'Round Up' plant-killer-style compounds, specially designed for your pool. They're specially formulated to be non-foaming and non-metallic so they do the job but don't produce any unpleasant 'side effects' for you or your pool.
Equally important, the use of a good algaecide will not interfere with the chemicals you use to perform other essential pool maintenance tasks. If you add bromine or chlorine to kill bacteria and de-cloud the water from skin oils, skin cells, and so forth, your algaecide works with them, not against them.
A correctly made swimming pool algaecide will also not hinder your attempts to maintain the proper pH of your pool water. Just as important, they'll continue to work correctly no matter what the pH of your pool is.
