Swimming Pool Algaecides

Certain things in life are simply meant to be together, like peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, or movies and popcorn. But not every combination is as pleasant — or delicious — as the ones just mentioned. And for most pool owners, it's safe to assume their least favorite pairing is algae and swimming pools. That's why products that prevent and remove pool algae, like pool algaecides, are so important. Keep reading to learn more about the different types of pool algaecides.

The Three Types of Pool Algaecides

Modern pool algae treatments can be classified into three groups:

• Quaternary Ammonium Algaecides (Quats)
• Polymer Algaecides (Poly-Quats)
• Metallic Algaecides (Copper & Silver)

Quat Pool Algaecides

Some pool owners know this type as Algaecide "50", because quat algaecides are typically 50% quaternary compounds (C12-16). Quats are biocides that control algae in swimming pools to minimize undesired biological growth.

Quat algaecides are also known for their distinctive odor, and foaming that can result from overuse. You can use a quat algaecide for controlling algae during the summer or as a winter algaecide. Not overly effective in killing large algae blooms, it's strength is in control of pool algae.

Algaecide 50 has quick contact times against bacteria, enveloped viruses, pathogenic fungi and of course, pool blue green algae strains. It can aid chlorine in attacking algae cells by weakening the outer membrane.

Polymer Pool Algaecides

Polymers are long chains of connected carbon, and is a short way of saying "Poly Molecule". Polymers in algaecides are drawn to the negative charge of the algae molecule. Once attached, they begin to invade the organism, and disrupt the cell processes, causing the cell to die.

These are typically labeled as "60" in the pool algaecide business. This is because the formulation is typically 60% concentration of polymers, which may actually contain quats. Indeed, many polymer algaecides are really Poly-Quat compounds.

Algaecide 60 Plus is well respected as effective in controlling most forms of blue-green algae and yellow algae. Non-foaming and non-staining formula has greater resistance to high chlorine levels.

Metallic Pool Algaecides

Copper and silver have been known to have algaestatic properties for thousands of years. In the past few hundred, colloidal mixtures of microscopic metals have found hundreds of uses for bacteria and microorganism removal.

Considered antimicrobials by the EPA, copper and silver compounds are best when chelated, to keep the metals stable within the solution, and reduce the possibility of staining to pool plaster, tile grout and plastic steps in a pool.

Copper & silver algaecides are quite effective at killing most forms of green and blue-green algae by disrupting their reproductive capacity, and have also been proven effective with strains of black algae in swimming pools.

Tips for using pool algaecide

• Don't add pool shock and algaecide at the same time
• Balance your pool chemistry before adding algaecide
• Clean the pool thoroughly before adding algaecide