| You return from vacation and the pool has turned | | | | Quaternary Ammonia (Quats) Great for |
| green, slimy and cloudy. The day after a big, all | | | | maintenance and algae blooms. |
| day party the pool has gone cloudy with that | | | | Quaternary ammonia based disinfectants are |
| nasty hint of green. Every pool owner knows | | | | everywhere; hospitals, nursing homes, |
| when algae gets going in the pool. Every pool | | | | restaurants, day care centers and..........swimming |
| owner also knows that only an algaecide will kill | | | | pools! Very effective as surface disinfectants at |
| the pest and let the pool return to pristine | | | | concentrations as low as 2.5 percent, most pool |
| condition. So after a quick trip to the pool store | | | | algaecides use a concentration of 30 percent to |
| or garage you add algaecide and hope for the | | | | as high as 60 percent. The main drawback to |
| best. But wait, what IS an algaecide? What are | | | | quaternary ammonia algaecides is foaming. Added |
| you putting in the water with such high hopes? | | | | to pool water the agitation provided by the pool |
| Algaecides are chemicals that kill algae as opposed | | | | pump is enough for the algaecide to add nice suds |
| to sanitizers like chlorine that prevent algae and | | | | to a pool. Not nice to look at but not a real |
| bacteria from getting a foothold in the first place. | | | | problem. Quats are relatively inexpensive and a |
| Algaecides are the last line of defense to prevent | | | | good anytime algaecide if a little foam isn't a |
| draining a pool and starting over. Although the | | | | bother. |
| brand names and claims are numerous there are | | | | Polyquats are a refinement of quat algaecides and |
| really only two kinds of algaecide available today; | | | | eliminate the foaming problem entirely. Available in |
| metallic and quaternary ammonias. Though both | | | | concentrations as high as 60 percent they do the |
| types can be very effective they have different | | | | job perfectly but at prices approaching $30 per |
| characteristics. Choosing the right algaecide is key | | | | quart a little foaming might not look so bad. The |
| to getting the problem solved and swimming again. | | | | high price might also be because there is only one |
| Metallic Algaecides Great for winter closing and | | | | U.S. manufacturer! |
| algae blooms. | | | | Low foaming quats are a compromise. Significantly |
| The very earliest types of pool algaecide were | | | | less money than polyquats the foam problem is |
| copper based. Copper is a proven killer and is | | | | greatly minimized at a price that makes more |
| extremely effective. Copper, either as copper | | | | sense to many pool owners. Low foam quats are |
| sulfate or elemental copper is suspended in a | | | | very effective. |
| carrier liquid (water) by a chemical called | | | | Using algaecides |
| triethanolamine and added to pool water. Copper | | | | -Always add algaecide first. Let it work overnight |
| concentrations vary from 1 to 7 percent | | | | before shocking. Chlorine will oxidize and destroy |
| depending on type. Though as effective as any of | | | | the algaecide if added too soon. If the algaecide is |
| the newer types of algaecide copper has | | | | metallic staining is an additional reason to wait. |
| drawbacks: it can stain pool hardware and turn | | | | -Check the ingredients. Look for the active |
| hair green if chlorine concentrations are too high. | | | | ingredients; copper, ammonia etc. Also check the |
| It also builds up over time and continued use can | | | | active percentage. If it's below 30 percent look |
| stain even a properly balanced pool. | | | | elsewhere. In particular avoid gallon jugs of |
| Silver based algaecide is also available. Used to | | | | algaecide. Generally this bargain stuff has only 5-10 |
| suppress algae and bacteria in | | | | percent active ingredients and will actually cost |
| electricity-generating fuel cells on space craft, | | | | more to do the same job. |
| silver algaecide capitalized on use by NASA to win | | | | -Spread the algaecide as evenly as possible |
| pool customers. Silver algaecide does work but | | | | around the perimeter of the pool. Better |
| much more slowly than copper. Along with the | | | | distribution means faster action. |
| drawbacks associated with copper algaecides, | | | | -Don't overdose. More is NOT better especially if |
| silver based algae killers are as expensive as, well, | | | | using a metallic algaecide. |
| silver! | | | | |