How to Get Algae Off Bottom of Pool

Are you wondering how to get algae off bottom of pool? It isn’t fun to swim in dirty water with lots of green algae growth and the idea of lowering your feet into lots of dead algae deposits on the pool floor can be quite nerving. Bottom pool algae can be annoying to deal with since a lot of swimming pool pumps struggle to pick up these dead deposits. 

In this guide, we take a look at the top reasons you have algae on your pool bottom and we share the best methods to help get rid of algae found on pool floors. 

What  Causes Algae on Bottom of Pools

 Algae can form on your pool floors for different reasons. The most common reason you have algae on your swimming pool bottom and not in the upper layers of the water is due to poor circulation. Green algae that die when you apply chlorine shock product will sink to the bottom of pools with poor water circulation.

Some algae species like mustard algae and black algae can also naturally grow on your pool’s floor area when the chlorine levels are not strong enough to kill the species. This type of algae will also stay in these lower levels even when you kill it since the dead algae tend to sink.

If your pool doesn’t have a good filtration system and good circulation, the algae particles will be cleared from the top but will linger at the bottom.

What Type of Algae is on The Bottom of Your Pool

There are three common types of algae found in pools; green algae, mustard algae, and black algae.

Green algae are mostly found in your pool water or on the pool surface but these types of algae can sink to the bottom after it has been killed by multi-purpose algaecide.

Yellow algae are mostly found on the bottom of the pool and look like sand or yellow and mustard-colored deposits on your pool floor. This algae species can also die and become brown or dark brown if it is treated with pool chemicals. 

Black algae or blue-green algae are most common on the side of your pool but can also grow on the pool’s floor surfaces. This type of algae is black or blue-green in color, creates black spots on your pool walls or floors, and usually doesn’t come loose unless you sweep or scrub at it. 

How to Vacuum Algae Out of Your Pool

The easiest way to get algae out of your pool and off the bottom surface is by vacuuming it with a pool vacuum. These pool sweepers are specially designed to clean up debris from specific regions in your pool. There are two main types of pool vacuums available on the market:

Manual pool vacuums

This type of pool vacuum usually has a vacuum head and a telescopic pole that connects to the vacuum head. The vacuum pole is connected to the vacuum head and allows you to manually guide your vacuum hose all over the pool bottom surface. The hose along with your pool filter system will suck up any pool deposits that come near the vacuum hose. The manual vacuum head usually has wheels so you can easily glide it along the pool floor. 

Automatic pool vacuums

Automatic pool vacuums are often referred to as a pool crepe. These devices are attached to the pool hose that connects to your pool filter. The pool filter and hose create a suction action that removes debris from your pool surfaces while the automatic vacuum head gradually moves the hose all over your pool wall and floor area. 

Here is a quick look at the best steps to follow if you want to effectively clean out algae breakouts from your pool water and from the bottom of your pool.

Step 1 – Remove organic debris

Before you start vacuuming, you will need to grab your pool net and scoop up any large organic debris like twigs, bark, large insect, and leaves. These deposits will only get stuck in your vacuum.

Step 2 – Add the proper chemicals

Once you removed large deposits, you should use a pool testing kit and restore the alkaline and chlorine levels. Alkaline levels that range from 80 – 120 ppm and a pH level of 7.3 – 7.6 are ideal for keeping most algae from forming in your pool. But pools that are particularly dirty can be treated with a dose of shock treatment to kill the excess algae. 

Step 3 – Brush your pool surfaces

Grab your pool brush and scrub all surfaces to loosen up growing and algae and algae deposits from your pool surfaces. 

Step 4 – Run the filter

Turn on your pool filter so the filtration system can filter out all the small particles from your pool water. Remember to clean the pool filter regularly if there is a lot of algae in your pool.

Step 5 – Vacuum your pool

Once the pool water settles, leftover algae deposits will sink to the bottom. This is an opportune moment to grab your vacuum so you can suck up these leftover deposits before they start to decompose. Manual pool vacuums need to be guided all over the pool walls and floor by using the telescopic pool. If you have an automatic pool filter, it should continuously glide over the floor and wall surfaces for at least one hour a day until the dead algae have been sucked up. 

How to Get Algae Off Bottom of Pools Without a Vacuum

Some pools and pool owners do not have pool vacuums. In this case, it is very important to keep your eye on your pool because it will be much harder to clear a bad breakout from these pools without a vacuum cleaner. It is however still possible to restore your water to its former crisp clear glory by following the following steps.

Step 1 – Check your pool pump and filter

A malfunctioning or clogged filter pump might be some of the reasons your pool got overrun with algae, to begin with. Start by checking your swimming pool pump and filter. Sand filter systems or sand pumps should be back washed regularly and filter systems sometimes need to be manually cleaned to remove deposits. 

Step 2 – Grab the net and clear debris

Get a pool net so you can scoop out any large pieces of dead waste from your pool. These pieces tend to get stuck in the pump and can clog up your filter.

Step 3 – Apply the right chemicals

Normal chlorine levels of 7.3 – 7.8 will kill algae growths. Get a pool test kit and add the needed alkaline and chlorine products to restore your pool water with pool cleaners. If there is a lot of algae in pool water then you can consider a pool shock treatment like Calcium Hypochlorite Pool Shock. The amount of liquid shock treatment you need depends on the pool size. 

Step 4 – Scrub your pool walls

Next, you will need to grab a stiff pool brush or nylon brush and manually brush the pool algae strains from all surfaces. Remember to brush your pool walls, steps, ladders, and any pool accessories or pool toys you might have used. Brushing will help loosen some algae from these surfaces so the particles can be sucked up by the pump. Brushing also clears that layer of slime off algae growths that protect these growths from pool algaecides so these stubborn aquatic plants can die out. 

Step 4 – Run the pool pump

The pump should run for about 9 hours per day during the swimming season but you can run it a bit longer if you are trying to clear up a bad algae breakout. Try to circulate the water frequently while you run the pump so dead algae particles can lift from the bottom and reach the pump. You can do this by stirring your pool water with your net.

Step 5 – Repeat and maintain

Keep testing your pool water levels every day, regularly scrub the pool surface with your pool brush and keep running the pump for at least 9 hours a day until your pool water clears up.

Once the deposits have been cleaned, you can reduce the duration your pool filter runs but you should keep scooping dead deposits like leaves from the water and keep the pH levels at an adequate level. Pool maintenance is the only thing that is going to keep your pool neat and free from future algae breakouts. 

Final Thoughts

We do hope that this guide taught you how to get algae off bottom of pool so you can have more fun and enjoy crisp clean water this summer. If you want to find out more about the different algae species found in pools or if you want to learn how to treat specific pool algae species then you should have a look at some of our other guides. AlgalWeb offers a wide range of engaging articles to help you maintain the correct type and number of algae growths in ponds and we offer great strategies to try if you want to keep your pool water crystal clear throughout the year.