still brushing and shocking black algae - should filters run

[poolqueen]

Firstly I want to say thanks for this site - the info is enormously useful. I live in Spain and don´t have access to a lot of the kit you mention, anyway....
I have black algae and have been in the pool with a wire brush rubbing it off. I have shocked the pool and the chlorine level is remaining high which I think is good news. I can´t get at the algae in the deep end of the pool and so I´m now trying to find a scuba kit so that I can get down there and scrub away. This may take a couple of days because I´m in a fairly remote spot (for dive kit anyway). So my question is - should I be running the filters as per normal or not? I´m worried that I´ll just get spores (or whatever) in the pump and they´ll fester there and re-emerge to torture me! Also should I be using algicide at this point in the clean up or is there no point to that?
Muchas gracias!

 

[JasonLion]

Welcome to TFP!

The key to killing black algae is high chlorine levels and frequent brushing. Brushing several times a day is more important than brushing really throughly. A standard pool brush on a long pole should be sufficient. Another approach is to place a trichlor tablet directly on the black algae and let it sit there for a couple of hours.

In any case you should leave the pump/filter running. As long as you maintain high chlorine levels the spores won't be able to survive in the water.

 

[The Mermaid Queen]

Welcome to TFP!

 

[Butterfly]

Welcome to the forum, poolqueen :lol:

 

[poolqueen]

Thanks for your help, chaps.

I have been over every square inch of the pool now and there is not one scrap of black algae left. I´ve shocked again and am running the filters...so it´s looking good. What are the chances of my remaining algae free after this?

Also I noticed little holes where I ´d knocked the algae off and I´m wondering are they bad news? (I´m presuming they´re not good, anyway!) - could they be the cause of future water leaks? Can I get down there in my scuba gear and squirt some bathroom silicone on to them....is that a good idea?

Cheers
Poolqueen

 

[JasonLion]

Black algae can come back sometimes. It is very difficult to kill it completely. It burrows into the plaster where some small part of it can hide from the chlorine. I would do an extra day at high/mustard algae shock levels to have the maximum chance of getting rid of it.

I have never heard of black algae causing leaks.