Algae when pool closed for winter

[jackcmorgan]

My pool is currently closed for winter (i'm in southern ontario, canada). I have a fair amount of algae building up on the floor and walls. There are still freezing temps at night (for at least a few more weeks) so i can't really turn on the pump / equipment. Should I add an algaecide / stir up the algae / shock? I don't think i can do this without the pump running? Water temp is about 8 degrees C (45 F) and rising - dark grey fiberglass pool - sun heats it up pretty fast. Pool is uncovered FYI. Should i just leave it and turn on the pump when it warms up / vacuum, etc?

thank you

Jack

 

[Newdude]

Should I add an algaecide

Algecide after algae is like closing the fence gate after stray animals/kids got in. It's too late.

stir up the algae / shock?

I'd run a submersible pump for a day and then test your CYA level seeing how the pool is uncovered and melted.

Brush the pool well to get everything off the pool surface and then maintain a proper FC/CYA ratio using the submersible to mix before/after testing. You wont be able to filter any dead algae out, but it should be easy enough to kill with such cool water. Once it's dead, doses of liquid chlorine should last a while with low UV / daily FC loss. A couple ppm over min may last two weeks right now for you, once the algae is killed.

Or let it ride and get the pump running as soon as any significant freezes are over. A night slightly below freezing won't affect running water which is in the 40s. Run the pump if any nights get near freezing after opening.

 

[ajw22]

Algaecide does nothing once algae is growing.

You can leave it be or pour 3-5 ppm of liquid chlorine into the water every few days and stir it in the water with your pool brush. That will keep the algae bloom down until you open the pool and can do a full SLAM Process