Does a solar cover help algae grow?

[richierich]

Here is my question. My pool has been pretty clear all year. This past week it's been a little cool and we haven't gone swimming but have left the solar cover on for 5-6 days straight. Temps maybe 75-80 during the day and 60s at night.

I noticed some leaves on my solar cover and in the pool and decided to vacuum. When I took the cover off the water was actually really clear but there was a lot of green algae and maybe 10 leaves. I brushed the pool and the amount of green that *poofed* up was more than I have ever had. The only difference from the rest of the year was not removing the cover for 5-6 days. Could be a coincidence. My test results are as follows.

CL - 5.5
PH 7.5
CYA 60
TA-40
CH - 50

 

[AndyTN]

Was there water sitting on top of the solar cover? I have had it happen to me before which it rained while I was on vacation and algae formed in the puddles on top of the cover. I didn't even notice it until I pulled the cover off and the algae water slipped into the pool. There is chlorine in the pool water but not in water on top of the cover.

If what I described above is not your case then either you had your FC dip down in between uses or you are not getting good circulation to that part of the pool. Other than keeping the water a little warmer, there is nothing about a solar cover which would increase the chances of algae in the pool water.

Your FC number of 5 is a little low for CYA of 60 but it isn't like you have it way down at 1-2. After doing SLAM, get your FC numbers up into the 7-9 range.

 

[richierich]

thanks, yeah there was water on the solar cover but it wasn't green. I thought I read something somewhere about the pool needs to 'breathe' or something so the chlorine gas can escape. can be totally wrong though.

 

[Farmerstan91]

I have the same issue currently and get to go slam the pool. Fc never dropped below 4 with my salt system. Thought it was just pollen and got it cleared up and 2 days later its greener than i started.

 

[AndyTN]

the pool needs to 'breathe' or something so the chlorine gas can escape

That is correct for the CC's to escape but that really only impacts the strong chlorine smell when you take the cover off and not the sanitation in the water.

 

[Newdude]

That is correct for the CC's to escape but that really only impacts the strong chlorine smell when you take the cover off and not the sanitation in the water.

+1. And it goes away very quick. IIRC correctly mine was 15 seconds or so.

 

[Homebrewale]

I've been using a solar cover for 14 years without an algae problem.