What causes green SWIM Spa water and how do you fix it? This is a great question and one our Waters Choice team can easily answer! Read on ...
March 17th is St. Patrick's Day and even though it's a great holiday for green water, you don't want to see that color in your water. So keep in mind that green tinted water is not always algae. Here are a few important things to keep in mind when talking about water balance and why your water can turn green.
Algae
Algae is known as an aquatic plant that's slimy and attaches to the sides of your SWIM spa. In fact, algae is rare in hot tubs and SWIM spas because they are usually covered. Simply put, algae needs sunlight to thrive.
Equally important, is to note that green tinted water is not always algae. So let's discuss pesky phosphates. Phosphates cause that tint of green that you don't seem to be able to get rid of by using sanitizer. Simply grab a bottle of phosphate test strips at your local pool and spa store. Then, use those to test for phosphate levels, as they are a great food source for algae. Click HERE for a quick video about how to test for phosphates.
Then, in the event that your phosphate levels are above 200 parts per billion, you'll need to lower the level with a phosphate remover which can be found online or at your local pool and spa store as well. In addition to that, it's always a good idea to check your source water for phosphates.
Enzymes Are Not Phosphate Removers
It's important to note that Waters Choice enzymes are NOT a phosphate remover and we don't recommend Algaecide. If you're stil struggling with green water, you may want to perform a purge of your SWIM spa's plumbing lines and use our product called Clean & Drain. In spite of all your efforts to rid your spa of green water, algae could be hiding in the plumbing. Don't forget that deep cleaning filters or even replacing them will help. Click HERE for a link to the filters we carry.
Excessive Metal Content
Believe it or not, water from wells or the municipal system can contain high levels of metals such as copper or iron. So, clear green SWIM spa water can be related to high levels of copper from your water source as well. Using a pre-filter such the Max FE Ultra C6-55 Extreme Pre Filter will be of great help.
Low pH in Water
When the pH in your SWIM spa water is out of balance, you risk the fact that bacteria to build up and it'll discolor the water. On the other hand, if pH is too low, water is acidic and over time it can erode plastic and metal equipment. Related to excessive metal content, low pH levels can cause copper to dissolve from your heating element into your spa water.
One more thing, SWIM spas and hot tubs with cloudy green water can be caused by low pH which allows copper to crowd the water. This in turn will make it green and often cloudy.
Tips to Fix Green Water
- Use a PRE FILTER when filling SWIM spa/hot tub with water
- Increase chlorine levels to kill algae
- Increase filtration
- Maintain proper pH and alkalinity levels
- Clean & Drain your spa once a year
Do you have green pool water? Click HERE for more information.
VIP Newsletter and Social Media
On another note, have you signed up for our VIP Newsletters yet? Make sure you don't miss out on the latest tips and tricks that we share. You can also search for us on your favorite social media platforms. Follow and Like us as well as clicking over to our YouTube channel and hit "subscribe". We'll see you there!