Phosphates and your pool
/Phosphates can be a problem all year round and slowly build up over time, however, in Brisbane, we typically see a spike in the levels of phosphates in pools when westerly winds bring microscopic dust particles from the farming & rural areas to the west. Read on below to keep your pool water clear and algae-free all year round.
What Are Phosphates
In chemistry terms, phosphate is a phosphorous molecule bound to four oxygen molecules. Phosphorous is essentially food for algae and other aquatic plants and they depend on it to grow.
The association between algae and phosphate is recognised as a major factor in the presence of algae in swimming pools despite the use of chlorine and other sanitisers.
The biggest issues for swimming pool owners from increased phosphate levels are excessive or stubborn algae blooms and rapid chlorine consumption.
How Do Phosphates Get in the Pool?
Phosphates can enter your pool a few different ways: leaves, twigs, dirt, dust and bugs blown in from the wind or washed into the pool from heavy rain along with fertilisers and pesticides used around the pool. They also come from swimmers body wastes and adding water to the pool from water tanks, these can all increase the levels of phosphates in the pool water.
Lochlor Starver X is one of the best way to reduce high Phosphate levels
Removing Phosphates
For the swimming pool owner, the removal of phosphates is imperative to maintain good water quality. Then, once the phosphates have been removed, it's important to maintain a low phosphate level. This will ensure clean water, better chlorine performance, and no algae.
All living things, including algae in swimming pools, need phosphate to survive and grow. It is common knowledge that removing the phosphate and increasing the chlorine concentration will result in less algae in the pool.
Phosphate removal is key to keeping pools algae-free, maintaining quality water and allowing other chemicals to work at their most effective level.
A “long life” copper-based algaecide is recommended to be used in conjunction with the phosphate removal treatment. A copper-based algaecide will maintain its efficiency over a long period of time and in doing so, assist the phosphate remover to do its job more resourcefully.
Restrict runoff from lawns, landscaping, or washing decks entering the pool
Remove leaves and other debris from the pool regularly
Use a long-life algaecide all year round in conjunction with their phosphate removal treatment
Get Rode Pools to regularly test your pool water for phosphates and treat when necessary
Starver M is our preferred ongoing treatment for keeping phosphate levels low.
Preventing Phosphates in the future
As additional insurance against recurring algae, ongoing preventative doses of Starver M will keep the phosphate levels down all year round, helping you keep the algae at bay.
We have special test kits to check the level of phosphate in swimming pools. Should the result of the test exceed the recommended level then we have Lo-Chlor Starver X to remove the excess phosphate is now readily available in store.
Bring a water sample into your nearest Rode Pools store and we can check your Phosphate levels along with all your other pool chemical balances for FREE! Alternatively, you can use the button below to book one of our highly trained pool technicians to come to you.
