Do You Need to Remove Phosphates From a Pool

The newest miracle chemical this year for your swimming pool is the Phosphate Eliminator which removes Phosphates from your pool that some say are the main source of food for Algae. Do I need to remove phosphates from my swimming pool water?

No, It is unlikely that you will be able to remove all phosphate entering your pool:

• Keep pool chemically balanced
• Properly sanitized
• Occasionally add algaecide & fresh H2O
• Daily skimming
• Scrubbing pool walls & floors
• Using a flocculant
• Then vacuuming
• This practice will keep phosphate levels at bay at no cost

Your Pool is a Chemically controlled process that if kept under certain conditions won’t have algae competing for any phosphates that are naturally found in your pool. Phosphates enter the pool water through the air, wind, and people using it and are considered one of many algae food sources found in water.

 Phosphates in Pool Water

If you are worried about phosphate levels being too high in your swimming pool then there are more natural ways of dealing with it. Removing a few inches of pool water now and again can control pool phosphate levels and algae growth should be a non-issue at least due to high Phosphate levels.

• If you have a multi-port valve on your pool filter, shut off your pump and turn the valve to Recirculate or Recycle. This will mix the floc around without filtering the water and is the best way to mix the contents of your pool.
• Add the recommended dosage of liquid or powder flocculant to your pool. Remember there are approximately 7.5 gallons of water in 1 square foot of pool water.
• Circulate your water for 3 hours, or as long as it takes for your pool’s pump to turn the pool over. Then shut off your pump and let it sit overnight. The floc will bind to the algae and Phosphate, then settle on the pool bottom floor.
• In the Morning-Turn the multi-port valve Setting to Waste so dirty water doesn’t blast back into your pool through your return lines. Hook up your backwash hose to the Backwash/Waste port. Direct your waste water appropriately.
• Vacuum your pool. Work slowly to make sure you get all the thick sediment off the bottom. If the water gets too cloudy, you may need to stop and allow the particles to settle again before continuing to vacuum.
• Add water while you’re vacuuming because you’ll be removing quite a lot
• Shock immediately after vacuuming to eliminate any remaining algae. You may also want to brush the pool
• Brush the sides and floor of the pool before shocking.
• Run your pool filter until the water clears

Is High Pool Phosphate Levels Harmful

Phosphate in pool water is Safe in fact it is Very Safe. Found naturally in nature. High Phosphate levels are not toxic to people or animals unless they are present at very high levels. Digestive problems could occur from extremely high levels of phosphate. Phosphates are added to drinking water in some states in the country to prevent corrosion caused by copper and lead in pipes.

Phosphate is one of the key elements on earth that is necessary for plant life growth. They are still allowed to be added to cleaning products and some dishwasher Detergents. The problem comes when an overload of nutrients in streams and rivers like the nutrient, phosphorus which can help grow plant life such as Algae way too fast.

Because of this, Oxygen that is dissolved in water would be sucked out of the stream or river producing an anaerobic environment that would snowball killing fish and plant life that will decompose and will add more nutrients and chemicals to the water, and so on causing a snowball effect. That’s a Biological Problem Not a Pool Problem!

In a swimming pool, the water is chlorinated and if chlorinated properly there won’t be an algae problem, to begin with. Phosphates maintain their perfect oxidation levels all by themselves, so they don’t react with chlorine at all.

For the most part, phosphates will coexist with pool chemicals and only matter at very high levels. Most pools lose water through evaporation and usage. If you add fresh water to your pool you are diluting any phosphate levels that may have built up.

How do you know if there are phosphates in your pool? Just use the cheap test strips that come with pool kits and you’ll get some kind of idea. But some studies show that they really only affect pool algae growth at extremely high levels of 1,000 ppb (parts per billion) or more.

So, monitor the phosphate levels at the start of the season but don’t get crazy about it or concerned when phosphate is present because it always will be present. it’s a natural element here on Earth and is added to drinking water. There always will be a trace of it in water.

What is the Best Swimming Pool Return Jets Position?

At the Deepest End of the pool
turn the Return Jets (eyeballs) located on the pool walls angled down toward the bottom of the pool at a 45° angle

In the Shallow End of the pool
turn Return Jets clockwise to about 8 o’clock at a 45° angle so the return water to the pool is mixing in a .……………………………………………………. Read more

Does Phosphate Create Algae Growth in Pool Water

If you are losing sleep over this Pool Store developed dilemma then you should do a few things to offset your chances of Phosphates naturally in pool water turning your pool green.

• Skim your pool with a pool skimmer-this will drastically improve your odds of less Phosphate in your pool and also you should be skimming your pool.
• Brush the sides of the wall and the bottom of your pool– This should be done a couple of times a week
• Clean out the Skimmer Boxes where twigs and leaves can collect in your pool causing algae and phosphate
• Keep your pool covered when not in use. (that ain’t gonna happened)
• Control your Pool’s Alkalinity, PH & Chlorine Residual-Use a reliable kit with fresh reagents and test for phosphate levels at the beginning and towards the end of the summer. That’s all you need to do. Read this article here at MyWaterEarth& Sky called  Testing Pool Water.
• Use an Algae Prohibitor or Add fresh water to your pool weekly-twice per/month.
• Fresh pool water is a great inexpensive proven product, especially in those “Dog Days Of Summer”  to keep phosphate down

Swimming pool maintenance is more hump work than technical ability. Some problems if not most in pools can be fixed without taking out your credit card. Most times, your Pool just needs some good old fashion Hump Work rather than adding more pool chemicals.

Pool Stores advise high levels of phosphates promote algae growth and they have the phosphate remover treatment to add to your pool that will solve the problem. High phosphates in pool water may not be a control problem. Pool care involves chlorine and chlorine prevents algae growth in swimming pools.

As many years as I have been taking care of my in-ground pool, I have never witnessed a high Phosphate result on my testing equipment. At least where it causes mischief such as turning the swimming pool water green from algae. 

Although I knew coming from Water and Wastewater Treatment that higher levels of Phosphates and phosphorus types have the potential to feed and encourage algae growth phosphates are not toxic or harmful in your swimming pools. In fact, Phosphates are necessary for the environment in the life cycle not in your pool chemistry but there are many things that don’t belong in your swimming pool.

What are the Red Cross Temperature Guidelines for Swimming Pools?

According to the Red Cross

• Pool temperatures for infants-90°-93°F
• pre-school-aged children-90°-93°F
• Seniors should be-90°-93°F
• Pools used for physical therapy must also be at a higher temperature, ideally around 86°F.
• For exercise or competitive swimming-77°-82°F
• As a general rule, keep it about 77°-84°F …………………………………………………………………… Read more

Phosphates are naturally occurring compounds that can enter your pool from a number of sources. Compounds made of phosphorus and oxygen will create high levels of phosphates and promote algae growth if the pool water isn’t balanced and disinfected with regular pool care high phosphate shouldn’t get out of hand.

Phosphates have the potential to feed and encourage algae growth in your swimming pool phosphates don’t do anything to affect the water quality in your pool.

They are readily available in nature blowing around the backyard and around the trees and bushes. You just don’t want a whole bunch in the swimming pool during the last hot days of the summer.

Run a phosphate test for phosphate in your swimming pool at the beginning of the season especially if you keep the same pool water from the previous year. If it’s high waste some pool water through the pool filter then add fresh water to the pool.  That is most likely all you need to do.

*Phosphate levels will move up and down throughout the season but should not be a worry. Instead, keep well-balanced pool chemistry for complete control phosphates don’t do anything to affect the water quality in your pool

Maybe I’ve just been lucky all these years. Maybe I wasn’t looking for pool Phosphate. If you keep your swimming pool clean you won’t have to worry about them. “Keep your wallet in your pocket and be the master of your swimming pool this year.”

Have a great summer season!

What Type of Chlorine Works best to Control your Pool?

The Best Chlorine for you to use daily in your pool & for Shocking:

Granular
Contains over 70% of the active ingredient (AC) Available in Chlorine
Fast Dissolving
Contain Stabilizer like Cyanuric Acid

Tablets
99% Active Ingredient-Trichloro-S-Triazinetrione (Trichlor)
Slow-dissolving
Contains Stabilizer …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Read more