Cleaning pool toys and tools to prevent algea recurrence

[Kellllllli]

The standard approach I've heard is that if you've had an algea bloom, you need to wash suits and towels and dry on hot, keep pool tools in the shocked pool to sanitize, and scrub every potential algea spore off ever toy and float that may have touched the water while there might've been algea.

I'm curious if we need to be that diligent about eradicating algea spores, if we are being diligent about our chlorine. Shouldn't adequate chlorine levels be able to handle a few rogue algea spores?

For context, I'm dealing with a pile of toys and floats from last season that I would love to keep. They may or may not have touched the water when it was compromised by algea, I can't remember at this point. I will definitely clean them so they have no visible dirt, but debating whether it's worth the time to scrub them all with bleach as well.

 

[PoolStored]

I'm curious if we need to be that diligent about eradicating algea spores, if we are being diligent about our chlorine. Shouldn't adequate chlorine levels be able to handle a few rogue algea spores?

For context, I'm dealing with a pile of toys and floats from last season that I would love to keep. They may or may not have touched the water when it was compromised by algea, I can't remember at this point. I will definitely clean them so they have no visible dirt, but debating whether it's worth the time to scrub them all with bleach as well.

If they have been dry, no risk, algae is dead. Whatever is left, if your FC is appropriate, can handle it...

 

[Newdude]

For context, I'm dealing with a pile of toys and floats from last season that I would love to keep. They may or may not have touched the water when it was compromised by algea

I personally believe this whole theory came about to explain why the pool store cleared algae returned, when it was really never cleared in the first place.

Your SUITS !!!!!! We fixed your pool and then you ruined it with tainted suits !!!!! That'll be another $175 for this round of floccs and shocks. (3 weeks later it's the toys fault).

For light niches, ladder rails, steps (etc) to overwhelm properly chlorinated water, they are NASTY. And even then, you lose 2ppm a night and fail the OCLT with perfectly clear and still sanitized water. You would never reuse toys or suits that had the amount of gunk needed to start a new SLAM. A dusting that you can't even see on a snorkel mask or a suit won't tank your 6000 gallons.

 

[Oly]

Are you using a large soft foam mat with a leaky torn cover?

 

[1poolman1]

The standard approach I've heard is that if you've had an algea bloom, you need to wash suits and towels and dry on hot, keep pool tools in the shocked pool to sanitize, and scrub every potential algea spore off ever toy and float that may have touched the water while there might've been algea.

I'm curious if we need to be that diligent about eradicating algea spores, if we are being diligent about our chlorine. Shouldn't adequate chlorine levels be able to handle a few rogue algea spores?

For context, I'm dealing with a pile of toys and floats from last season that I would love to keep. They may or may not have touched the water when it was compromised by algea, I can't remember at this point. I will definitely clean them so they have no visible dirt, but debating whether it's worth the time to scrub them all with bleach as well.

Rogue spores? You have a beautiful river in Austin. Why is it green? Algae. Do people boat? When they do they aerosolize the water with its algae. It can travel on the wind for miles, just looking for a nice blue pool in which to fall. Hopefully, your pool is chock-full of toxic (to algae and bacteria) water waiting to put down the onslaught. Basically, there's always some algae on the wind.

Algae bloom? Do a SLAM and then keep your chems up. The rest is up to you, obviously, but not likely needed with proper chemical levels.

 

[dfwnoob]

What @1poolman1 said. It's algae, not the bubonic plague. SLAM if your chlorine dips and you get an algae bloom, and be sure to keep the FC at it's proper level afterwards and you'll be golden. Algae is always out there lurking in the shadows, no matter how crazy you sanitize your pool equipment or toys.

Additionally - Remember, algae is a symptom, not a disease. It's a canary in the coal mine. It's an indication that your sanitization levels (that are necessary to kill much nastier stuff than a little algae) are not sufficient.