Hello. My experience with backswimmers and a few questions.

[Pickergrinner]

Hi TFP!

First, a big thanks as a relatively new pool owner this site saved me from multiple headaches and saved multiple $$.

Since getting the pool, my biggest battle has been with backswimmer bugs. I have read a lot and have some suspicions about these turds.

One suspicion is that some people have pools where they like to congregate despite clear, balanced water and passing OCLT. In my case, I have a weird, poorly functioning skimmer as well as an Endless Pool swim jet that I believe doubles as a bug cave. Being diligent about following TFP protocol for water chemistry as well as staying on top of skimming has brought the numbers down from a swarm to intermittent findings of 1-10 bugs.

How do they feel about chlorine? My particular bugs don't like shock level chlorine and seem to vacate for a day or two and then come back. I would manage chlorine based on visible algae/OCLT parameters and forget about a SLAM just because the bugs are there.

How do they feel about borates? My particular bugs don't care about borates. 50ppm does not phase them. I suspect that once people get to the point where they are adding borates, their pool is close to tip top and they are dealing with less bugs in general. Did you know that backswimmers have middle fingers that can be seen under microscope? They swim with middle fingers in the air showing their defiance of chlorine and borax!

So, I think the true weapon against these turds is an agent that decreases surface tension. To my knowledge, this is either dish soap or Bioguard Back Up algaecide. I tried the dish soap approach with some success. I read somewhere to mix dish soap with water 50:50 and spray it right on them. This does indeed kill them and works well for 1 or 2. If there are many in the pool I mix 1/4 cup "ultra" Palmolive with water and add to my 5200 gal pool. There will be some bubbles on the other side of the infinity edge and a noticeable flattening of the meniscus when the water is in a comparator tube.

I haven't tried the Bioguard Backup yet.

Ok, here are my questions. Hopefully an expert or two weighs in:

1. Given clear balanced water and good OCLT would you choose soap or back up to kill backswimmers?
2. What are the potential downsides of soap vs Back Up from a health and chemistry perspective?
3. Is there any way other than trial and error to determine best dosing to kill backswimmers? Surface tension test?

Thanks in advance and thank you again TFP for all of the excellent advice.

 

[kimkats]

Interesting about the middle finger............I will have to look a little closer when I next see one. LOL

I have someone who should be able to help with your questions. Hold on a bit until he gets back with us.

 

[kimkats]

Okay I got an answer for your questions/ideas:

"The OP needs to get his pool equipment (skimmer) functioning properly rather than dumping dish soap in his pool. The inhibit stuff is just a linear quat algaecide (the cheap kind) - it might help but it also causes water foaming so I’m not sure that’s such a good answer either."

I hope that helps!!

Kim

 

[RonsPlc]

There are 2 different type of bugs that people call back swimmers...

The REAL Back Swimmers are actually a flying insect that eats other insects. If you trap one of these, they are capable of inflicting a painful bite/sting.

The other one is actually a Water Boatman they are after the algae/plant matter in your pool. BTW, they are also able to fly. When trapped, they have no defence, and can not harm you.

Each of these bugs breathe air, and rely on surface tension to hold them to the surface of the pool to breathe. They also rely on it to maintain a small pocket of air that they carry around with them so they can breathe while under water.

To eradicate your pool of Water Boatmen, chlorine!
To eradicate your pool of Back Swimmers, insect control around your pool.