Hi, We have had so much rain the past week in Kansas that it has been basically pointless adding bleach to the pool. I still have the pump running for a good part of the day. My PH is a bit in the high side but i plan to add muriatic acid tomorrow. I am cleaning the pool after every storm to help keep the bacteria from blooming but it wasnt enough i have water boatman bugs now...Anyone have any quick solutions that wont break the bank?
Water Boatman Bugs??
- Thread starter MNICHOLS10K
- Start date
- May 3, 2014
- 62,659
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
i had them for a couple of weeks chlorine at 10 cya at 60 then just as suddenly as they appeared they were gone middle of winter here water temp around 50f
- Jul 3, 2013
- 9,027
- Pool Size
- 15000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool SJ-40
I start with a 12 oz bottle of regular dove unscented soap, it will cut the friction of the water and they won't be in your pool for long, you may have to use another one but the first one should work.. it also works for the underwater bugs 
Chlorine won't do anything to them, you have to catch them and throw them in a bucket of water with some oil in it so they'll drown.
I have found that after I added borates this summer I haven't had any live boatmen and it cut down on the number of bugs substantially.
I have found that after I added borates this summer I haven't had any live boatmen and it cut down on the number of bugs substantially.
The long term answer is chlorine. It may not harm the boatmen but it kills their food supply which is largely algae. (one more reason to keep adequate chlorine in your pool)
With nothing to eat, they are outta' there!
With nothing to eat, they are outta' there!
Well, now i'm confused, the poster wanted help on getting rid of existing boatmen. If you keep a high chlorine level do they leave the pool? That hasn't ever been my experience but I'm willing to listen if I'm wrong. We tend to get them anytime we get a heavy rain.
Yes. That has been my experience the 2-3 times I had them.....there's no reason for them to stay there if there is nothing to eat.
borjis
LifeTime Supporter
I get a few in the summer time, usually on Saturdays if I take the cover off early in the morning.
I maintain tfp practices religiously.
They just fly in from time to time if it's before it gets hot out.
I just net them out then fold the net on the ground and they dry up.
Before I was doing that I saw two jump out of the net and fly back into the pool!
Funny story but the last one I saw was a few weeks ago when I had my mask
on. He showed up right in my face when I turned around HELLO!
I used my hands and feet to beat water back to it under the surface.
It took a struggle but I managed to get him near the skimmer to draw him in. Those things
are such strong swimmers he managed to get out of the skimmer
regardless of the weir door working properly with the pump running.
I maintain tfp practices religiously.
They just fly in from time to time if it's before it gets hot out.
I just net them out then fold the net on the ground and they dry up.
Before I was doing that I saw two jump out of the net and fly back into the pool!
Funny story but the last one I saw was a few weeks ago when I had my mask
on. He showed up right in my face when I turned around HELLO!
I used my hands and feet to beat water back to it under the surface.
It took a struggle but I managed to get him near the skimmer to draw him in. Those things
are such strong swimmers he managed to get out of the skimmer
regardless of the weir door working properly with the pump running.