Copper to kill algae in a pool

Dolby

Dolby

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What are your thoughts?

I've read a little online and it seems copper is great to kill algae - providing you keep the pH at a certain level.


Someone at work said it stains - but had no idea about requirements such as pH etc
 
I run a small pool, about 18000l with a cup of copper sulphate and a cup of zinc chloride a month. No algae, clear water, no bacterial counts and no burning eyes. Had no staining at all, the chap who told me said to dissolve the chemicals before adding them to the pool. If the crystals sit on cement or grout, it will stain, but not if dissolved.
Had to shock the pool with HTH once after heavy rains ran nutrients from the garden into the pool and diluted the copper sulphate. Algae bloom then.
Oh, and the pool company says my pool should be green because my chlorine is zero. :)
 
Dolby said:
What are your thoughts?
I've read a little online and it seems copper is great to kill algae - providing you keep the pH at a certain level.
Someone at work said it stains - but had no idea about requirements such as pH etc
Click to expand...

Copper is great at low doses, but you do risk staining, especially in a plaster pool.
If you let the pH swing high the copper will drop out of solution and form bluish stains.
Chlorine can also react with it and make the stains black.
If you have a fibreglass pool it's less of a problem.

Either way, if you have copper in your water, do not throw granular chlorine into the pool letting it sit on the surface. Always put it through the weir so it gets mixed nicely by your pump.

What form of copper are you thinking of? Copper sulphate should not be used in a pool according to the experts, mind you, that's probably because it's cheap.

If you want a commercial product, Poolbrite's Tru Blu is copper.

I used a copper ionizer for over five years... So feel free to ask me any questions you might have :)
 
Last edited:
mister said:
Copper is great at low doses, but you do risk staining, especially in a plaster pool.
If you let the pH swing high the copper will drop out of solution and form bluish stains.
Chlorine can also react with it and make the stains black.
If you have a fibreglass pool it's less of a problem.

Either way, if you have copper in your water, do not throw granular chlorine into the pool letting it sit on the surface. Always put it through the weir so it gets mixed nicely by your pump.

What form of copper are you thinking of? Copper sulphate should not be used in a pool according to the experts, mind you, that's probably because it's cheap.

If you want a commercial product, Poolbrite's Tru Blu is copper.

I used a copper ionizer for over five years... So feel free to ask me any questions you might have :)
Click to expand...

I've a fibreglass pool and I've been using copper sulphtae with great success.
Our town has very severe water restrictions and we have to rely on raintanks to keep going.
One of the reasons for usung copper sulphate is to lead the backwash water into the garden.

Please tell us more of the copper ionizer. Where, how and how much.
 
Sorry - wasn't for me specifically.

Just a person at work said NO - and I said it depends. Wanted to get feedback!
 
Dolby said:
Sorry - wasn't for me specifically.

Just a person at work said NO - and I said it depends. Wanted to get feedback!
Click to expand...

Ah :) Well the person is half right, it will stain if you don't know what you are doing. But it's absolute magic against algae...
 
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