Its Only February and What's This Slime in My Pool???

So now that the cold weather is finally gone here in Florida, and it's no longer too cold to go swimming, you stepped out only to find a yellowish film floating on top of the water. What is this slimy substance that resembles oil on the surface you ask? Well, welcome to pollen season!

While you aren't likely to have as much in your pool as you see in this picture, it can accumulate very quickly. Furthermore, it has the ability to clog your filter cartridge literally OVERNIGHT. So, during this season which can last well into May, here are a few things you can do to reduce the impact pollen will have on your pool.

1. Using a fine mesh (silt and sand) net, skim the surface around the tiles of your pool once every day.

2. Install a skimmer sock in your skimmer basket to trap the pollen before it reaches the filter system. (Shown Below)

3. Clean cartridge filters as often as once per week.

4. If you have a bottom cleaner in your pool, add aluminum sulfate as a flocculant and it will bind the pollen into larger particles that will fall to the floor and be vacuumed into the filter. Remember to clean the filter often.

5. Pool stores such as Leslie's do carry special clarifier chemicals that can be added to your pool to help break down the pollen at the molecular level.

   
   

   

   Skimmer Sock Debris Shield

   Pollen in the pool is harmless to swimmers; however, it can change the chemistry of your water and cause a chlorine demand. While it is virtually impossible to prevent it from getting in your pool, if you take a few extra steps to treat it you will improve the appearance of your pool water and make it much more visually inviting to go swimming in.