Green Pool Cleaning in Byron Bay
If your pool has turned green, it can almost always be brought back, and usually without draining it. Pool Professionals runs green pool recovery across Byron Bay, Suffolk Park, Bangalow, Ewingsdale and the wider Northern Rivers, with most pools back to clear and swimmable within three to seven days.
Get a free quote or call 0427 204 020
Why has my pool turned green?
A green pool is an algae bloom, and it happens when chlorine drops below the level needed to keep algae in check. The usual triggers are a heavy rain event diluting the water, a filtration system running too few hours, a failed or scaled salt chlorinator cell, stabiliser levels that are too high or too low, or simply a stretch of hot weather without a service visit.
In Byron Bay it is most often rain. A single summer downpour can dilute chlorine, drop salt levels, push pH out of range and wash organic debris into the pool all at once.
Can a green pool be fixed without draining it?
In most cases, yes. Draining is a last resort. It is expensive, it wastes a full pool of water, and an empty fibreglass or concrete shell can crack, lift or stain if it is left dry, especially where the water table is high. We only recommend draining when the water is so far gone chemically that recovery would cost more than a refill, or when the surface itself needs acid washing.
How do you clean a green pool?
1. Test and assess. Full water analysis covering chlorine, pH, alkalinity, stabiliser, salt and phosphates, plus an equipment and filtration check. Algae will not clear if the pump or filter is the underlying problem.
2. Remove debris and brush. Net out leaves and organic matter, then brush walls, floor and steps to break algae off the surfaces so the chemicals can reach it.
3. Correct the chemistry, then shock. Balance pH first so the chlorine can work, then shock dose to kill the algae.
4. Filter continuously. Run the system around the clock, backwashing or cleaning the filter as it loads up. This is the stage that does most of the visible work.
5. Flocculate if needed. For heavy blooms, a flocculant drops dead algae to the floor so it can be vacuumed to waste.
6. Test again and rebalance. We return to test again, top up chlorine, correct chemistry and vacuum, repeating until the water is clear and stable.
How long does it take to clear a green pool?
Light green usually clears in two to three days. A properly dark green pool takes five to seven days, sometimes longer if the filtration is undersized or the filter needs replacing. The pool turnover rate and filter condition matter more than the chemicals here, because a pool that cannot filter fast enough will stay cloudy no matter how much chlorine goes in.
Is it safe to swim in a green pool?
No. Algae itself is mostly harmless, but water green enough to hide algae is also water where bacteria can survive, and it obscures the bottom of the pool, which is a real drowning risk with children. Stay out until the water is clear and the chemistry has been confirmed.
How much does green pool recovery cost in Byron Bay?
It depends on how far gone the pool is, its volume, and how much chemical and filtration time recovery takes. We assess on site and give you a fixed quote before starting, including how many return visits are involved. If we think a drain and refill is genuinely the better option, we will tell you.
How do I stop it happening again?
Regular servicing is the only reliable answer. Most green pools we see belong to owners who were doing it themselves and got busy for three weeks in January. Beyond that, run filtration long enough in summer, test after every heavy rain, and get your chlorinator cell checked annually.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need access to the pool while you work?
Yes, for the initial visit and each return visit, but you do not need to be home.
Will the algae come straight back?
Not if the underlying cause is fixed. We identify what caused the bloom and tell you what to change.
My pool is green and I have guests arriving. How fast can you start?
Call us. We prioritise green pool recovery and can usually start within a day or two in Byron Bay.
Does a salt pool get green pools too?
Yes. Salt pools still rely on chlorine, and the chlorinator just makes it on site. If the cell fails or salt levels drop after rain, chlorine production stops.
Do you service green pools outside Byron Bay?
Yes, across the Northern Rivers, including Ballina, Lennox Head, Tweed Heads, Brunswick Heads, Lismore, Murwillumbah and Casino.
Get your pool clear again. Get a free quote or call 0427 204 020. See our full Byron Bay pool cleaning service.