Regular use of copper as an algaecide ...

[PoolDoc]

Hi Paul;

Welcome to the forum!

Like many things, copper has good and bad points.

The good is a short list, and not one that endears it to me: it kills algae and inhibits bacteria.

The bad is a longer list:

• It does NOT kill bacteria;
• It does nothing to viruses, often the culprit in person to person infections;
• It turns light (blond, white) hair green;
• It stains pools, sometimes very badly;
• It's not really compatible with chlorine, which still has to be used.

You can reduce some of copper's problems, by not using chlorine. And, with care and some tricks, it's possible to keep a lightly used pool or fountain clear with not much more than copper. But you give up on actual sanitation when you do, and that's a pretty heavy price to pay. You also give up on oxidation -- burning up the trash from sweat, pee, and oils -- with copper. And, if your pool gets much use at all, that's a huge problem.

Your choice, of course.

Ben

[CarlD]

I'll be a little more direct than Ben.

Don't use copper to keep algae away.

A better and more compatible algaecide is called PolyQuat. It's called Black Algae, Mustard Algae or just algaecide. But the key is the SOLE active ingredient is 60% Poly......<something long and unpronounceable>.... If you add about 1-2 ounces a week, if your FC falls a bit low it will inhibit algae. But it's better to keep your FC up to the maintenance levels suggested by the "Best Guess Chlorine Chart" (see Ben's sig for the link). Copper turns blond hair green and stains pools.

Carl