Algae eating my lunch!

[PoolDoc]

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1. Eradicating black algae may, or may not be possible. Often it's gotten down into the concrete in places you can't reach. Once you have black algae, you'll always have to be on guard. The only way I know to surely eradicate it is to refinish, with either new plaster or epoxy paint.

+ First step: pressure wash the pool, but NOT with so much pressure you damage your pool.

+ Next, scrub with TSP, and then rinse and remove.

+ Finally, wash down with FULL strength 6% household bleach. Expect that your clothes will be damaged; but wear gloves, rubber boots and glasses. Be VERY careful to make sure there's nothing in the pool -- bleach can create dangerous fumes with many chemicals. A little left over TSP won't hurt, but get out of the pool immediately if you start smelling fumes. I'd do the sides and shallow area first, and then arrange a ventilation fan blowing into the deep end, just to be safe. Have someone watching you -- someone who's strong enough to hold their breath and drag you out! -- while you work the deep end.

Each time bleach gets on you, it strips a top layer of skin. The first few times, that's not a problem. But it can become one. So, don't let that happen while you're working with bleach.