New pool owner solves severe backswimmer bug problem with quat algaecide

[Watermom]

Buy a good kit so you can do your own testing. Many times pool store testing is inaccurate. The kit we recommend is the Taylor K2006 or 2006C (better buy). You can't get it locally but you can get it through this link that will take you to Amazon. http://pool9.net/tk/

[BigDave]

I read that these - nasty - critters eat algae. Is your pool a bit greenish? We can help with that. To reinforce what Watermom said, you'll need a good (k-2006) testkit to start.

BTW -I had a few of these in my pool last year - a year I didn't close because of a big autumn storm (Sandy) followed immediately by snow - by spring I had a swamp (with fauna) to clean. The bugs were gone after a week at shock level FC. Kill the food - kill the bugs.

Good Luck

[PoolDoc]

If I understand you, you're not having any trouble killing them. Rather, your problem is that new ones keep arriving? Right?

I assume you are near open water?

The only thing I know of that's likely to help is to keep lights from reflecting off your pool at night. Its my understanding that many night-flying insects like backswimmers recognize water by the reflections. Eliminating those will help, I believe.

[theblet]

Hey everyone. It;s been awhile. Yes I am having success killing these things. I use a local pool shop. The pool chemicals are balanced and they gave me some algaecide 50. The bugs die overnight. and every morning theres thousands of dead ones all over the bottom of the pool. I have to use the scoop/vacuum method. It's a ton of work. My pool is out in the yard so there's grass all around. No lights nearby tho. I broadcast some triazicide but that didnt help either. Also, I dont have a skimmer on the intex, its just an intake. Not sure if a skimmer would help or not. Any other ideas?

:-(

[Phillbo]

Screened in enclosure.

[Waldog]

Make sure your pool light is not on overnight. They might be attracted to it.

[PoolDoc]

I use a local pool shop. . . . . they gave me some algaecide 50. The bugs die overnight. and every morning there are thousands of dead ones all over the bottom of the pool. I have to use the scoop/vacuum method. It's a ton of work. My pool is out in the yard so there's grass all around. No lights nearby tho.

I believe that may be the strongest confirmation I've seen of a linear (foamy) quat helping with bugs. Can you post the exact product name, and company, of the algaecide you used? (Unlike polyquat, formulations vary in the linear quats.)

I broadcast some triazicide but that didnt help either.

What is "triazide"? Please tell me you are not adding pesticides to a pool you're swimming in?

Also, I dont have a skimmer on the intex, its just an intake. Not sure if a skimmer would help or not.

Skimmers seem to help Intex pools with surface debris (including bugs) quite a bit:

Intex deluxe skimmer parts and info
Intex Deluxe Wall-Mounted Skimmer

[theblet]

Thanks for the replies. I dont have any pool lights. The algaecide they recommended was the Regal brand "Algaecide 50" -- here's the product label on Kelly.

Also, the triazicide is a broadcast granule for the yard. Not putting it in the pool! Here is the one i used:

http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...la=pla_1126828

Hopefully a skimmer will pull in the dead bugs while they are floating, instead of them all sinking to the bottom and having to vacuum/scoop.

Thanks

[PoolDoc]

Thanks. Turns out that's a rather standard quat, "Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride" AKA Benzalkonium_chloride AKA ADBAC (wiki article). It's helpful to know that the effect on water bugs is so dramatic.

I edited the title so that others could find the thread, and benefit from your solution!

Here are other products with the same ingredient

Pool Mate 1-2150 Algae-Free 50 Swimming Pool Algaecide, 1-Qt (50% ADBAC) (Amazon)

Nava Chemicals Algaecide 50, 1-Qt (50% ADBAC) (Amazon)

Omni Algae Preventative, qt (40% ADBAC) (3rd party seller)

Please note that these products may well be quite effective a killing air breathing bugs (by making it impossible for them to keep their bubble, and drowning them), but they are NOT useful as algaecides.