Anyone else get foamy water after using algaecide?

Zephyr

Zephyr

Member
So I tossed in an algaecide because I noticed a little green starting up but now the water is super foamy and kind of weird looking I didn’t expect that to happen Is this something that clears up on its own or did I screw something up.
 
Zephyr said:
So I tossed in an algaecide because I noticed a little green starting up but now the water is super foamy and kind of weird looking I didn’t expect that to happen Is this something that clears up on its own or did I screw something up.
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Happened to me last summer and I freaked out at first Ended up learning it was totally normal I just shocked the pool a little and let the filter run overnight by morning the foam was gone and the water looked clear again
 
Zephyr said:
So I tossed in an algaecide because I noticed a little green starting up but now the water is super foamy and kind of weird looking I didn’t expect that to happen Is this something that clears up on its own or did I screw something up.
Click to expand...
Yeah that can happen depending on the type of algaecide you used Some are non foaming but the cheaper ones usually cause that suds look It should go away in a couple days if your filter is running just keep circulating the water.
 
That’s totally normal! Some algaecides, especially the cheaper ones, can cause the water to foam a bit. Usually, the foam goes away after a few days once the circulation keeps going. Try leaving the filter on overnight and check it again tomorrow. If it’s still foamy, you might want to bump up the chlorine level a bit to help with the clearing process. Have you tried that yet?
 
I’ve had the same thing happen after using algaecide. Turns out it’s pretty normal, usually caused by foam from the cheaper algaecides. I let it run overnight, and by morning, the water was clear again. Don’t worry, just keep your filter running and let the water circulate.
 
This usually doesn’t mean you ruined anything, foaming after algaecide is pretty common, especially with quat style products and a heavier dose or a lot of organics in the water, so I usually stop the algaecide, keep the pump and filter running, brush, skim off the foam, and backwash or rinse the filter if you can, then focus on maintaining enough chlorine (FC) to finish clearing whatever started the green, if the foam keeps returning after 24 to 48 hours it’s often leftover algaecide, oils, or soap residue and sometimes a small water dilution is what finally knocks it out
 
It looks strange at first, but from what I’ve experienced it’s pretty common. When algae gets knocked out quickly, the leftovers can cause temporary foam. As long as you keep circulation going, that usually settles down on its own, so I don’t think you messed anything up.
 
One thing I didn’t see called out yet is how aeration and water balance can make the foam look way worse than it actually is. When I ran into this, the foam only showed up when the returns were really churning the surface. As soon as I dialed the eyeballs down and reduced splash, it calmed a lot.

Also check your calcium hardness and pH. Low calcium and higher pH together seem to make that sudsy look hang around longer, especially after an algaecide knocks a bunch of organics loose. My water was on the soft side and once I brought CH back into range, the foam stopped forming even though I didnt drain anything.

If it’s already dying down and your filter pressure is staying steady, you’re probably past the worst of it. I’d just avoid adding anything else for a day or two and let the system chew through the leftovers. Anyone else notice foam showing up more when the water’s really aerated?
 
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