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You’re quite right – who wants a green pool? Ah, but when we talk about going green and eco-friendly products, then that’s a whole new ball game. Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights in the modern swimming pool are the “green” solution you have been searching for and are the perfect way to light up your swimming pool without breaking the bank.

Today’s pools can be so much more than a hole in the ground. Creating a visually appealing space in your back garden with a variety of colours and moods is just what your décor specialist ordered!

Why Choose LED Lights For Your Pool?

Energy Efficient LED’s Lead the Way

Back in the days of incandescent lamps, we saw approximately 80 percent of the energy use of these bulbs creating heat, and not light. Those days are over, with LEDs producing far more light and less heat and using between 80 – 90 percent less energy!

Enhanced Style and Mood

Your swimming pool can come alive at night with a choice of mood-enhancing colours. Besides bringing a special ambience to your night-time pool activities, you have the added benefit of a safe swim with a well-lit pool.

Long-Lasting LEDs

Today’s LED lights for swimming pools are here to stay – literally. Proven to last anywhere from 30 000 – 50 000 hours, you can just fit and forget for a good few years (depending on your usage, of course.) That’s 50 times longer than a standard incandescent lamp, and 20 times longer than a halogen.

If you’re planning a new pool, or perhaps some renovations to bring your pool into the 21^st century, then LED lights are a great option to include in your project. Flexible, eco-friendly, long-lasting and simply beautiful!

Chat with Pool Spa for more information on these awesome additions to your swimming pool.

You’ve got your eldest child’s first pool party on this weekend, and you wake up on Wednesday to find your pool a delicious shade of pea-green after those atrocious thundershowers of the past few days. You have very little time to turn your green pool an acceptable shade of blue or face permanent shame from the family. What do you do?

Why is my Pool Green?

Knowing why your pool is green will go a long way toward knowing how to fix it. Your pool is green because you have a sudden explosion of growth of algae. This tiny green plant flourishes in certain environments. It can be that you haven’t run your pool pump for long enough, or your chemical balance is out. Most often, however, after a thundershower, the atmosphere is buzzing with nitrogen which washes into your swimming pool providing the perfect plant food for algae which then multiplies exponentially.

Steps to Turning a Green Pool Blue

So, we know that we need to get rid of the algae. Here’s a rundown of what is most likely to solve your dilemma.

Step One – Correct the pH of your water

Your swimming pool water should be between 7.2 and 7.6 if you are planning to shock treat it. If necessary, use a pH decreaser to get it within this range.

Step Two – Shock dose of chlorine

A super dose of chlorine kills off any organic substances in the pool water. Follow the instructions on your product of choice carefully.

Step Three – Loosen and remove algae

A good brush of the pool walls will loosen up stubborn algae. You may also want to make use of a flocculant or clarifier. These cause the tiny particles in the water to coagulate which makes it easier for them to be effectively removed by the filter.

Step Four – Check your filters and run your pump

You will need to run your pump for a good 24 hours to make sure that the chemicals are circulated properly, and during this time you will need to keep a close eye on your filters to ensure that they don’t become clogged. This should be enough to turn your green pool blue within a day or two. However, if you find that your pool is still cloudy then it may be an idea to check if your sand filter or DE filter is clogged or the earth is not fresh and needs a good backwash. Still stuck? Call in the experts.

So, you want to renovate your pool and you really want something special this time, something that will make a splash… so to speak. Here’s something to consider: glass mosaic tiles. Designers around the globe are turning the average swimming pool into a magical work of art by making innovative use of glass mosaic tiles. Visually striking, luminously beautiful and brilliantly reflective, there are so many reasons to choose glass tiles for your pool. Let’s explore some of them.

The Benefits of Glass Mosaic Tiles in Your Swimming Pool

• Available in any colour and size you can imagine
• Create works of art, monograms, or underwater landscapes for a truly unique finish
• They can make your pool appear larger and more dramatic when combined with the right pool lights
• Glass tiles work well with other mediums such as cement finishes, stone, ceramic tiles or mirrored tiles
• Can be used in any sized swimming pool, as a border or as a complete tiling solution
• The glass is easy to clean and stain resistant
• Coloured mosaics hold their colour and won’t fade over time
• Glass is recyclable and is an eco-friendly choice

What About Cleaning and Maintenance of Glass Mosaics?

Cleaning is easy! Because glass has a non-porous finish, a regular and gentle wipe down with a soft brush is all that is needed to keep them looking their brilliant best. Care should be taken, however, not to use an abrasive brush on glass mosaics as these can scratch the surface and dull their finish. When used on swimming pool steps, it would be wise to make use of a non-slip sealer which takes nothing away from the gorgeous finish but will certainly keep your family and guests safe when frolicking in the shallows. Using glass mosaic tiles in your swimming pool may not be the cheapest choice that you can make, but it is certainly a long-lasting, user-friendly and stunningly beautiful one. For all your pool related questions chat to the pros at Pool Spa. We’re waiting for your call.  

South African homeowners have been in something of a quandary when it comes to keeping and maintaining their swimming pools. Water – or rather – the lack of it means that our home pools may appear to be a luxury that the country can ill-afford. Thankfully rainwater harvesting systems are becoming more popular as we become more environmentally aware, which allows us to use this rainwater for our pools. However, with rainwater coming off the (dirty) roof and being stored in a large tank, is this water safe for the pool? Will it not just bring along a host of algae, bacteria and other critters when we use it to top up our pride and joy? Well, that depends.

Let’s Talk Tanks

Most rainwater storage tanks are made from hardwearing polyethylene which makes them safe for storing (and drinking) water. However, are we going to see a crazy growth of algae in this stored water? Algae – like any plant – will only grow in the presence of sunlight. So, a totally opaque tank is a must, with every entrance and exit safely sealed from dirt and light. No light equals no algae, which means that using this stored rainwater for your pool is totally fine. It’s important to check that you have the right screens in place which will filter out any debris before it gets into your tank. It’s also worth checking the material that your roof is made of so that no hidden toxins leach from the roof into the stored water.

The Many Uses of Stored Rainwater

Topping up your pool may be a priority for you if you are considering investing in a rainwater harvesting system, but you’ll find so many other uses for this system once it’s been installed. Wash your car, water your garden, top up your pond, clean your drive and paths, use it for flushing toilets or doing washing or pipe it into your dishwasher. Once you’re off the grid, so to speak, the escalating municipal costs are no longer an issue. In fact, rainwater has an added advantage of being naturally “soft” water, being completely free from chemicals or sediment, which makes it better for your pool, your garden and your health.