Waterco are an Australian manufacturer specialising in a wide range of swimming pool products. As industry leaders they are constantly looking to develop new and innovative products, and their new Aquafingers® broom is a world-first. This unique multi-purpose Microfibre broom was designed by Connie Grace, a stay-at-home mum, and is set to make pool maintenance quicker and easier for you as a pool owner.

"This is a truly innovative addition to the pool cleaning accessories category," says group marketing director Bryan Goh. "Nylon pool brooms have been in circulation for 80 years and consumers haven’t had a choice of broom that better suits the make of their pool, until now."

The Aqua Fingers® pool brush features a high-density microfibre attachment to help gently remove dirt and algae from your pool. The multi-purpose design also includes a unique, flexible body and curved underside, which ensures no awkward corners or difficult to reach areas are missed.

"This provides more angles of operation, making it quicker and easier to clean smooth surfaces,” Bryan explains. “Furthermore, Aqua Fingers® is made from flexible ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), which enables pool owners to clean hard-to-reach places."

That light bulb moment

In January 2017, Connie Gerace from Abbotsbury in Western Sydney returned from a four-day holiday to discover her fibreglass pool's walls and floors were covered with algae.

"I tried sweeping it off with my pool broom, but it proved unsuccessful,” she recalls. “The next day I called our local pool guy to come over and after treating it with chlorine, I asked if there was a better way to clean it. He replied, ‘If you come up with an idea, let me know.’ That’s when a light bulb went off in my head."

Later that day, Connie attached a microfibre cloth to her broom and used it to clean off the algae from the surfaces of her swimming pool. "I could see it working and, even though I had no idea where to start, I believed in my idea."

Connie then developed a prototype with an industrial designer and pitched her revolutionary new idea to industry experts, she also approached Waterco’s Research and Development division, meeting with domestic water care product manager George Flory and senior engineer Pradeep Tandon. They both immediately saw the potential in this new invention.

"As a pool owner, I know how important it is to keep the water clean, inviting and easy to maintain," she says. "With Aqua Fingers®, all it takes is a quick sweep to dislodge dirt or algae."

Just some of the unique features that Waterco’s Aquafingers® Multi-purpose microfibre broom include:

• Flexible ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) construction, making it easier to clean curved corners, ridges, crevices and steps,
• Premium quality microfibre chenille is gentle on smooth surfaces
• Perfect for cleaning fibreglass, tiled and vinyl lined pools
• Also suitable for cleaning glass fences, windows, pool covers and pool coping
• Replacement chenille attachment also available

Aquafingers® has patents pending in New Zealand, Europe, the United Kingdom, and the USA.

One of the most common issues pool owners are facing at the moment is the pool turning green and having to then spend time and money rectifying the problem. But what causes the problem and how can you prevent it?

Algae loves the sun!

The green colour in your swimming pool is caused by the presence of algae in the water. When conditions are right, algae blooms and the pool turns green; having out of balance water, warm temperatures, sunlight and the presence of phosphates all contribute to algae growth but so does the lack of good circulation, filtration and sanitisation.

If it’s all starting to sound like a lot of hard work, fear not, it is possible to keep your pool clear and free of algae with a little commitment to the cause. It is really important to regularly monitor and test the chlorine level and to then dose the water with the appropriate amount based on the volume of water your pool holds. Another essential step during this weather is to ensure your pump is turned on and the water is circulating – not turning the pump on will stop the chemicals from circulating and allow the algae to thrive! Chlorine does a great job of sanitising the water, keeping it free from bacteria and harmful organisms. But when the weather is hot and sunny and the pool is being used a lot, the demand for chlorine increases, so you will find that your usual dose is not as effective and your water balance is suffering.

How do I clear my green pool?

There is a handy guide to looking after your pool available on our website as well as step by step instructions for How To Clear A Green Pool.

By maintaining your chlorine at a level of 1 – 1.5mg or ppm (parts per million) consistently you will dramatically reduce the chance of algae taking hold, and save yourself the headache of battling it!

In addition to chlorine you can also utilise other chemicals to make algae control a breeze!

Lo-Chlor Algae Knock-Out is highly recommended for stubborn algae blooms it is a heavy duty, copper free, dual action formulation, guaranteed to kill even the most stubborn forms of algae!

Phosphates are a major food source for algae, high levels of which often result in a recurrence of stubborn algae in swimming pools. By removing the phosphates from the water, the algae cannot survive. Lo-Chlor Starver X is an effective superior strength liquid phosphate remover for use in swimming pools.

Kleen Pool Long-life Algicide will maintain your pool free of most algae for periods up to 6 months. One simple application will free you from the problems caused by algae blooms; discolouration and hazes which can affect the appearance of your pool. When your pool is not being used for swimming, such as holiday times and throughout winter, Kleen Pool will keep your pool clear and free of most algae without the use of other pool chemicals.

Further advice on water treatment and calculating the volume of your pool can all be found in our Water Treatment Guide as well.

Opening Your Outdoor Pool For Spring – A Step By Step Guide

As we welcome the onset of Spring it is time for outdoor swimming pool owners to start getting their pools ready for the season.

If you used a long life algaecide, such as Winterclear or Kleen Pool when closing down your pool for the winter, you will hopefully now find the pool free from algae, which is one less thing to take care of.

Here is our step by step guide to the process of opening up your outdoor chlorine pool:

1. Remove surface water and debris from the winter cover before removing it from the pool. You will then need to clean and dry it before putting it away for storage.
   
   
2. Using a leaf net, remove as much debris from the pool as possible and clean any tide marks at the water line using either our All Swim Tile and Liner Cleaner or All Swim Waterline Cleaner.
   
   
3. If you removed the pump over the winter, you will need to reconnect the circulation pump – making sure all electrical connections are free from dampness. If in any doubt, be sure to contact an electrician.
   
   
4. Open up any valves beneath the water line which may have been closed or plugged.
   
   
5. Check there are no obstructions to the drains, the outlets and the pump strainer basket.
   
   
6. If necessary, top up the water level so that it can be drawn in through the skimmer/skimmers.
   
   
7. Prime the pump, turn it on and check that the filter, skimmers and drains are all working. The water may be discoloured initially, which is common and no cause for alarm! If you find the water level is too high due to winter rainfall, you will need to pump it to waste.
   
   
8. Run the filter for several hours, vacuuming out any remaining debris. Backwash the filter and top up with fresh water.
   
   
9. Prepare your heat retention cover for use, cleaning off any patches of algae or mould.
   
   
10. Check the pH and if necessary adjust to within the 7.2 – 7.6 range. pH is increased by the use of PAK 2 and lowered by using Pool Acid, both of which can be found in the Water Balance Section on our website
    
    
11. Next you will need to give your pool a good dose of our Shock Chlorine Granules which is essential to kill off any algae and harmful organisms that may be present. Allow the water to circulate to ensure the shock chlorine is thoroughly distributed.
    
    
12. If there are any stubborn algae patches, using our Lo-Chlor Knock Out Algaecide will help remove them.
    
    
13. Adding an algaecide will help keep your pool free from unsightly algae during the season. Long-life algaecides will keep the pool algae-free for up to 6 months, or alternatively All Swim Algicide is a weekly treatment if you prefer regular dosing. Our full range of Algaecides and Clarifiers are perfect for these types of treatments.
    
    

And finally...time to pray for some sunshine, so you can enjoy your outdoor pool to the max this season!

If you need any advice regarding maintaining your swimming pool, feel free to contact us on 02920 705059, email us on sales@allswimltd.com or pop in to the showroom!

Win The War Against Algae This Season

Without doubt, one of the most irritating things for swimming pool owners is the dreaded appearance of algae in your pool. Not being able to use the pool during the algae elimination process, the expense of treating the problem and so on.

It is a common problem amongst pool owners, and for many, when the algae is caught early and swift action taken to tackle it they find it easy enough to manage.

However, others may find despite that knowing how to clear the pool of algae and following the correct procedure, they are plagued by stubborn recurrences of algae – and are fed up of it!

If that sounds familiar, you may be experiencing an issue with the level of Phosphates in your swimming pool. Phos-what?! Allow us to explain…

What Are Phosphates?

Phosphates are pollutants that also happen to be a form of plant-food. They are present in rainwater, fertilisers for landscapes, soil and leaves – all of which can find their way into your swimming pool water. When the level of phosphates in water builds up over time, it provides an excellent food source for algae, which alongside light, water and carbon dioxide set the perfect conditions for algae to thrive in.

What Can Be Done To Stop Recurring Algae?

As mentioned above, algae requires four components to enable it to thrive; Light, Water, Carbon Dioxide and Food. By removing one or more of these components, algae will struggle and be unable to thrive. If you find that algae keeps making an unwelcome return to your swimming pool each year, you more than likely have a higher than desired level of phosphates present.

Testing For Phosphates

If all of this sounds familiar, it makes sense to test your water for phosphates. This can easily be done by bringing a water sample into All Swim for us to test for you. Once you’ve identified a high phosphate problem, you can take the necessary steps to remove the phosphate (food) source, dramatically reducing the chance of persistent algae recurrence.

How Do You Remove Phosphates?

When conducting a shock treatment to kill off algae you typically conclude the treatment process with either a clarifier or flocculant product to remove the dead algae spores from the pool water.  While this appears to resolve the problem, phosphate particles are very small and do not get removed at the same time. They remain in the water, waiting for the next batch of algae to emerge!

Fear not though, as there are products specifically designed to remove phosphates; Lo Chlor Starver Phosphate Remover and Lo-Chlor Starver X. These products are a natural composition of unique polymers and rare earth compounds, proven to safely and effectively remove phosphates from swimming pool water, ponds and fountains.

Both Starver and Starver X are fast acting while simultaneously increasing the efficiency of sanitisers and salt water chlorinators. There is no need to vacuum to waste as no residue settles in the pool and they are compatible with all pool treatment products and equipment.

We offer free, comprehensive advice on all manner of water chemistry queries and managing your swimming pool too of course, so please feel free to get in touch with any questions you have either by calling 02920 705059, emailing sales@allswimltd.com or visiting our swimming pool and hot tub showroom here in Cardiff. We’re here to help!