After a long day, there’s nothing more relaxing than taking a nice soak in your hot tub. That is, until you open the lid to discover an algae growth has taken over your sanctuary. Here are 5 types of algae you may encounter in your hot tub and simple tips to eradicate them from your spa.

1. Brown Algae

With its brownish gray hue, this algae can be the result of iron in your water or a high pH level. Treat your water with a pH decreaser and maintain pH levels close to 7.2 to prevent this algae from occurring.

2. Mustard Algae

This type of algae has a powdery texture, and typically occurs in shaded conditions. The best course of treatment is the use of spa chemicals, like a shock treatment and algaecide to rid it completely.

3. Black Algae

Commonly caused by improperly functioning filters and low chlorine levels, black algae must be removed similarly to mustard algae. Once this algae has been scrubbed and treated, clean your filter to get rid of any lingering spores.

4. Blue-Green Algae

Blue-green algae is oftentimes the result of a filter problem. Replacing your filter as recommended can help prevent this type of algae, as can maintaining a clean filter. Use a filter cleaner to remove the dirt and debris from a clogged filter.

5. Green Algae

This green, scummy algae is fast-growing and oftentimes the result of metals in your fill water. The use of a pre-filter on your garden hose can decrease your chances of encountering this problem, since these filters typically remove most contaminants from your water.

Take Action Now

Do you suspect you may have algae growing in your hot tub? With the help of this guide, you can easily identify the type plaguing your hot tub and get rid of it once and for all.