Get matched with top above ground pool installation pros in Phillips, WI

Small backyards are not a reason to write off fun upgrades like an above ground pool. You can find both soft and hard-sided above ground pools as small as 8 feet in diameter as well as 9-by-18-feet rectangles or 10-by-16-feet ovals. You will need at least 2 to 3 feet around the outside of your pool for additional support and for placing pool equipment, but a professional pool installer can help you find a model that's right for your tiny outdoor space.

It’s not ideal to swim in a cloud pool, as it can be a sign of algae, bacteria, or calcium buildup as well as chlorine, pH, or alkalinity imbalances. It is best to avoid cloudy water in pools until you determine the cause of the color change.

No, shock and chlorine are not the same thing, though they are related and both are used for pool maintenance. Regular chlorine, often in the form of tablets, is a sanitizer used for routine, day-to-day maintenance to keep a steady chlorine level. Pool shock, however, is a highly concentrated dose of chlorine used periodically for a more intense cleaning. It rapidly raises chlorine levels to fix issues like cloudy water or algae growth and also eliminates chloramines, which are byproducts of regular chlorination. Because their purposes and concentrations differ, they are not interchangeable, and proper pool care typically requires using both.

The best way to dissolve algae is to use pool shock. The shock increases the free chlorine levels in your pool, which in turn kills bacteria, microorganisms, and algae. You can opt for granulated shock that you mix with water or a premixed liquid shock.

Keep in mind that using pool shock is just one of the steps you need to take to get rid of algae from your pool. Unless you also brush, vacuum, and clean the filter, your algae problem may return.