Copper Sulphate Swimming Pools

The Copper Sulphate for swimming pools, CuSO4, is used as a algaecide in the preparation of swimming pools during the summer season. An algaecide is a chemical used to destroy algae (single or multicellular chlorophyllous microscopic plants). They reproduce by division or sporulation and encourage the growth of micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi.

Virtually all swimming pools require the use of an algaecide. The copper sulphate is one of the most widely used.

WHEN TO USE COPPER SULPHATE IN SWIMMING POOLS

In these 2 images you can see different pools. In the first image we show you 2 pools with greenish water due to algae and organic matter. The lower image shows you a pool that we are used to swimming in. The colour is often the best indicator of the state of the pool. 

Piscina con algas Piscina agua clara

The green colour is due to algae, which are unicellular micro-organisms of plant origin, with a great capacity to reproduce under certain conditions.

To repair the pool when this happens, it is recommended to use a biocide such as Copper Sulphate which will act as an algaecide. Copper sulphate for swimming pools is the common copper sulphate (pentahydrate), which you will usually find commercially.

COPPER SULPHATE DOSAGE FOR SWIMMING POOLS

The dose to be used will depend on the amount of organic matter in the water. It also depends on whether it is a shock treatment or if it is applied as a preventive treatment for the winter. 

For a summer preparation cleaning of the water, a reference dose would be 5-10 grams per m3 of water.  1 m3 equals 1000 litres, so for a swimming pool of 100 m3 would need 0.5-1Kg of copper sulphate approximately. We can take these quantities as a reference.

1m3 of Water - (1.000L Water) - 5-10 grams of Copper Sulphate
10m3 of Water - (10.000L Water) - 50-100 grams of Copper Sulphate
50m3 of Water - (50.000L Water)- 250-500 grams of Copper Sulphate
100m3 Water - (100.000L Water) - 500-1000 grams (1Kg) Copper Sulphate
2500m3 of Water - 12-25 Kg of Copper Sulphate

Dissolve the product beforehand in a small amount of water and spread over the entire surface of the pool.

STEP BY STEP CLEANING OF ALGAE IN THE SWIMMING POOL 

  • Make a calculation of the volume of water in your pool (if you don't have it in the manufacturing plan). With this volume, estimate the quantity of copper sulphate.
  • Dissolve the copper sulphate in a small amount of water first. Once dissolved in the small amount of water, pour the solution into the pool.
  • Circulate the water for 1-2 hours. By circulating the water you will be dissolving all the copper sulphate in the pool. Leave overnight (8-10h) for the copper sulphate to act on the micro-organisms. Copper sulphate is a biocide that will act on the suspended micro-organisms. Subsequently, we will need a product that will precipitate them. 
  • Once it has settled overnight, or at least 8-10 hours, a flocculant is needed to precipitate the suspended particles. One of the most commonly used flocculants is Aluminium sulphate. Aluminium sulphate acts as a flocculant, binding the particles and precipitating them to the bottom of the pool.
  • Leave the aluminium sulphate to stand and act for at least 1-2 hours.
  • Clean the impurities left on the bottom and walls with a hoover.
  • Recirculate the pool water.
  • Measure the pH of the water and its residual chlorine, check that all values are within the established parameters. 
  • To prevent the formation of micro-organisms, the use of a pool protector is recommended. 

In case the use of copper sulphate is preventive (the pool is not green, but copper sulphate is poured in when filling the pool as a preventive measure), use only as a preventive measure. 2 to 4 grams per m3 . If it is for winter maintenance (ALL YEAR ROUND), then use 50 grams per m3 of water. 

OBSERVATIONS After applying the algaecide or copper sulphate, bluish-grey stains may appear, covering an appreciable surface of the walls and bottoms. They are due to the dead protein residues of the invading micro-organisms, and disappear on their own within 1 to 4 days.

Another use of copper sulphate is in agriculture, here you can see more: copper sulphate fungicideand is also an important component in the animal feed.

ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTATION

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Copper Sulphate

36 thoughts on “Sulfato de Cobre Piscinas”

    1. Hello Rosina,
      It is very important to follow the steps for the application of copper sulphate in order to be able to bathe safely afterwards.
      Greetings
      Begoña

      1. When do they plan to supply you with copper sulfate and chlorine for the pool?
        Considering that the water is crystal clear or, to put it more simply, clean.
        Thank you for your help..

        1. Hi, I have a 130,000-liter swimming pool. How much copper sulfate do I need to remove the green color?
          I have put liquid chlorine in it a lot
          Clificante and Alguisida. A singer and a solo clarinettist who only plays a little
          It is aspired to and pursued day by day.

      2. Beatrice Nizzoli

        The water is cloudy with whitish floating particles…but it’s not green…can I still use the copper sulfate? Does it help to make the water clear again?
        Thank you

  1. Luis Eduardo Garrido

    Good afternoon my friend my pool has approximately 37 thousand litres of water how much copper sulphate can I put in it?

  2. We put copper sulfate in the fiber pool; the indicated amount per liter of water stained all the steps and part of the float line brown. How to remove it?

  3. When do they plan to supply you with copper sulfate and chlorine for the pool?
    Considering that the water is crystal clear or, to put it more simply, clean.
    Thank you for your help..

  4. Good afternoon! When buying an algicide, the copper sulfate content is 18.85%. I need to calculate it to get 100% copper sulfate, right? The pool is 18,000 liters.

  5. Hello. I have a 30,000-liter swimming pool and I added about 200g of copper sulfate to it. I see that I overdid it. When can I start using it again?

  6. Hello, I applied 500 gr of copper sulphate, it is transparent but very green, now it is blue but cloudy, what should I do? THANK YOU

    1. Good day!.. Let me see if I can understand what you are saying here… it was that their pool was green and after applying only half a kilo of copper sulfate it changed its appearance giving a blue tint but with turbid water!.. and how much volume does their pool contain?

  7. Hello, good afternoon. My pool measures 3×5. How much sulphate do I have to put in it?
    I look forward to your reply, thank you very much.

  8. CARLOS SORIA CORTES

    Hello, how are you? I bought your copper sulfate and I threw it into the pool. It's a 10 m3 tank, so I'll throw in about 90 grams of product. The next day I'll throw in flocculant. After a few days the water is blue, not that it's bad, but it's cloudy. I run the bottom cleaner robot every hour and still can't clear the water.
    What could I do?? Thank you.

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