Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate In Swimming Pools

Copper based algaecides and algaestats are the commonest source of copper salts for pools but copper sulphate is also a preventative treatment and an effective cure for many algae attacks.

Copper sulfate pentahydrate in swimming pools.

Copper salts react with chlorine to produce cupric oxide and and may cause grey black stains on pool surfaces. The chemical used is copper sulphate pentahydrate chelated. Copper sulfate is also used in order to help with public health and safety. Copper sulfate does not replace the need for pool sanitizers such as chlorine.

Copper sulfate otherwise known as bluestone is sometimes used in swimming pools as an algaecide. One part per million of copper in drinking water is quite safe and 0 5 parts per million is enough to control green algae in swimming pools. It destroys algae and bacteria caused by growing algae in swimming pools in addition to preventing athlete s foot a fungal infection that grows in between the toes in warm climates such as an indoor swimming pool. Copper sulfate pentahydrate cuso4 5h2o is added to water it dissolves quickly giving us the crystal clear bluing of hexaaquacopper ii ions cuh2o 6 2 above.

Copper sulfate does not eliminate the need for chlorine bromine or other pool sanitizers. This is simply 6 water molecules h2o bonded to a copper cu2 cation. Most copper sulphate contains around 20 25 copper so a 50 000 liter pool would require 100 120 grams copper sulphate if the pool is green i would give a once off double dose. Therefore it should not be used as part of your regular pool chemical treatment.

This reaction is known as hexaaquacopper. It s also much cheaper than proprietary chemicals.