The fast answer. Recovery cost in Boca/Delray runs $150 (light bloom, 24–48 hours) to $450+ (mature bloom, 4–7 days) for service-only, before any filter teardown or acid wash. Most calls land in the $200–$350 range. Stage your pool against the three categories below to estimate where you fall.
The three algae stages — by visibility, not just color
Light green (early bloom)
- Visibility: water has a yellow-green tint but you can clearly see the bottom of the deep end.
- Algae stage: free-floating, hasn't adhered to surfaces.
- Recovery time: 24–48 hours.
- Recovery cost: $150–$200 service-only.
- Protocol: Triple shock to 10 ppm, brush all surfaces, run filter 24 hours.
Dark green (mature bloom)
- Visibility: you can see the first step but not the second; bottom is invisible.
- Algae stage: attaching to walls and floor, biofilm forming.
- Recovery time: 4–7 days.
- Recovery cost: $250–$350.
- Protocol: Triple shock to 15 ppm, daily brush, phosphate remover, filter cleaning at the end.
Black-green (rooted)
- Visibility: you can't see your hand 6 inches under water.
- Algae stage: rooted in plaster microporosity; some strains (black/mustard) survive standard chlorine doses.
- Recovery time: 7–14 days.
- Recovery cost: $400–$650+.
- Protocol: Aggressive shock (15+ ppm), phosphate remover, possible acid wash on plaster (pro only), full filter teardown.
The $150–$450 cost breakdown
Service-only pricing in Boca and Delray is typically structured by stage and gallon range:
- Light green, 10,000–15,000-gal pool: $150–$200. Includes shock chemistry, brush, 24-hour filter run.
- Light green, 20,000+ gal: $200–$275. Larger pools proportionally more chemistry.
- Dark green, 15,000-gal: $250–$350. Includes triple shock, phosphate remover, daily brushing visit (3–4 visits over the week), end-of-recovery filter cleaning.
- Black-green, 15,000-gal: $400–$650. Includes everything above plus filter teardown, possible acid-spot treatment.
- Acid wash (full plaster): $400–$1,200 separately. Requires a CPC-licensed contractor and lowering water in stages.
Why South Florida pools turn green so fast
Three forces stack against you in Boca and Delray:
- Heat. Water above 86°F doubles algae reproduction rate. Pool temps in Boca routinely hit 92°F in July.
- Phosphates. Boca and Delray municipal water measures 200–600 ppb phosphates straight from the tap. Phosphate is direct algae fuel.
- Sun. Without enough cyanuric acid (CYA), the South Florida sun burns through chlorine in hours. CYA at 30 ppm gives chlorine a 6–8 hour half-life; CYA at 0 gives it 1–2 hours.
The DIY threshold
DIY-realistic: light green where you can still see the bottom. Triple shock to 10 ppm, brush every surface, run the filter 24 hours. Expected total cost: ~$60 in chemicals, 2–3 hours of your time over 48 hours.
Borderline: dark green where you lose the second step. DIY works if you can dose accurately, brush daily for a week, and have a working SWG or tablet feeder. Expected DIY cost: $80–$120 in chemicals over the week.
Pro-only: black-green where you can't see your hand. Algae has rooted into plaster; the wrong chemistry sequence damages the surface. The phosphate management math is unforgiving (over-treat and you trash the cell; under-treat and it comes back in 3 weeks).
How to prevent a repeat green-out
Most repeat green pools in Boca trace to one of five anchors:
- Free chlorine 1.5–4 ppm year-round. Never let it drop below 1.
- CYA 30–50 ppm. Under-stabilized chlorine burns off in Boca sun.
- Phosphates under 200 ppb. Dose a phosphate remover monthly during pollen season (March–May).
- Filter pressure check weekly. Backwash when 8–10 psi above clean baseline.
- Weekly service, not bi-weekly, in March through October. See our South Florida pool care calendar for the full month-by-month schedule.
Local providers experienced with green-pool recovery
From the 2026 Boca/Delray ranking, these companies explicitly list green-to-clean as a service:
- Florida's Best Pools — green-to-clean recovery + acid wash + new-pool startup; CPO licensed, BBB accredited.
- So Flow Pool Services — green-to-clean algae recovery listed as standard service.
- Ama Pools — Florida CPC 1460171; full repair + recovery capability.
- AJ Pools — acid wash listed; CPO + BBB accredited.
- Little Bird Pool Services — Florida CPC 1461263; weekly + recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Green-to-clean recovery for a typical 15,000-gallon Boca pool takes 3–7 days, depending on algae stage. Light green (early bloom): 24–48 hours with a triple shock and brushing. Dark green (mature bloom): 4–7 days plus filter cleaning. Black-green (algae rooted in plaster): 7–14 days plus possible acid wash. Cost ranges from $150 (light) to $450 (dark) for service-only, before any equipment repair.
Service-only costs typically run $150–$450. Light green (early): $150–$200. Dark green (mature): $250–$350. Black-green (rooted, requires brushing or acid wash): $400–$650+. Add filter teardown if needed ($75–$150). Add a phosphate remover if water is high in phosphates ($30–$80 in chemicals). For yellow/mustard algae specifically, expect additional algaecide costs.
Three reasons specific to South Florida. (1) Heat: water above 86°F doubles algae reproduction rate. (2) Phosphate-heavy municipal water: feeds algae directly. (3) Sun exposure: chlorine without sufficient CYA (cyanuric acid) burns off in hours. Most green-pool calls in Boca trace to a combination of bi-weekly service in pollen season, a salt cell that needs cleaning, or a filter that's overdue for a backwash.
Light green (water still semi-clear, you can see the bottom): yes, DIY with triple-shock + brushing + 24-hour filter run is realistic. Dark green (can't see the second step): borderline — DIY works if you can dose accurately and are willing to brush daily for a week. Black-green (can't see your hand at the bottom): call a pro. At that stage you usually need a phosphate remover, a filter teardown, and possibly an acid wash — and the chemistry math is unforgiving.
Almost never in South Florida. The high water table can hydrostatically lift an empty pool shell ('popping the pool'), causing $20,000–$50,000 of damage. The only exception is acid-wash territory: a pro lowers the water 12 inches at a time to do a controlled acid wash, never fully draining. If your pool truly needs an acid wash, hire a CPC-licensed contractor — Ama Pools (CPC 1460171) and Little Bird (CPC 1461263) hold this license.
Five anchors. (1) Free chlorine 1.5–4 ppm year-round, never below 1. (2) CYA 30–50 ppm — under-stabilized chlorine burns off in Boca sun. (3) Phosphates under 200 ppb — dose a phosphate remover monthly in pollen season. (4) Filter pressure check weekly; backwash when 8–10 psi above clean baseline. (5) Weekly service, not bi-weekly, in March–October. Most repeat green pools trace to one of these failing.