My pool is very cloudy?
Question:My pool water is very cloudy almosy white looking. How do I get the water clear? I put four shocks and super algeside and I am running the filter.
Answers:
As mentioned, get a sample of the water down to your local pool store and ask them to do a full spectrum analysis. Make sure they test for the following:
Total chlorine
Free chlorine
Combined chlorine
pH
Alkalinity
Hardness
Cyanuric acid
Total dissolved solids
Metals (iron, copper, manganese, etc)
Nitrites/Nitrates
Phosphates
Post back up here with the results and the gallon size of your pool and we can give you more help. Or feel free to email these results/recommendations to me at robandliz1992@yahoo.com and I'll help you get your pool back to normal.
Fine particulate matter in the water takes a lot of filtration to remove but can be helped along by using a flocculate agent. Add this to the water and then turn the pump off after two hours. Allow it to sit over night and then vacuum up what has settled in the morning.
Manganese will cause white cloudy water and can only be fixed by adding a metal locking agent.
Calcium precipitation will cause white cloudy water that can only be removed by time unfortunately.
White cloudy water can also be caused by elevated combined chlorine levels, sun tan lotion, heavy bather load, etc. This is fixed by super chlorination of the water (shocking).
With a full spectrum analysis we can get to the bottom of the problem quickly and get you back on track.
Test the swimming pool water for Combined Chlorine, pH, Alkalinity and Calcium Hardness. The two areas that are most likely to cause cloudy pool water are the pH and the Calcium Hardness.
If the pool chemical levels are not within the following suggested ranges, adjust and run the pool filter system for 12-24 hours before re-testing. Free Chlorine: 1-3 ppm, pH: 7.2 – 7.6, Alkalinity: 80 – 120 ppm and Calcium Hardness: 200 – 350 ppm.
If all the pool chemical levels test in range, the cloudy pool water is caused by fine debris suspended in the pool water. You should backwash or clean your pool filter following the manufacturer’s instructions, and run the pool filter system continuously for 24 to 48 hours.
If the water conditions have not significantly improved you should add a clarifier pool chemical to the pool water to help your pool filter remove the fine debris from the water. Continue filtering for 12 to 24 hours.
If the water conditions have not significantly improved you should add a second dose of clarifier, or a stronger clarifier chemical and continue to run your filtration system.
Take a sample to your local pool shop. they'll give you exact written instructions and no guesswork or wasted money on chems. It's really worth it.
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