To put it simply, the water in your swimming pool becomes cloudy when large numbers of small, almost invisible particles reflect back sunlight, which creates an unsightly, murky appearance. And by small we're talking anything from 0. Swimart pool technicians have tested all types of 'cloudy' water, which starts off slightly dull and, when left untreated, can turn completely opaque.
Here's how you can tell the difference:. Dull — you hardly notice this stage but this is when pool water starts to lose its lustre. Hazy — while you can still see the bottom of the pool, it's hard to make out the details.
High pH also makes water look dull, and it should always be within the recommended range. To lower pH, you need to use a pH reducer pH minus , such as muriatic acid or sulfuric acid. Anything below a pH of 7. To increase low pH levels, you need to use a pH Increaser pH plus with soda ash. Finally, ensure that total alkalinity is within the required range of 80 ppm and ppm to avoid bringing up pH levels and causing calcium scaling.
To lower total alkalinity without extra equipment, add muriatic acid and aerate the pool to restore pH levels without having to add a pH increaser, which will increase alkalinity levels too. A poor water-circulation system can also be a big problem.
If your water cannot circulate properly, it will become stagnant and cloudy. To fix this problem:. There are three types of filters: DE diatomaceous earth , cartridge paper , and sand. Each has its own pros and cons. A DE pool filter is the most efficient when it comes to filtration, followed by cartridge, and the sand filters.
Here is my detailed guide on types of pool filters, how to select the best one, and how to properly maintain it. DE and cartridge filters are recommended for home pools and may not be the best when it comes to public pools apartments or hotels due to their tendency to clog.
The filter medium for DE and cartridge filters also require frequent replacement. A sand filter is always best when it comes to public or semi-public swimming pools, but the sand used in a sand filter also gets clogged and becomes ineffective, which may cause your water to be cloudy or dirty. Consequently, the sand should be replaced every year. The environment and weather may also be the cause of cloudy water.
To fix and prevent cloudy water, follow all of the best practices below. You can use algaecide to kill early stages of green algae that might make your water appear cloudy, but the best method of getting rid of algae is to scrub and clean your pool using a large leaf net, vacuum, and kill algae with liquid chlorine shock.
You should only use algaecide once in a while for preventive measures and when green algae is just starting to show up—it is not useful when algae outbreak is immense and very visible. Furthermore, if you have full green, black, or yellow algae, you may end up using a lot algaecide, which can be very expensive and the best result is not guaranteed like when you use liquid chlorine. Some algaecides may also cause foaming or deposit copper metal in your water when used in large quantities.
Depending on how carefully you closed the pool for the winter, at the beginning of summer, you may see algae and cloudy water.
The main cause is usually imbalanced chemicals. If your water is free of algae, all you need to do is test for all the chemicals and adjust. Starting with the pH, then the chlorine, and then other chemicals after that. If the water still appears cloudy after adjusting all the chemicals, you can try using either water clarifier to remove the debris through the filter or use pool flocculant and then vacuum to remove any particles. In most cases, your pool water may still be cloudy but FC is fine or high.
Cloudy or milky water after shocking is normal, and the water should clear up within an hour or so. Just make sure your pump and filter are running properly.
If you add algaecide, keep in mind that some algaecide contains copper, which can actually make a pool cloudy. If the cloudiness persists 24 hours after shocking, then it's possible that you used a poor-quality chlorine shock. In this case, you should take another reading of free chlorine and do the shocking again using liquid chlorine sodium hypochlorite.
You should also check that all chemicals—especially pH, total alkalinity, cyanuric acid, and calcium hardness—are within the recommended levels. Remember that calcium hypochlorite chlorine shock and chlorine tablets are not recommended for daily pool sanitization, because they raise calcium, pH, and cyanuric acid in your water.
You need to be extra careful when using them, or else these chemicals will get off the chart, causing cloudy water, algae, or ammonia in the long run. Finally, debris could cause continued cloudiness in the water even when chlorine level is fine. You can try using a water clarifier to send all the particles to the filter, or you can use pool floc to gather all the debris together and then vacuum it up using a manual pool pump. Rain water brings dirt, mud, dust, and other contaminants that contain phosphate, which breeds algae.
With the presence of phosphate, the water will start to become cloudy even before the algae begins to grow. If you know a storm or shower is about to come, make sure there is ample chlorine to counter the dilution that rain water will bring, and have the filter running during the rain.
When all the pool chemicals are fine but your water is still cloudy, there is a good chance that you have particles in your pool. In this case, a water clarifier is used to collect all the fine particles so that they can be picked up by the filter.
Alternatively, you can use pool floc flocculant , also known as a super floc, which is a chemical that is used to bring all the clouding particles to the bottom of your pool forming a large cloud that you can then vacuum up using a manual pump. The particles collected using a pool floc will not pass through the filter like they would if a water clarifier were used. Make sure that your filter is set on the backwash or waste option when you are vacuuming to avoid any damage that may happen to the filter as a result of clogging.
Baking soda is a base and will hugely increase the level of pH, which actually causes the water to turn cloudy. Some people may suggest using baking soda as a quick fix if alkalinity is high, but it is not a reliable pool chemical. Chlorine should be the only substance used to clear a cloudy pool.
Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters. Question: I have been cleaning up a severely neglected pool and still have cloudy water and barely any visibility. I've been keeping chlorine levels as best as possible while lowering the pH to 7.
Any advice? Answer: I think there is a problem with your chemicals. Use an accurate test kit and take a reading of all the chemicals especially pH, Alkalinity, and Calcium hardness. Chlorine cannot balance when other chemicals especially pH is not within the recommended range and might be the reason why your water is cloudy.
Your pH is a little lower and it should be between 7. So make sure you take accurate readings and adjust all chemicals before adding chlorine. Question: My pool has been cloudy for four days now. I've done all the chemicals, vacuuming, backwashing etc. What do I do now?
Answer: Counter check if your chlorine is balanced. Make sure your free chlorine is 3 ppm, and combined chlorine is 0 ppm. If not, add more liquid chlorine. Also, you can use pool clarifier, or add pool flocculant first and then vacuum if that will work out for you. Question: Cloudy material settles to the bottom of pool. When vacuumed, it comes back into the pool through the return inlet completely nullifying the vacuum process. What should I do? Answer: Cloudy material coming through the return jets might be caused by two issues; sand sediment from your filter and air bubbles.
If it's sediment means, it means your filter is faulty and you need to replace your cartridges or clean your filter. However, if it's bubbly, that is normal especially within few days of pool opening and will rectify soon. Air bubbles passing through the returns sometimes leads to poor filtration and that might be the cause of cloudy water coming to your pool through the jets.
Answer: Baking soda is used as an agent to increase pH and Alkalinity level when lower than recommended. Question: I have a 15 X 52 size above ground pool, the water was getting green so I added two 1lb bags of shock and turned on the filter but the water is still cloudy.
I think I was supposed to add one bag instead of two. Will it clear up by itself? Do I need to add something else to fix this? Answer: If your pool was green, it means you had algae. Also, you need to use liquid chlorine sodium hypochlorite since it won't affect your pH and Calcium hardness like Calcium hypochlorite and your pH and Calcium might get off the chart making your water more cloudy, but if you know what you are doing it's fine. If you reached the recommended shock level in relation to Cyanuric acid level then your water will finally become clear.
If it doesn't become clear within 24 hours then you might be having debris, ammonia, or algae is still present in your pool and you have two options:.
Brush the walls and bottom of your pool then use poolfloc to collect any debris at the bottom of the pool then vacuum the pool to remove all dirt. If it's not clear after brushing and vacuuming it, chances are high that you have ammonia or algae is still there: Test pH and lower it to around 7. Question: My water is cloudy in my swimming pool, and I have shocked it, used a clarifier, and cleaned the filter at least once a day.
What could be wrong? Answer: Counter check to ensure that all chemicals especially chlorine, pH, Alkalinity, and calcium hardness are well balanced. You may also try using pool floc and vacuum the pool if that will clear your water. Answer: If you are sure it is not chloramine or ammonia causing that cloudiness, try back-washing your filter or replacing your filter media if you have not done that in Answer: No, cloudiness means your free chlorine is too low.
Add more chlorine shock and the cloudiness will eventually disappear. Normally, cloudiness in a pool of water is associated with insufficient free Chlorine which should be 3 ppm always to keep away chloramine. Also, try backwashing your filter since it might be clogged. Pool floc only works when the water has dirt, and that means there is no dirt in your pool. The issue might be with your chemicals or filter. Answer: Cloudy pool water normally means chlorine is low in the water forming chloramine that makes water cloudy.
Simply do the Chlorine test and make sure your free Chlorine is 3 ppm. Answer: Very high levels of free chlorine can damage pool parts as a result of corrosion. You only need high FC levels when getting rid of algae or ammonia in your swimming pool where you have to reach high shock levels and maintain the level until you kill all algae or ammonia. If you have algae or ammonia in your pool, I recommend using liquid chlorine sodium hypochlorite that will not alter pH, Calcium, or Cya levels like granular or tablet chlorine.
Question: I had about 10 kids swimming in my pool for about five hours. Then a few days later my pool started to go cloudy with low chlorine. Could this be due to the number of kids and length of time they were swimming or could there be another issue? Answer: Free Chlorine is used up heavily when a swimming pool has a lot of swimmers swimming for a long time. You could have measured and added more chlorine for FC to read 3ppm immediately after they left the pool. Answer: What is your pH level?
If higher than 7. Also, your FC level might be low and if you raise pH, available chlorine will be weak and that means your water turn cloudy. Question: I have zero CA, ph levels about 7 and free chlorine at normal levels but my pool remains cloudy. Answer: Cyanuric acid shouldn't be at Zero for an outdoor swimming pool because chlorine will deplete faster in hot and humid weather, leading to cloudy water. If your FC is at normal level of 3ppm, raise Cyanuric acid level to 40 ppm and you will reduce chloramine levels that make your water appear cloudy.
Also, if you are sure your chemical readings are all fine, add poolfoc and vacuum your pool since you might have debris in your pool. Make sure you use a reliable test kit like Lamotte ColorQ Pro or Taylor test kit to give accurate readings. Answer: Don't worry about high chlorine levels, just leave your pump running for 24 hours and chlorine level will reduce by itself.
Make sure you are using an accurate test kit to measure chlorine and other chemical levels in your water before adding any chemical in your pool. Question: I was told to put 40lbs of baking soda in my pool. A week later my gallon pool has not cleared up but also has turned white. I put in some shock and 1 bottle of a clarifier. Waste water and added more water daily. Still not clear. Is the baking soda making the pool white? Answer: You don't use baking soda to clear a cloudy pool water.
Only chlorine should be used to clear a cloudy water. Your water turns cloudy because of low free chlorine FC level in your water. If your FC goes below 2. Baking soda will raise your pH and high pH is dangerous since it can cause metal stains and also turns your water cloudy. As such, only use liquid chlorine to raise your FC to 3ppm every day whenever it goes below 3ppm especially after heavy swimming in the evening.
Question: I have a 70,gallon pool. How much granulated chlorine should I add daily? My pool always has algae. Answer: Try using chlorine bleach liquid chlorine instead of granulated chlorine; this will clear and help keep away algae from your pool. Free chlorine should always be at 3ppm to avoid algae and cloudy water. It was standing for about a week without the pump running. The pool is blue but it is still quite cloudy. Answer: You need to do accurate water test using a reliable test kit to know exact chemical levels starting with FC.
If your FC level is low, cloudiness will not disappear until you add chlorine so that free chlorine level is stable at 3pp. Question: Last year, I used chemicals that did not contain chlorine because my daughter has sensitive skin. There were a lot of problems with algae on the bottom of the pool it is in full sun. We have shocked it three times, but chlorine, ph, alkaline are all extremely low. Is there something we should try? There is also a lot of dead algae floating through the water, and the water is cloudy.
Answer: Firstly, you need to brush all the surfaces inside your pool to remove any sticking algae: You can then use a large leaf net to remove large debris from the water, and vacuum the pool to remove all fine particles. Secondly, correct the pH level 7. Thirdly, tripple-shock the pool using stronger Chlorine like In The Swim calcium hypochlorite 3pounds for 10k gallons to kill all the algae; depending on the number of algae in the pool, it may take days for the pool to clear up.
The filter should run 24 hours a day for faster results. Finally, after the algae is over, balance all the chemicals starting with Free Chlorine 3 ppm then raise TA using alkalinity Increaser to read between ppm.
Question: I have white particles in my pool and it's really cloudy. What is the problem? Answer: White particles in your pool might be because of high Calcium levels in your water and it won't dissolve anymore.
Confirm your Calcium Hardness level and make sure it is between to ppm for plaster pool to avoid further Calcium saturation and scaling. You need to be very careful with your Calcium levels in your water because the only way to lower Calcium in your water is to partially drain and refill your pool water till you get the recommended levels. Which chlorine are using to shock your swimming pool? Calcium Hypochlorite granular chlorine comes with high Calcium levels and in long the run will raise your Calcium levels without knowing it.
We recommend using Sodium Hypichlorite liquid chlorine to shock your pool, otherwise, you will have to balance your calcium hardness level every time you shock your pool using Cal hypo.
Apart from scales and white particles, high Calcium levels will also make your pool appear cloudy. Low calcium level will also corrode plaster from your pool and the white particles could be plaster or cement, as such, always make sure your Calcium level is within the recommended range. Question: I need to vacuum the bottom of my pool.
However, I don't have a backwash on my filter. Answer: Backwash is very important for the pool water to clear up properly when vacuuming. However, you can try putting the pump off and then set the valve to rinse and watch the viewing bulb if the water will clear up within 2 minutes without backwashing.
Try and fix the Backwash though. Question: I cannot keep the pool water clear without using a flocculant on it every week. Could I have purchased some inferior sand from Home Depot? That seems to be the only difference. Answer: Have you tried backwashing your sand filter? The sand could be clogged reducing its efficiency in filtering your water. I am also assuming you replaced your filter sand not long ago, you should be doing so at least after every 4 to 5 years. I am not sure of the quality of the filter sand you bought but there are better quality alternatives like filter glass or ZeoSand that you can try out if you see no change after a backwash.
Question: My pool is cloudy and I have shocked it four times already. The test strip is still showing no chlorine. What could be the issue? Answer: You can try using a better quality or liquid chlorine and see if there is a change.
Secondly, test all other chemicals especially pH, TA, Calcium Hardness and be sure that they are all balanced since a wrong composition of these chemicals will affect free chlorine.
Finally, you can try adding chlorine stabilizer such as Cyanuric acid to help maintain free chlorine levels. Answer: To have Chlorine last longer in your pool you need to add stabiliser such as Cyanuric acid, which protects Chlorine from being deleted by UV light. Stabiliser is recommended during hot sunny days. Question: Will low hardness cause my chemicals to not work and my pool to be cloudy?
Answer: Yes, low calcium hardness may affect other chemicals in the pool especially chlorine causing cloudy water and may also damage pool parts made of cement and glass. Question: We have a Doughboy 12x24, filled with well water. We had the water tested many times at the pool store, followed chemical recipes, and the water is still cloudy.
We used Drop Out, waited overnight, saw excessive debris, almost like D. Earth from our filter, on the floor of the pool. How do we keep our pool from becoming cloudy? Answer: Seems your pool filter is faulty. How is your pressure gauge? If it rises you may need to backwash and rinse your filter since it might be clogged. Also, consider replacing your DE filtering agent if worn out and that might be the reason why you have DE and other debris in your pool.
Add chemicals directly to your pool while filter and pump are on. Some chemicals you will test on a daily basis and adjust as appropriate like FC level, other chemicals can be measured after a couple of days to 1 week and their levels adjusted as appropriate. Question: My pool is very foggy. We had the water tested and they said that the problem is the chlorine stabilizer. Any suggestions? Answer: If Cyanuric acid level is not within 30 to 60ppm for nonsaltwater pools.
If higher than that, you may have to drain a portion of your pool water and replace with fresh water to lower Cyanuric acid level. Also, if using tablet chlorine to shock your pool, you need to watch both chlorine and Cyanuric acid level because tablet chlorine will hugely increase your stabilizer levels in water. I recommend you use liquid chlorine to sanitize your pool because it won't raise levels of Cyanuric acid in your pool.
Question: My pool is cloudy, chlorine and pH levels are fine and I have changed the sand just yesterday.
What could be the problem? Answer: Try using pool flocculant then vacuum the pool to remove any particles that might be present in your water. Question: I have shocked my grandkids pool, it holds gallons of water, but the water is cloudy. What do I do next? Answer: Check out your chemicals readings, especially Chlorine, pH, Alkalinity, and Calcium hardness and ensure that they are all balanced.
Low chlorine level is the primary cause of cloudy water. Firstly, ensure that pH is stable between 7. If all the chemicals are balanced, but water is still cloudy, there might be fine particles inside the pool, and you need to use a clarifier or pool flocculant and then vacuum up the pool.
If all do not work, try backwashing your filter since it might be clogged. Answer: Low calcium hardness CH is not associated with cloudy water but it causes damage to pool parts, especially to plaster, vinyl liners, grout in between tiles, metal rails, and concrete around the pool.
Your water may appear cloudy though as a result of corroded plaster or cement. You need to raise your CH as soon as possible to avoid damages that might cost you a lot to repair. Question: I super shocked my pool after putting in 4kg of alkajuster and now the pool is cloudy.
Will it clear on its own and how long will it take? Answer: If sure all chemicals are balanced, you can try using poolfloc to collect any debris at the bottom your pool then vacuum the pool.
Sometimes, a bit of preventative maintenance is what it takes to keep your pool water sparklingly clear. A water clarifier, such as the Robarb Super Blue Clarifier click here to check the price on Amazon , helps to reduce murkiness in pool water.
The clarifier causes tiny particles in the water to clump together, and your pool's filter is then able to filter the larger clumps of particles better, removing them from the water. Pool flocculant, or "floc," has some similarities to a pool clarifier, but isn't quite the same thing.
When you use pool floc, such as this one from Aqua Chem click here to check the price on Amazon , you dissolve the powder in water, then spread over the surface of your pool.
The filter on your swimming pool is most likely located at the top of the pool. That's great for removing particles that float to the top, but not so helpful for debris that gets trapped on the bottom. There are a few ways you can help your pool's filter work more efficiently and keep your water clear. Keeping your pool's filter clean helps it work more efficiently and improves the overall appearance of your swimming pool.
If your pool's filter is gross and clogged up, the best option might be to replace it with a new one. Maintaining your pool throughout the season will not only keep the water looking great, it will also ensure that the water is safe enough for anyone who wants to jump in. For best results, create a weekly maintenance routine to monitor the health and quality of your pool. Keep your pool water clear by testing it often, making adjustments as needed and keeping out with routine maintenance!
Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Not only that, but clearing cloudy water is actually an EASY fix.
Without further ado, let's walk through how to do exactly just that. Contents 5 reasons why you might have a cloudy pool. Have you shocked your pool lately? Chlorine is too dilute or concentrated. Adding chlorine to pool water helps to keep your pool safe for swimming—simple as that. You should test your pool's levels each day to make sure they aren't too low or too high! The suggested amount of free chlorine is between 2. Filtration problems. Usually, running the pool filter for at least eight hours a day is ideal.
So be sure your filtration system is running on all cylinders. Too much calcium. How hard the water in the pool is can also influence whether it's crystal clear or murky. Having water that doesn't have enough calcium can also be an issue.
If the pH is too low, less than 7. Having a low pH can cause damage to the lining of the pool, causing it to wear away.
Debris and particles from the corroding lining can cloud the pool's water. Lots of rain. Rainwater might seem like it's the purest type of water out there. Excessive rainwater can also muck up the balance of other pool chemicals in the water. In The Swim Chlorine Pool Shock - 24 X 1 Pound Bags Powerful chlorine shock treatment that is great for regular maintenance Quickly eliminates algae, bacteria, and other harmful contaminants from your pool water.
Sometimes, the best way to correct issues with the water in your pool is to "shock" it.
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