How to combat cloudy water in your pool?

Is the water in your pool very cloudy or even whitish? Can’t see the bottom anymore? First add some flocculant or clarifier and filter the water well. If the problem persists it is certainly due to the water being too hard. In fact, a pH that is too high causes limestone precipitates, which remain suspended in the water and give this white color.

What causes cloudy water?

Hard water

This is the most common cause. Your pool water is too difficultits TH (Hydrometric Title) which measures the hardness of the water must be maintained between 10 and 20°F. In addition to this, calcareous precipitates appear, particularly when the The pH is too high.

Hard water will also clog the sand in the sand filter. The water will no longer pass through the filter media and will exit without having been cleaned; this can cause algae or cloudy water to appear.

Test your pool water indicators once a week. The test will give you the pH, TH and TAC (alkalinity) level. You will be able to react immediately in the event of an anomaly.

Too high a pH

A low pH level can quickly unbalance water and make it cloudy. The pH level must be maintained 7.0 and 7.4.

Post-flocculation

When you added the flocculant, you may have been heavy-handed. There is therefore too much flocculant, it dissolves, passes through the filter and the water then becomes cloudy.

Underdosed treatment

If the level of chlorine (or bromine) is insufficient, microorganisms remain in the water, contaminate it little by little and develop.

Insufficient filtration

For the water to be properly disinfected it is necessary to ensure that the doses of disinfectant indicated on the product are respected and, in order for it to be healthy and free of impurities, it must be filtered correctly (more information here). Insufficient filtration leaves deposits in the water, which will gradually dirty and contaminate the water.

>> Increase the filtration time

After a storm or after an anti-algae treatment

If you notice the water becoming cloudy immediately after a heavy storm or after green water treatment, perform a shock treatment, add flocculant or clarifier and filter the water for 24 hours.

How to find crystal clear water?

1) Monitor filtration

First, calculate the water filtration time. In order for the water to be perfectly clean, the the filtration time is equal to the water temperature divided by 2. Then increase the filtration time and add a little flocculant or clarifying agent. If after a few days the water has not moved, go to step 2.

2) Test your water and act accordingly

Water testing should be done once a week. It will reveal the pH level, water hardness, TAC and chlorine/bromine level.

If the cause of the turbidity is too high a pH or post-flocculation:

1. Restore a pH between 7.0 and 7.4
2. Do a shock treatment (chlorine or bromine)
3. Add a clarifying agent or flocculant
4. Filter the water until it becomes clear again and let it sit
5. Clean the pool to ensure you don’t leave any deposits

If the cause is insufficient chlorine/bromine:

1. Restore a pH between 7.0 and 7.4
2. Do a shock treatment
3. Filter the water until it becomes clear and let it sit
4. If it is still cloudy, add a flocculant or clarifier
5. Clean the pool to ensure you don’t leave any deposits
6. Adjust the dose of your regular treatment accordingly and check it frequently

If TH is above 20°F:

1. Restore a pH between 7.0 and 7.4
2. Brush the walls to remove limescale deposits
3. Use a limescale remover (follow the doses prescribed on the product)
4. Leave the filtration to run for 24 hours
5. If necessary add a flocculant or a clarifying agent
6. Clean the pool with a vacuum cleaner or robot
7. Test the water and add descaler if necessary

3) Clean the pool

To make sure you have removed limescale deposits and microorganisms suspended in the water, vacuum and scrub the pool walls.

4) Clean the filter

Using a special limescale filter cleaner, clean the filter. Backwash and monitor the sand, changing it if necessary (more information here).

How to prevent cloudy water?

• Don’t neglect weekly water tests.
• Monitor water filtration
• Monitor chlorine/bromine, pH and TH levels
• If you are in an area where the water is hard, add a limescale remover beforehand.
• Clean the water regularly to remove limescale deposits.

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