Water in above ground pool is cloudy... not sure what to try next

[Alex]

Hi Everyone,

We let our above ground pool go for a few months, and now I'm unable to get the water clear. It's an above ground pool, 25 feet diameter and about 5 feet deep on average. With a few larger trees in our back yard, the bottom was covered in leaves, which I believe started growing algae.

After shocking the heck outta the pool I spent several days vacuuming the pool to get as many leaves and crud from the bottom as I could find, though it wasn't easy since I couldn't see the bottom. After this plus scrubbing the sides I balanced the chemicals (still cloudy) and took a sample to my local pool store where they suggested a 'super floc'. I poured twice the standard dose for my pool (about 8 oz) and ran the pump for 2 hours then shut off for 24 hours. I saw no change, so vacuumed again and did another dose... again no change.

Went back to pool store and they recommended another clarifier which also didn't work. From what they said the first would make the crud settle to the bottom and the second would make the particals stick together so they could be sucked into filter.

This was all last week, and I've let my pump run 24/hours for the last

4-5 days with still no change. The water is clearer, but still not crystal and can't see the bottom.

I'm continuing to vacuum out every couple of days and keeping the chemicals balanced, but I'm not sure what to try next. I've read some folks say they drained 2/3 of the pool, but I'd rather not do that since I don't want to hose the vinyl liner.

Any suggestions? I've been messing with the pool for 2 weeks now, and still no luck. At this rate it'll be winter before it's ready to go :) Also note to self, maintain the pool through winter this year.

Alex

[ChairMan]

It takes time, but keep tryin'. Get some Alum(powder), I assume you have sand filter, use about 1lb per

10000 gal (give or take) I usually use a little more.Pour it into your skimmer. It;s similar to super floc, I get mine at Leslies Pool supply. Watch your pressure because it sticks to the sand and catches the finer particles and will raise the pressure. When you vaccum, vacuum to waste and water your yard with it. Rinse and repeat until clear. I usually quit using clorine about Oct, but keep the filter running during the winter and it turns green, but with alittle patience and some Alum, I can clear it up in a couple of weeks. it also helps to get your PH balance while doing this too HTH

[Dan Espen]

Cloudy white or cloudy green?

Green is algae. I'd use liquid chlorine and algaecide. White is dead stuff. You just need to filter and back flush a lot.

If the chemical levels are right, no reason you can't use the pool.

[Oren]

Try cleaning, inspecting, or replacing the filter. Cleaning the filter should help clear up the water, beside the other work you've done.

[John Grabowski]

Did you do a search in this group? I seem to recall someone else having that same problem a while back. I think the problem is that there are too many chemicals in the pool in relation to the water (As I recall from another posting). So you probably need to add more water. I could be wrong about this as I am just speaking from memory and not from experience.

[Kelly Jones]

When I see this problem in our hot tub it indicates low total alkainity. A cup of baking soda clears it right up.

[Dan Espen]

No.

Just randomly adding chemicals won't help.

Check the chemical levels first. A test kit is cheap and quick. Do not take your water to a pool store for an analysis. You're just asking to be robbed.

I see the OP posts from Google Groups. Too bad. I've got Google Groups blocked.

[jthread]

The "floc" should of worked. I have a suspicion it's your filtering system or you didn't use the floc right. With a sand filter you can pour the floc directly into the skimmer then backwash. But I doubt you have a sand filter. I use a product called "Clear Floc" (I think) but I've only used it once where I put the floc in the pool and vacuumed out the settled goo. Floc should clear your pool up pretty quick if you use it right. You have to follow the directions to the letter.

Don't let your chlorine level drop. If you had an algae bloom you need to combat it with a slightly heavier than normal amount of chlorine. Algae is a persistent mother. You have to beat the crap out it. I'd drain some water too. About 1/4 at least.

If that doesn't work it's got to be your filter isn't working right or your multi valve is leaking.

[Rudy]

Drain & refill ?

[Steve B.]

Don't use twice the amount needed on clarifier. When you do it does not work. I know we tend to think if one is good two is better but that doesn't apply to pool chemicals.

Also what kind of filter do you have?

Steve B.

[ythread]

That's a bit drastic and usually unnecessary. He could because it's above ground. Mine you can't because it can crack the pool (in ground) I've never had to drain more than a little more than a quarter.

[ythread]

With floc it's important to FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS. I'm guessing he doesn't have a sand filter because he probably wouldn't be having so many problems. I know when I first started I was tempted to throw anything in that said it worked but the normal course is to get the water tested. Adjust the chemicals and use floc. Then backwash and repeat floc as necessary.

[topservicepros]

Is it cloudy green or cloudy white?

In my last house we had such a pool and when opening it for the season there would be some algae and crud and it would start green and I could get that under control with the shock and floc but sometimes (usually in really hot weather) it would get cloudy white. It did not seem to be algae but it would never get that nice crystal clear where you could see the sun dancing on the bottom. I could never overcome that until it cooled down later in the year.

-- Richard Thoms Founder - Top Service Pros, Inc. Connecting Homeowners and Local Service Professionals

[Rudy]

Well, we'll see. A friends pool went out of whack and after 3 weeks of add this/vacuum that and $$$, it was still a mess..

[Dan Espen]

The white stuff has to be dead organic matter.

Nothing that grows in a pool would be white that I know of.

Both sand and diatom filters should eventually remove it. I've had the same experience of it taking a while (with a sand filter) but periodic backflushes should remove it. Two or three weeks should do it.

The important thing is, go ahead and use the pool. It doesn't look as nice as a crystal clear pool but if the chlorine level is right, there is nothing in the pool that will hurt you.

I've had a LOT of experience with crud in the pool, I'm under a lot of trees.

Last year I had 2 big trees removed and had the first year in almost 20 years where the cover had no holes in it in the spring.

[tnom]

If you still can't see the bottom then most likely still have organic matter decomposing on the bottom. You'll never get the water clear until the bottom is free of this gunk. Have someone with a scuba mask dive down and vacuum until the bottom is clean. Then with balanced water and clarifier your pool will have no choice but to become clear. just keeps the water keeps circulating through the filter.

If this is to much then re-fill with clean water.

[tnom]

When will they come up with a spell checker that proof reads?

[ythread]

I have a sand filter and have absolutely no problems. I have lots of trees too. I watch the chlorine closely. In fact it stays so clear I need to check it more often for other things but I usually don't.

[ythread]

Don't worry it about care no anyway.

[micv]

Alex,

This is a tough and very frustrating situation I know... I just cleared mine which is 21' x 38' and I have to say I was ready to empty it completely after 3-4 weeks of trying. But I endured with excellent guidance from my local pool store.

I use a cartridge filter, only because that's what the pool came with. I prefer DE because you can maintain it almost effortlessly and inexpensively. Regardless if your water is stable and filtering is not working to clear it here is what got me past that point. Important is DO NOT LET YOUR CHLORINE LEVEL DROP! Next I added a product called FiberClear to my filter system which acts much like DE to filter out the finer particles in the water. Then I ran the filter for 2 days 12

- 14 hours with my vacuum hose on the bottom of the pool . Cleaned my filter once again, and repeated, this time using the pools normal circulation. (Note) if you keep pouring in chlorine and it disappears in a short time, it could be chlor-locked with all the shocking.) Liquid last a little longer and is easier to stabilize.

GOOD LUCK I hope this helps