Flocked and Vacuumed Pool Then It Turned Green Again

Rob is a puddle-service industry professional with over 20 years of feel.

A Cloudy, Green Pool

Greenish Pool H2o

Judging from the questions pool owners inquire on the net, they are having a hard fourth dimension with water clarity even when they recall all the chemicals are balanced. We volition hash out why chlorine, pH, and alkalinity are only the beginning in maintaining clear pool water, and and so we will troubleshoot the problem.

Bones Chemical Requirements for Clear Pool Water

But to summarize, these are 3 basic chemical requirements for a pool to stay clear.

1. Free chlorine: Unless the water has a sufficient gratis chlorine level, algae will abound and make your pool light-green and cloudy.
2. Correct pH: For normal employ, your pool'southward pH should be betwixt 7.4 and 7.6: for shocking, it should be betwixt 7.2 and seven.6. Shocking a puddle with a too high pH will cause cloudiness.
3. Correct alkalinity: The correct range of alkalinity (dissolved salts that keep pH stable) makes pH and chlorine levels easier to maintain.

V Green Puddle Questions

1. I Shocked my pool, and then why is information technology even so cloudy?
2. I shocked my pool, so why is it nevertheless light-green?
3. How much stupor should I add together to the pool? Did I add together plenty?
4. Will the pool plough green if I don't add chlorine?
5. How long should I run the puddle pump? Am I filtering my pool enough?

1. I Shocked My Pool, and so Why Is It Withal Cloudy?

If your pH is not too high, filtration issues are likely the cause of your cloudy pool. The effect may depend on the blazon of filter.

• If you lot have a sand filter, it could take a week or more for the puddle to completely clear. That'southward even if it'southward a working sand filter.
• If you have a cartridge filter, it needs to have a skilful cartridge. A cartridge tin can only handle then much. If your pool is cloudy, the cartridge needs to be cleaned DAILY until the pool is articulate.
• If you have a diatomaceous-globe (DE) filter and the puddle is cloudy, then

• Either the pump is not being run on a long enough cycle
• The DE is not fresh because it's not being backwashed
• Or the filter is defective and not working properly. (Do you have torn filter grids? A cleaved manifold? Does DE powder shoot back into the pool when you add it? If so, the filter needs to exist taken apart and cleaned or repaired, and your puddle will remain cloudy until the repair is made.)

Then think: a cloudy pool can be caused by a bad filter.

If the pool is being filtered properly, you won't need a clarifier solution. In some cases, you can apply a flocking agent, a product chosen "drop out" or "drop and vac," that will bind small particles together and sink all of the algae to the bottom of the pool, where information technology can exist vacuumed upward as waste material.

2. I Shocked My Pool, then Why Is It Yet Green?

This is one of the most-oft searched questions. High levels of the wrong chemicals may exist the result. Permit'south take a await at reasons why your pool may even so be green even afterwards you've exhausted yourself by adding tons of chemicals.

Stabilizer

Over time, if you use tablets (like Tri-Chlor) to supply chlorine, levels of the stabilizer from the tablets (cyanuric acid) tin can become elevated and "lock up" the free chlorine molecules (Cl₂). Even if you get very high chlorine reading on your test kit, the chlorine is simply not able to work at killing algae because it'south not in the right chemical form. This article shows you how to lower stabilizer levels.

Phosphates

High phosphate levels can definitely cause algae issues. Phosphorus, or phosphate, can enter the puddle by leaching out of leaves or organic droppings in the pool or drifting in that location from fertilizer sprayed nigh or around your pool. Because algae feed on phosphates, algae blooms due to phosphorus tin can become overwhelming in the summer months when the h2o temperature exceeds 78–82° F. This condition is easily treatable with a phosphate-removing product like this one.

3. How Much Shock Should I Add to the Pool? Did I Add Enough?

"Shocking," a puddle that has turned dark-green, is ameliorate known in the industry as "super-chlorination."

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Read More From Dengarden

When shocking the pool, consider a few factors. How big is the pool? How "light-green" is it? If your pool is a normal residential-sized puddle of 13,000-25,000 gallons (the pool pictured at the top of the article is around eighteen,000 gallons), then your options are liquid chlorine or granular shock. The choice depends on what blazon of filter information technology has.

• If it is a sand or cartridge filter, I will use liquid chlorine, nearly 10 gallons, or four of the yellow "Jerry-jugs." I use liquid chlorine because granular chlorine will exit a residue that is harder to filter out.
• If the puddle has a DE filter, then I will use granular chlorine (nigh 5 pounds). This article shows how I daze a pool with a DE filter. Remember to test the water before calculation shock. The pH should ideally be depression when shocking the pool (around seven.2) because shocking the pool will raise the pH level.

Remember that shocking alone does not clear upwards a dark-green or cloudy pool; that is what the filter is for. It doesn't matter how much shock you lot put in the puddle if y'all have a bad filter.

4. Will the Pool Turn Greenish if I Don't Add Chlorine?

Believe it or not, I have seen this keyword search pop up more than one time. There is a short reply: Yeah, IT WILL turn green if you don't add chlorine. Pool h2o must have a sanitizer or something that will kill bacteria and algae. Algicide lonely without chlorine will not preclude the puddle from turning green.

You Might Besides Similar:

• How Does Rain Affect Chemicals in Swimming Pool H2o?
  
• How to Become Rid of Black Algae in a Pool
  

five. How Long Should I Run the Pool Pump? Am I Filtering My Pool Enough?

Always run the pump when shocking the pool and allow it to broadcast for 24 hours. The water should then be a blue or cloudy blueish color.

Test the water 24 hours later on shocking and start adjusting pH and alkalinity levels. The chlorine will even so exist elevated, but over a few days, it should stabilize. You could add sodium thiosulfate to lower the chlorine level, only I practice non recommend this because calculation too much tin can cause the chlorine level to seesaw back and forth.

After the shocking procedure is complete and you lot are back to normal functioning, you demand to set your timer, then the pool is filtered for a long enough time each day to deal with any algae or droppings. How long to run the pump depends on the turnover rate: the time it takes for the circulation system to move the entire volume of water in the puddle (the number of gallons) through the filter equipment.

During the hot summer months, an average-size residential puddle that is in use should be filtered for a minimum of 8 hours. During the common cold flavor (since algae grow slowly in common cold h2o), or when no 1 is using the pool, the filter time can be cutting in half. But the pool water does need to be filtered whether it is existence used or not.

This article is accurate and truthful to the all-time of the writer's knowledge. Content is for advisory or amusement purposes simply and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business organisation, fiscal, legal, or technical matters.

Questions & Answers

Question: I put the hth Super Shock green to blue 1 in my above-basis pool, and now it'south light dark-green. What should do I exercise adjacent?

Respond: After shocking the pool, it will need filtration and circulation. Run the pump as much as possible. Go along the filter clean (daily) until the h2o runs clear. Be sure to brush the pool often during this process as in a higher place-basis pools exercise not accept drains at the bottom. A clarifier solution can also be used to help out.

Question: How long do I aftermath the sand filter of my puddle?

Answer: Sand filters crave a longer backwash time than a DE filter. Both work by reversing the flow and blowing buildup and debris to waste (or backwash hose) In my personal experience with sand filters, a solid 2 minutes is sufficient. I have heard that backwashing a sand filter for 5 minutes is good. Unfortunately, you'll lose several inches of water if it's backwashed that long. Then, a skillful tip would be (and this is what I do for sand filters). Backwash for xc seconds. Bring valve dorsum to filter position and run for one minute. Aftermath again for some other 60 seconds. Should be good to become later on that. If you accept a "multi-port" valve then there should be a rinse cycle. Run the rinse for xxx seconds after following the above steps.

Question: My pool is green. The alkalinity is 180 and the pH is half dozen.viii. What can I practice to get in clear?

Reply: Balancing the chemical science will be the first step. Start with chlorine, pH, and alkalinity. Without knowing the book (gallon size) of the pool, I can not reply this accurately. Please try this pool chemical calculator for aligning and dosage amounts.

https://www.poolcalculator.com

After chemicals are balanced, filtration will be the most important factor in immigration the water. Run the pump equally often every bit possible, cleaning the filter every 2 days until puddle is clear

Question: I have an above ground 24 x 52 round pool. I have cleaned the pool and started with make clean water. We have rust in our water. I have put 32 ounces of algaecide forth with 4 shocks, and 5 bottles of chlorine. The h2o is green. I accept a sand filter with brand new sand. What can I practice?

Reply: Above ground pools can exist difficult when trying to become rid of algae, only because in that location is no "Main bleed" or a drain at the bottom of the pool which helps the filtration process profoundly. An above ground pool usually but has a surface skimmer. If y'all've started with clean water, small-scale amounts of chlorine should be added while filling. As far as rust beingness in the water, you demand a metal sequestering amanuensis which will remove the metallic from the water. In that location are a couple of different means to address the "green" in the pool. Since you lot have a sand filter, in that location should be a backwash mode in which the water is pumped to waste. Ideally, if your filter is equipped with a "multi-port" valve, then there should besides be a "waste" setting on the valve. Brush the puddle, add a floccing agent (this will drop all algae to the lesser of the pool) and then vacuum everything that has dropped to the bottom out to waste material. Another option would exist to brush the pool often and run the filter every bit much as possible. Unfortunately, sand filters have a college micron count and accept much longer to clear a greenish pool, especially if in that location is no main drain. The water would need to be continuously stirred up to be able to filter it through the surface skimmer. If all else fails, bleed the pool and re-fill up being sure that a metal sequestering agent is added to counteract the rust in the water.

Question: After vacuuming the pool how long should I wait before checking chemical balance?

Answer: Vacuuming the pool will not affect the chemistry readings. It can be tested before, after or even during vacuuming and the results volition be the same.

Question: I used the "Greenish to Bluish" product and the next day the pool h2o was clear, only I come across green in the middle of the pool on the bottom. I tried to clean information technology, but then the pool is all green over again. Do you lot have any advice?

Answer: So what has happened is the dead algae sank to the bottom. If you lot vacuumed, the filter would not catch everything, then a lot of it shot back into the puddle. When adding a floccing agent, allow everything to settle to the bottom. It volition then need to be vacuumed to waste. Hopefully, your filter organization has a waste valve otherwise you volition continue to just recirculate green water.

Question: After shocking an above ground puddle with almost 16000 gallons, how long before I tin add clarity solution to puddle?

Answer: Clarifier can be added immediately after shocking the pool. Exist sure to clean the filter daily until the puddle is clear.

Question: Our pool has turned green over a short period of time. For the concluding two weeks, it'southward been about 90° with monsoon rains about every hour, every other mean solar day. Practise y'all think the pool turned dark-green that quick or perchance had some help from a disgruntled old employee?

Answer: During very hot atmospheric condition along with progressive rainfall, it doesn't have much or very long for a puddle to turn greenish. Without knowing what the chemical readings were the last time they were there or how well the filtration and menses is, it's difficult to say if anyone has added chlorine reducer to cause it to turn green. I would lean more toward the oestrus and rainfall that has caused the problem.

Question: How does too much calcium (hardness) impact pool water?

Answer: Loftier calcium levels tin cause scaling while low levels will eat at the plaster.

Question: My hubby says the water turns green equally soon as we take the cover off, is this true?

Answer: No. Algae tin can non instantly appear or grow as soon as a puddle cover is removed. It's not an "exposed to oxygen" type of thing. Information technology was nigh probable already in the pool and difficult to come across because of the cover. In one case the cover is removed, because of light refraction, information technology may become more than visible. When light travels from air into water, it slows down, causing it to alter direction slightly. Refraction can amplify the appearance of algae when more low-cal is available

Question: Should I run my pool sweeper if I have also much chlorine in the pool?

Answer: Running the automatic puddle sweep will make no divergence or have any consequence whatsoever on the h2o chemical science.

Question: What are the "colour phases" of superchlorination? I've been working with pool professionals and simply accept added 4 gallons to my x,000 gallon above ground pool which I usually do not accept too many bug with. This year I started out with pure chocolate-brown and realize now I should accept drained it only here I am however messing with it. It has begun to turn a more xanthous light light-green color.... does that sound like it's moving in the right direction?

Respond: Information technology'south good that you're using liquid chlorine for this. It volition eventually turn color from the brownish yous started with to cloudy. The main focus should be on filtration now. If y'all take a pocket-sized cartridge filter, you'll need to clean it daily and run the pump for an extended time each 24-hour interval. Also program on buying a new cartridge because by the fourth dimension the water starts to articulate, that cartridge is going to exist completely shot.

Question: How often do you modify the sand in a sand filter?

Answer: Every three years is recommended unless the filtration quality begins to diminish before that.

Question: I use a cellulose cobweb filter for my puddle. Which is better, granular shock or liquid shock?

Answer: Cellulose fiber is used in place of DE pulverization. It works swell, sometimes as well useful since it has such a depression micron count that the only thing that passes through it is water (needs to exist cleaned more often). Filters out nigh everything else. If you lot add granular chlorine, as long equally it's non added through the skimmer, will dissolve. Since sodium hypochlorite (liquid chlorine) is already dissolved, it's even better although liquid chlorine has a higher dissolved solid content. I apply liquid to elevate chlorine when needed and granular if I am shocking the pool.

Question: How do you clean a sand filter in a puddle?

Answer: A sand filter is cleaned past reversing the flow of water through the filter past using a diverter valve to push the gathered debris out through a waste product line or hose (back-washing). If this question refers to actually changing the sand, this is washed by removing the filter lid and vacuuming out the quondam sand with a Store-Vac then replacing it with pool grade sand.

Question: How long after increasing the alkalinity do I wait to shock the puddle?

Respond: Earlier shocking the pool, be sure the pH is between 7.2 and 7.half dozen. Alkalinity should be at to the lowest degree 80 ppm and no college than 120 ppm. (90 - 100 ppm is ideal) If an increase is needed, add the sodium bicarbonate or "alkalinity up", so allow the water to circulate for at least one hour and and so re-test the alkalinity level. Once these levels are balanced, the pool can be shocked.

Question: The pool has algae on the walls but is clear. Why did it plow a cloudy white color right after I shocked information technology with 2 packets of shock?

Answer: In the pool industry, we refer to this every bit "smoking the pool". This happens when a granular stupor is added while the pH is high and alkalinity is unbalanced. This can also exist resolved chop-chop by balancing the pH and alkalinity. Earlier adding granular stupor to the puddle, be sure the pH range is betwixt 7.2 and vii.4. The alkalinity should exist 80 to 120 ppm, with xc to 100 being ideal.

Question: My chlorine tabs got wet, can I still use them?

Reply: Of course. They are activated by moisture.

Question: Should I leave the pool cover off for 8 hrs later treating information technology? Or should I cover it?

Answer: The encompass should be left off.

Question: How exercise I lower the pH of my pool?

Answer: Add pH reducer or muriatic acid.

Question: Practice I need to add calcium to my above ground puddle?

Respond: Calcium is essential to maintain in ANY pool. Water needs calcium. If the calcium chloride level falls below 200 ppm and is not added, the h2o will still get the calcium that information technology needs by pulling it from the surface, pool liner, plumbing anywhere that calcium can be extracted from. Information technology's important to maintain a proper calcium hardness level to forbid any scaling, staining or damage to the pool and/or pool equipment. Ideally, the calcium level should be maintained between 200-400 ppm.

Question: How do I determine the gallon size of my pool?

Answer: You tin can measure your pool by calculating length x width x average depth. You can also use a pool volume calculator. Try this ane...

https://www.swimmingpool.com/testing-h2o/pool-vo...

© 2012 Rob Hampton

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on July 05, 2019:

Howdy Amy. Bad filtration is unremarkably a common cause for pools not immigration up. If you have a cartridge filter, you may desire to replace the cartridge. Clean the cartridge every few days until the water clears. If you have a DE filter, might want to think about taking it autonomously and servicing information technology. This is about all the advice I can give at the moment without knowing more nigh what type of filter system being used

Amy Hunk on July 05, 2019:

Our pool is forty,000 gallons. I have tried all summer to get it right. Finally, all levels are perfect (ph, alkalinity...), but the h2o is still a real colour! I take water samples to a local supply shop to exist tested. The chlorine level was a little high, merely I had recently added stupor. I'chiliad well-nigh ready to fill up this thing in with clay! Help! What will turn this water blue if everything is supposedly right???

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on July 02, 2019:

How-do-you-do Barry. Someday you can vacuum droppings, dust or algae to waste product, it's e'er a good thing! Thanks for reading... Rob

Barry on July 02, 2019:

I gravity vac my pool where I fill the vac hose then the end goes exterior the pool to drain the waste from the puddle. is this proficient

Leah Martin on June 26, 2019:

How do I know if my filter is bad? We take an ingound salt water pool that is almost 20,000 gallons. We had some nasty storms and now our pool is black on i end and flourescent greenish on the shallow end. Nosotros take shocked, flocced, added anti algae treatments. Cleaned the filter and the chlorinator. Null is working. I am about $600.00 in the final 2 weeks on chemicals. What can we do now?? Please assist!

Kent on June 12, 2019:

"Sometimes people don't like to hear this, but in this case the only advice I'm going to give is to drain puddle and start over. By the time you exhaust all of your fourth dimension, free energy, and cost of chemicals it will be worth the cost of some water."---Yes, I'yard i of those 'sometimes people'. My wife wanted the above ground puddle, and she has trouble keeping the h2o articulate (sand filter). Terminal twelvemonth, she filled it upwards 3 times, and each fourth dimension filling it up is an extra $100 on the water bill. I'm really starting to hate that puddle. In 2019, y'all'd retrieve there would be a better reply than 'amend to empty it and fill it up again'

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on June ten, 2019:

Nana Dora, thanks for reading. The best course of activity would be to utilise Soda Ash (sodium carbonate). This, unlike sodium BI-carbonate (baking soda) volition raise the pH without raising alkalinity. Use small amounts until pH is effectually 7.iv. maintain this pH and the alkalinity will eventually decrease on its own. Hope this helped.

Nana Dora on June 09, 2019:

Help Please, my pool is 10500 gal, I'm having a hard time bringing PH up, and lowering my alkalinity ..... any suggestions?

Phil on June 09, 2019:

I ran into this problem several years ago. My pool was green even at ridiculously high chlorine values. The problem and then was that I was using Dichlor labeled as "pool stupor" which is basically stabilizer with chlorine attached. I had so much stabilizer that it was keeping the chlorine from doing anything. The simply way I got rid of the problem was to drain the pool (for the beginning time in nigh 10 years). At present I simply use sodium hypochlorite for shock and I haven't had the trouble once again. I withal utilize trichlor for daily management which has slowly built up my stabilizer since it doesn't every really become away (fifty-fifty in winter).

I think the biggest reason for this being the highest googled question is the labeling of dichlor as shock. As a i-fourth dimension showtime of yr treatment, maybe. I would be willing to bet that most of the people suffering from the green shocked pool were doing it with dichlor. That's what all the non-pool stores (Costco, Sams, Walmart) have at present and it'south all labeled "shock".

Rob Hampton (writer) from Port Richey, Florida on June 04, 2019:

Hullo Diane. Information technology'southward hard to respond this question without knowing some things about the pool equally treatment methods vary based on sure things such as..is this an in-ground, or above ground? Blazon of filter? (Cartridge/DE/Sand), Size of pool? (Can information technology be drained and refilled easily?) You lot could try floccing the pool. I merely can't give a simple answer without knowing these things.

Diane on June 04, 2019:

We didnt cover the puddle this past winter. It turned cloudy blue like milk. Been trying to articulate it for two months now. The chemicals are all within normal limits. What can nosotros do?

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on June 03, 2019:

Ed, thanks for reading. You lot can view my article on how to floc a pool here. https://dengarden.com/swimming-pools/Cleangreenpoo...

Ed on June 03, 2019:

You demand flock directions will tell you how to utilize

Larsen on October 22, 2018:

If chlorine is high volition the water trun greenish coz of loftier chlorine

EmilyH88 on September 04, 2018:

Hello, for the first time in twenty years of owning this puddle, nosotros've struggled with cloudy h2o and algae all summer. We've never before had an consequence managing the chemistry, and commonly have crystal clear water. Have had the water tested multiple times and local puddle store is out of ideas.

We brush the walls/bottom and so shock, then after the water starts to clear, use a floc to settle out the rest and vacuum to waste. But pool never completely clears, and algae starts to grow over again within a calendar week, fifty-fifty with high remaining chlorine (5+ ppm).

Currently (48 hours afterward nigh recent brush and shock) we accept:

Stabilizer: 20 ppm

Gratis chlorine: 11.4 ppm

pH: 7.4

TA: 120 ppm

Calcium hardness: 190 ppm

Phosphates: 0 ppb

16,000 gallons. Sand filter running 24/7. Sand was replaced in June.

Puddle is dark-green--is the same color information technology was 48 hours ago when nosotros shocked it, using liquid daze. There has been zero change.

Assistance? Whatever ideas? We're at a total loss, and so is our local puddle store!

Christine on July 27, 2018:

Hi,

I take a 5500 gallon pool that has had problems staying clear. we accept had people fired over and still cant find the issue. we took the water to exist tested and shocked it, got all new spider valves. Vacuum it and scrub it every other day. It has rained a a lot however the color started before hand. The temp is around 78, ALK varies from 60 to 80, and the PH Level is vii.4 to seven.6. chlorine has varied a lot in the last week.

Thaks you

Rob Hampton (writer) from Port Richey, Florida on July 24, 2018:

Hello Elizabeth. It sounds like you are having the EXACT same problem as "Kim". Please read the annotate I left for her. Thanks

Elizabeth on July 24, 2018:

I just opened my to a higher place ground pool (15ft round x4 ft high) and it was super green and yucky. I purchased a new pump and filter and shocked my pool Sunday night and took some water to the puddle store and was told it was locked up then to shock once more so I did that last night. I accept had the filter running since Dominicus afternoon. the pool is notwithstanding light-green and cloudy and all levels are showing very low. I don't know what to do next? look it out? we clean the filter 3 times a day.

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on July 24, 2018:

Hi Kim. Sorry to hear the pool looks then bad. Sometimes people don't like to hear this, just in this case the only advice I'thousand going to give is to drain pool and offset over. By the time y'all exhaust all of your time, energy, and cost of chemicals it will be worth the price of some water. The filter element tin can only handle so much. It volition demand replaced soon considering trying to filter information technology all out and cleaning it constantly is very hard on it. At that place is really no way of me knowing why it'southward not holding chlorine without being able to practice a full range chemical analysis. I hope this helps.

Kim on July 24, 2018:

HELP! I am very frustrated. Nosotros have a pop up 15 x 48 pool. Just got dorsum from a 1 week vaca and the pool was a very dark green from algae growth. I shocked information technology and added algae killer. At present its been 2 days and it all the same has some greenish but VERY cloudy! I am cleaning the filter cartridge 3 times a day. No encompass on the pool, exposed to the sun. What am I doing incorrect? How long will this take to totally clear up? Why do my test strips say there is NO chlorine in the pool (even though I've shocked and accept added 6 oz of chlorine 24 hours later) and the PH is way besides high even though I have added PH minus? Exercise the test strips even work?? Practice I at present take too much chlorine in it so the strips won't read it??

Reneygade on July 23, 2018:

We've tried everything that we've googled, that's applicable. Why is the pool water still greenish? This has been an ongoing outcome for virtually three weeks now.

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on July 23, 2018:

How-do-you-do Tony. Yes. Information technology's unsafe. So many diseases in puddle water that is not treated and filtered.

Tony ure on July 23, 2018:

howdy is this colour water dangerous to swim in or merely unpleasant because of its await? thanks

furniturez from Washington on August 08, 2012:

No wonder my neighbors pool is dark-green! Lots of insight thanks so much.

higgsdembeelith.blogspot.com

Source: https://dengarden.com/swimming-pools/Why-is-My-Pool-Still-Green-and-Cloudy

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