How to Get Rid of Cloudy Pool Water
Cloudy water in your pool can result from a large number of possible causes, ranging from a high pH level to an infestation of biofilms -- congregations of microorganisms -- and algae in the water supply. The sources of the cause may also vary from case to case. A common remedy to the problems caused by microorganisms and algae is to "shock" the pool. This shocking process involves dumping a larger-than-usual quantity of chlorine to assist in eliminating any microbes in your water causing the cloudy water. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Put 1 1/4 lbs. of dry chlorine or 1 gallon of liquid chlorine into a bucket for every 10,000 gallons of water in your pool.
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2
Pour the chlorine onto the pool at the deep end. Allow about 24 hours to pass before continuing. If you still have cloudy water, continue onto the next step.
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3
Fill a bucket three-quarters full with the pool's water.
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4
Add 2 cups of pH-reducing acid, such as sodium bisulfate, into the bucket of water.
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5
Pour the mixture slowly into the deeper part of your pool. Allow about 4 hours to pass before testing your pool's pH level. If you have a pH above 7.2, repeat the process in steps 3 to 5 until your pool's water reaches as close to a pH of 7.2 as possible. Allow a day to pass so the acid runs through the filtration system.
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Tips & Warnings
Chlorinate your pool once every week or two. This keeps your water clear and healthy.
Always keep your pool water's pH between 7.0 and 7.6. Nature has a tendency of trying to stabilize water to a pH of 8.5, and chlorine helps that process speed up. If you don't lower the pH of your water to a suitable range, your pool's total alkalinity might climb, making the water cloudy. The high alkalinity starts a chain reaction that slows down chlorine interaction with the water.
Your pool's pumps and other equipment managing the pool's water supply may cause the water to get cloudy if not cleaned properly. Make sure that you clean up all the equipment, filters, pumps and water heaters, if you have any.
References
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