When should i add stabilizer?

Is there a specific time to add stabilizer.......the reason i ask this question is that i have been told that if i add it to a cloudy pool then i will not be able to clear it up. I have no clue if this is true or not.
I have an 18000 gallon above ground pool that was dark brown and full of about 4 inches of leaves on the bottom....i read about the BBB method and decided to take the plunge....i had some non-believers telling me that it would never work , that i would need all of these other chemicals bla bla bla....Anyways i went through the steps and just by using chlorine (with the elbow grease to remove the leaves first) i pretty much got the thing clean ......my problem is im losing the chlorine and it goes back to cloudy before i can do anything to the pool (my work schedule sucks). Im sure i will need to give more info in order to give a better idea but unfortunately im out of time because im on a lunch break at the moment.
.......Should i add stabilizer to a cloudy pool or not?...........I thank you for taking the time to answer and i greatly appreciate any help i can get.

Post some current water testing results for us to look at and then somebody here can better advise you. Also, tell us what kind of chlorine you have been using -- ingredients, not just brand names or 'shock.' Lastly, please fill out our pool chart with your pool's info.

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Welcome to the Pool Forum!

Im sorry but i will have to do another test on my water .....i dont recall what the numbers were ......but i used liquid sodium hypochlorite at 6.75%

Generally you need to get any messes in a pool cleared up before you add the stabilizer . Whether the cloudiness is from impending algae or something else, we don't know, which is why Watermom asked for test results. I would test for your chlorine at night, then test for chlorine again in the morning before the sun is on the pool. If you lose 1 ppm or less of chlorine overnight, then go ahead and keep adding bleach, but also go ahead and add your stabilizer. If you lose more than 1 ppm of chlorine, then shock the pool and hold it at shock level (12-15 ppm if your CYA is 0) until you can pass that overnight test....and THEN add your stabilizer.

Janet

Sorry your post & membership got lost in the crush; not sure if you still need help, but your membership has been upgraded. -ben