To use/not to use Clarifier - That is the Question

Last year I got pool stored when I bought a house with a pool. The previous owners were morons, and their answer to everything was "Shock it!" I inherited a really bad acid vat full of algae, and the only thing I knew to do was go to the pool store for help.

I've learned a lot since then, thanks to this site.

Now, I have a practically brand new pool. I replaced the liner a month ago, I replaced the sand filter this spring as well since the old sand filter was sealed shut and was spitting sand back into the pool. I've completely rewired and replumbed, and a new pump is now in transit. The only thing left on my pool that is original equipment is the metal wall itself.

My numbers for my 24' x 52" AGP (approx 12,600 gallons) are excellent.

Temp = 82° - 87° depending on how sunny the day is
TC = 4.5
FC = 4.5
TA = 120
PH = 7.8 and very steady
CYA = 40
SALT = 1200ish

New vinyl liner so I don't bother testing for calcium hardness.

The water looks very clean and clear under sunlight, but you can see a lot of particulate matter in the water at night with the pool light. I'd like to clear that up if at all possible.

I still have some Leslie's "Ultra Bright" left over from my pool store experience last year. Should I use this stuff to help clear up the water?

Hi raddish ,

THe idea of clarifiers is they are supposed to coagulate the fine particals in the pool so the stuff easily settles out to be vacuumed.

With a sand filter , I think you might be better off getting ahold of some DE powder to put in . Everyone around says to put just enough to increase pressure 1 pound.

Since you already have it , should you use it ? Your call really. It wont hurt and it could help some . But I would still look at the DE for the longterm solution

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Originally Posted by CToon

Since you already have it , should you use it ? Your call really. It wont hurt and it could help some . But I would still look at the DE for the longterm solution

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That's pretty much what I was thinking, I just didn't know if there was any real reason not to use it since I already have it.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I also bought some skimmer socks and they have worked wonderfully in helping keep the layer of pollen and scum off the top of the pool. I've also noticed that the water seems more clear since we added the salt as well. Perhaps the combination of these two things is actually related?

The salt reduces water tension so things that get in the water stay in the water, and the skimmer socks keeps that stuff from being circulated back into the pool through the filter.

I'll be buying some DE this week. I was hoping to find someone to sell it in the 10 lb bags, but the smallest I could find around here is 20 lbs. At $15 I think it's worth giving a try.

One caution on clarifiers.....this is one product that can make matters worse if you overdose!. They will cause small particles to clump together if you dose properly but if you overdose they will cause the particles to go into a colloidal state that your filter cannot remove! I personally don't like them (except for the chitosan based ones like SeaKlear, and even that usually is not necessary)

Since you have a sand filter, adding a bit of DE to it will probably do a much better job than any clarifier can!

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Originally Posted by The Raddish

... but the smallest I could find around here is 20 lbs. At $15 I think it's worth giving a try.

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Where do you buy DE (please don't tell me the pool store)?

Thanks, -Jim

I'm all ears if there is a better place to purchase DE.

Besides a pool store about the only other place I know of to buy DE powder is a really well stocked aquarium store. DE filters are sometimes used on fishtanks.....but it's usually cheaper in the pool store! (I've bought it in both kinds of stores). BTW, you do NOT want the kind of DE that is used for killing insects. It has been oven baked and is not good for filter use!

Even in expensive pool stores DE is cheap--I get 10# for about $8, which lasts at LEAST a season...I'm still on the first 5 lbs and I started with the DE last August.

I got DE at lowe's - I think it was about $10 for 20lbs.

I think that Home Depot may also have it.

Back to the original question, and knowing that I already have the clarifier in hand from when I was pool stored, is there any adverse effect to using it if I don't overdose? Is there any reason not to use it for the purposes I described? Will it throw my perfect chemistry into whack if I use it to help with the particulate matter I can see in my pool at night?

Or, will it work as advertised and help clear my water up a bit?

Keep in mind, my pool looks crystal clear during sunlight hours. I've never seen water look so nice and pretty. I owe it all to the BBB method and stuff that I have learned on this forum.

I'd just like to look at my water at night with the pool light, and stare in total and complete awe at it's utter perfect clarity. I'll add some DE this week, but I was thinking about using some clarifier this evening if there are no otherwise adverse effects.

Around here you can get filter grade DE at many stores (Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Menard's, pool stores, aquarium supply stores, several hardware stores, and a few others that escape me at the moment).

I would check some of the big chain super stores or hardware stores in your area. On-line is always an option too.

You guys are lucky. I live in MD and no one sells pool stuff around here (except the pool store and walmart and even walmart is limited to just chemicals)