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Thread: Clear up cloudy water

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Buffalo NY
    Posts
    2

    Default Clear up cloudy water

    Hello I am a new user to this forum and have only a basic knowledge of pools and chemicals.

    This summer I have been helping a friend attempt to get his 26' x 4' round above ground pool cleaned up after it was neglected for a year or so.

    It started out with the water level just below the bottom of the skimmer box opening, and very dirty, little greenish, with lots of bugs and tadpoles in it.

    First we set up the filter which is a sand filter, the filter was completely disassembled and cleaned the last time it was used, so it was reassembled including new filter sand filled up to where the local pool supply store said to about 3/4 of the filter, we then brought the water level up to the right height, and heavily shocked (with liquid) and chlorinated (with tabs and liquid) the pool, along with vacuuming the entire pool, the result of this was all the bugs and tadpoles died off, the water color lighten up to a whitish cloudy on the top 3/4 of the water and then about the last foot or so to the bottom was very brown, at that time we again vacuumed the pool.

    We then tested the water for PH level and chlorine level which chlorine was high and ph was low, we added soda ash and didnt use chlorine for a day and the levels were then both at normal levels. we then put tab chlorine back in, vacuumed the pool again and found that 90% of the stuff off the bottom of the pool was up. but the water was still very cloudy (couldnt even see the first step of the ladder), we shocked the pool again with liquid shock.

    tested the water almost every day for next week or so with the results being good both chlorine and ph where at normal levels. at this time we took a water sample in to the local pool supply for them to test it and there advice was to put 3 containers of Baquacil Flocculant broadcast all over the pool, along with keeping chlorine levels up and to discontinue the filter and let the pool sit until the pool water is clear except for a layer of white on the bottom of the pool which at that time you need to vacuum the pool floor again with the filter set to waste, they said that it could be anywhere from 6 hours until 3-4 days before you can see the bottom, the pool then was left for 4-5 days with very little improvement of the cloudy water (could see the first step of the ladder barely) we did at that time vacuum the pool carefully as to not stir anything back up again and did find quite a bit of stuff in the middle of the pool, the water was then still very cloudy but more of a light blue - whitish cloudy color, we left the pool set another couple of days with out the filter on and re vacuumed again.

    having very little results we went back to the pool supply store and the advised to re apply the baquacil treatment and use 4 this time so we did (and they gave us a great deal this time on the flocculant) and left the pool sit with the filter off maintaining the chlorine level. after about 30 minutes the flocculant basically all clumped together and was floating on the top of the water ( it looked like there was a bunch of meat grease floating on top of the pool) we left it like that for another 5 days and the flocculant did all sink but the water still had very little improvement (could maybe see the second step of the ladder if you looked really close) we vacuumed the pool again through waste, the water had no improvement after that, the chlorine and PH levels are both still with in normal range.

    But we are now several hundreds of dollars into this "project" and with very little improvement, We are ready to give up do to the cost and frustration when nothing or very little improves. We just want clear swimable water. Dumping the pool and refilling it isnt really an option either as that would cost a extreme amount due to having well water so the water would need to be trucked in.

    The water is currently still a whitish blue cloudy, you can see maybe the second step from the top if you look closely, the chlorine and ph level are both normal levels. What can we do to clear up the rest of this water???

    any input is greatly appreciated
    Last edited by PoolDoc; 07-25-2012 at 09:56 PM. Reason: turn signature on
    13,900 gal 26 x 4 vinyl AG pool; Hayward 300-400# sand filter & 1hp pump; 'guess-strips'; utility or well water; PF:8.6

    26' round 18K gal AG pool; Skimmer tabs; Hayward (takes about 40 pounds of sand) sand filter; Hayward 1 hp lx pump pump; 24hrs; Aqua check 15 second test strips , tests chlorine, ph, akalianty, and stabilizer ; utility water; summer: ; winter: ; iPad; PF:6.7

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