Cloudy water

[bjccha]

We have a 12X24 saltwater filter Intex. Si Cel we opened it this summer it’s been cloudy/milky

all the chemicals are fine. Ph level, alkalinity, chlorine (had water tested at leslies) we’ve shocked, clarified ran the pump, clean the filters.
Water is still milky. What can we do? Is it safe to swim in it?

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! Unfortunately, having your water tested at Leslie's is not reassuring. In fact, it's often a common result of water going cloudy due to bad testing, advice, and/or unneeded (over-priced) chemicals. The first priority would be to test your own water with a TF-100 or Taylor K-2006C test kit. With numbers from one of those kits we can be sure to help get your water clear and sanitary.

Cloudiness is a sign of algae, and to remove algae we follow the SLAM Process by using one of those test kits. Review the information provided and let us know if you have any questions at all.

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[V___25]

all the chemicals are fine. Ph level, alkalinity, chlorine (had water tested at leslies)

Welcome!!

You'll get great help here if you're willing to ditch that pool store and follow TFP methods.

At the risk of sounding like capt'n obvious, if your levels were really fine, you wouldn't have a cloudy milky pool. When your levels are TFP fine, then you'll have a crystal clear pool!

Ditch all the powders, clarifiers and pool store potions. You need a good test kit, liquid chlorine, and to follow the SLAM process as mentioned above.

 

[Newdude]

Hey BJ and Welcome !!! You’ve seen ‘pool store advice clear’. Check out TFP clear while you decide if a ~$100 test kit that brings these results is worth it.

How Clear is TFP Clear? Let's See (Pics Only Please).

How clear should my water be? A very common question. Here is mine on a calm morning where I could finally vacuum. Yes I know, I'm still manually vacuuming. It took me 7 years to finally get an SWG, I'm working on a robot. :) So now let's see your water clarity.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Kellyp]

Hey BJ, please do get a proper kit, it may seem expensive to start, but it will save you hundreds of dollars and hours of aggravation. Read the link Texas provided and realize we sell nothing, not even the kits we endorse, we just know they work!

 

[Aquaeye]

Type of filter sand media, Clorox, Zeolite? I believe there are a few other brands that have the "colored" media (not sand but something else, usually green) Reason why I ask is that I have used both Clorox & Zeolite & both were not back flushed enough despite following instructions @ initial startup The pool water had a definite "ting" of green on both accounts. Back flush 3X, replenish, better. Rectified by flocculent treatment, 42 hrs then manually vacuum w/o disturbing "the fog" that settled on bottom. The moral to this story: Double the backwash time @ initial startup. If you use silica sand, ignore this reply...but still back wash.