Do I need a clarifier to address non algae related cloudiness

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Jaimslaw

Jaimslaw

LifeTime Supporter
Jun 5, 2015
348
San Diego, CA
Today I finally got around to addressing the spa spill over. The surface of the flagstone over which water poured into the pool has always bugged me in that it created an uneven, erratic waterfall which would turn into a strong dribble when it neared time for replacing a dirty DE filter. Well, the grinding down of the flagstone surface produced the desired effect..I now have a beautifully symmetric cascading waterfall I never had before. Unfortunately, it created an unavoidable deposit of extremely fine ground flagstone into the pool making it very cloudy. I’ve run the DE filter - newly replaced DE BTW - for about 9 hours now and it’s still very cloudy.

I plan to run the filter all night..but am wondering if the DE will be able to filter out such fine particles? I’ve read posts varying in the micron size DE will effectively filter out, but am thinking the powdery like flagstone waste from this project is too fine to be addressed by the filter.

I heard clarifiers act to bind together fine materials so the filter can catch them..but others claim the DE will get clogged up. It’s no big deal if I need to change out the DE, but still left wondering if (i) filtering alone will do the job, or (ii) if the clarifier will serve a useful purpose as just noted. I’ll check out the water tomorrow but if it’s still cloudy, I’ll probably think it’s had enough turn overs after 24 hours straight (13 gallon pool with filter set at a fairly high RPM) and grow concerned that further running of the pump will have turned to be a costly waste (scary high KWPH cost here in San Diego). Being a tad bit over 400 ppm already in calcium content further concerns me, so wondering if this alone necessitates a partial drain (assuming / if that fine sandstone has moved that calcium level even higher)?

Thoughts anyone?
 
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Avoid Clarifiers for now.

Your pool logs, if you are using pool math, are not visible.

I would be VERY surprised that pool cloudiness is due to degradation of any stone.

I would recommend that you perform an OCLT to rule out algae...Link-->Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

Post a full set of results with your TF-100. FC, CC, pH, TA, CH, CYA.

Also post pictures of your pool water.

CH of 400 is likely not an issue, but post a full set of results and we'll go from there.

There is no reason to run the pump at high RPM.

How old are your reagents?
 
As originally posted, the cloudy water is the result of 20 minutes of grinding / leveling the sandstone. There was no way to avoid the resulting ground powder going into the pool and immediately forming a large light brownish cloud that slowly dispersed throughout the pool. Drain at 7 feet remains visible but visibility reduced by about 40%. Chem levels were all optimal beforehand with the exception noted; and following this, the only change was a ph spike (but did run out of supply to test existing calcium levels).

I appreciate the response but remain focused on options if filtration is slow or unable to attain clear water without a prolonged pump run. That plus the query about the role clarifiers could possibly play, the efficacy of DE filtration to address small particles such as I described, and the partial drain alternative to address high calcium levels, and/or to achieve clear water if DE filtration turns out to be a prolonged process.
 
Very informative article about clarifiers. Thanks.

Sounds like my situation may be one of the rare instances where clarifiers could be of benefit. Haven’t given up just yet on letting the pool filter run, so fingers crossed that it will clear itself up with a marathon session - tho per poolstored input, a lengthy low rpm run may work as well vs. my initial hastiness at throwing a full speed pump at the problem.

Will look for and revisit threads here about dealing with high calcium levels…or more pertinent, issues it causes. Same as to who, if anyone with super hard water like we have here in So Calif, does a partial or full water replacement after a decade or so.
 
It looks like you have a nice pool and a great setup. Your filter and patience will clear the water up. Don't muck up the works with anything other than your normal pool chemicals. Check the levels to be sure everything is in line and it will clear up. Heck, it might be clear already. Running the pump/filter a little more than normal, even at a lower speed, will clear it up.

I pressure wash my patio and always get some of the dirty water in the pool. Checking and adjusting, if necessary, the levels of everything to be sure nothing got out of line (chlorine, pH, etc) and patience yields the best results.
 
Jaimslaw said:
Very informative article about clarifiers. Thanks.

Sounds like my situation may be one of the rare instances where clarifiers could be of benefit. Haven’t given up just yet on letting the pool filter run, so fingers crossed that it will clear itself up with a marathon session - tho per poolstored input, a lengthy low rpm run may work as well vs. my initial hastiness at throwing a full speed pump at the problem.

Will look for and revisit threads here about dealing with high calcium levels…or more pertinent, issues it causes. Same as to who, if anyone with super hard water like we have here in So Calif, does a partial or full water replacement after a decade or so.
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The filter will get everything eventually. Just keep brushing and running the filter. Slower pump speeds tend to filter better.
 
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