I recently opened our 16ft × 4 ft intex pool. It was a swamp! Mixture of algae and pollen and it was almost black it was so green. I have added probably 6 to 8 gallons of bleach over the course of 2 weeks and it cleared from green/black to light blue and cloudy. I have adjusted all levels. The CYA level is 50 PH 7.2 free chlorine is 5 but it is still cloudy. I have vacuumed over 5 times and back washed filter (Intex sand filter) several times. Out of frustration the day before yesterday I replaced the sand in the filter with fresh sand and Clorox filter media sand. Pool is a bit more clear but still cloudy. What do I need to do next? I am so frustrated I want to drain and refill but with chemical shortages I want to avoid that.
Help! Cloudy water
- Thread starter Ashgirl4161
- Start date
- Jul 17, 2019
- 4,077
- Pool Size
- 13000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Your chlorine is way too low. You need to read up on SLAM, which is basically getting your FC level to SLAM level (for a CYA of 50, thats a FC level of 20) and keep it there until it clears up which will hopefully will only be another week or so since you have seen some improvement already.
www.troublefreepool.com
SLAM - Shock Level and Maintain
We’ve all had to deal with a green pool. Clear algae from your pool with a SLAM! Read here to use shock level and maintain to clear your pool.
www.troublefreepool.com
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,036
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Ash, I would agree with JJ. If the water is still cloudy, which is one of the 3 SLAM-passing criteria, your SLAM is not over. Hang in there and keep it going. Brush, backwash, repeat. You can still be in the water as long as you don't exceed the FC SLAM level for yoru CYA - in your case 20. But you need to maintain that FC of 20.
Ok, I figured that was what I needed to do. Thanks so much for your help!
So far no improvement with the SLAM process. Is it possible the filter just cannot filter the particles?
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,036
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Can you post a pic of your water please? Also, tell us:
- When exactly you started this SLAM?
- What is your latest CYA and FC results?
- When exactly you started this SLAM?
- What is your latest CYA and FC results?
After slamming for weeks with no results I ended up partially draining the pool. As I was draining I tipped our Conifer steps over to clean underneath and pure Alger poured out of the steps. I found the problem! Pulled the steps out and cleaned the very well and refilled the pool.
Pool is clear now but has a ton of dead already in the bottom that won't vacuum out. I raised the level to SLAM again and have been brushing the bottom multiple times per day. Anything else I can do to get rid of it?
Pool is clear now but has a ton of dead already in the bottom that won't vacuum out. I raised the level to SLAM again and have been brushing the bottom multiple times per day. Anything else I can do to get rid of it?
After slamming for weeks with no results I ended up partially draining the pool. As I was draining I tipped our Conifer steps over to clean underneath and pure Algea poured out of the steps. I found the problem! Pulled the steps out and cleaned the very well and refilled the pool.
Pool is clear now but has a ton of dead algea in the bottom that won't vacuum out. I raised the level to SLAM again and have been brushing the bottom multiple times per day. Anything else I can do to get rid of it?
Pool is clear now but has a ton of dead algea in the bottom that won't vacuum out. I raised the level to SLAM again and have been brushing the bottom multiple times per day. Anything else I can do to get rid of it?
Last edited:
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,036
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Great job! 
You cracked the code on that algae. Steps are notorious for that. So now, get back on that SLAM bandwagon. Make sure to sweep and vacuum daily to keep everything stirred-up towards the filter. In time, you'll get it all out. Nice work.
You cracked the code on that algae. Steps are notorious for that. So now, get back on that SLAM bandwagon. Make sure to sweep and vacuum daily to keep everything stirred-up towards the filter. In time, you'll get it all out. Nice work.