Why Your Pool Gets Cloudy

Figuring out why your pool gets cloudy can be frustrating. I’ve had several questions about just such a thing.
In this video I will take you through some steps to discover why your pool may be getting cloudy. It may be one of these reasons or a combination of them.
Here at the Links I mentioned in this video on how to do the things I talk about.
For Reason #1
Testing Your Pool Water: • Testing Your Pool Water
Adding Chlorine Tablets to Your Pool: • Adding Chlorine Tablet...
Adjusting the Ph and Alkalinity in Your Pool: • Adjusting Ph and Alkal...
For Reason #2
Filter Run Times: • How Long Should You Ru...
Backwashing A Sand Filter: • Backwashing a sand filter
Backwashing with a Hayward Vari-Flow valve: • Backwashing a Sand Fil...
Backwashing a D.E. Filter: • Backwashing a DE filter
Cleaning a Pentair Cartridge Filter: • Video
Cleaning a Hayward Cartridge Filter: • Hayward Cartridge Filt...
Cleaning a Spa Rite Cartridge Filter: • Cleaning a Sta Rite Ca...
For Reason #3
Emptying Your Pump Basket and Clearing The Impeller: • Emptying your pump bas...
For Reason #4
Algae and Algaecides and Why You Don't Need Them: • Algae and Algaecides (...
How I Cleared My Green Pool: • How I cleared my “gree...
Keeping Phosphate Levels Low: • Keeping Phosphate Leve...
For Reason #5
Changing Your Pool Water, Why and When: • Changing your pool wat...
Remember, it's not always the same reason, and it could also be a combination of these reasons. So stay with it, be patient and keep at it.
Hope you’ll subscribe to my channel and also, please check out my website poolschooler.com for exclusive DIY pool maintenance tools and more direct and priority communication with my for your pool maintenance needs.
DIY Pool Care

[@Bradthacker46]

Of all the videos I've watched on pool care, yours are the best! Down to earth, informative, and strait to the point. Thank you!

[@castor4072]

Before seeing this video, my pool was very cloudy, turns out, my filter cartridges were clogged up. Ran my pool for 48 hours, crystal clear now. Thanks for the confirmation video! Keep the videos coming, Thanks Ken!

[@charlesrickman2659]

Been binging your videos. Thanks for all the in depth knowledge

[@PoolSchooler]

Glad to be of help. Happy New Year. Hope you'll subscribe to and share my channel with others.

[@capt.lennymiller6524]

great help for the homeowner pool!

[@PoolSchooler]

Thanks for watching.. Hope you'll subscribe.

[@cavadecor01]

Thank you! All the best for 2021!

[@PoolSchooler]

Thank you.

[@derricksowers9074]

I just put up our pool July 4th, and after adding all the chemicals to get it balanced it is extremely cloudy. It is 24 foot round 52in deep, just added water from a garden hose. CYA was 0 hardness was 128 TA 127 TDS 300 ph 8.3 I added 1 gallon of liquid stabilizer dissolved 5 lbs of Burnout 73 3 chlorine tabs in a floating chlorine dispenser This was recommended by our local pool supply store. What other thing should i have asked to be tested in my fill water? And where these chemical recommendations good? I think i might have some metals in my water that were not tested for also. Cleaned the filter and i will leave running as long as needed. It is a cheap intex style pool. I really like and appreciate the videos, thanks.

[@bribird991]

Great videos Ken.......I also live here in AZ and i am a fist time pool owner since the move and your videos have been very helpful.....thanks.

[@PoolSchooler]

Glad they're helpful. Enjoy your pool.

[@elenakurus2010]

bribird991 me too, I always looking for video and found here !

[@pmventura41]

Good one. Thank you...

[@edwincastellon6774]

What are your thoughts about ionizers systems ? Can you make a video on this topic ?

[@PoolSchooler]

I'm not a fan

[@rtrbrown]

Do appreciate your videos are very informative. I have a question. I have a sand filter but it does not have a vacuum to waste position, how do I work around that?

[@PoolSchooler]

You simply vacuum it and then after you’re done backwash the filter. Depending on how much dirt you have in your pool you may have to backwash the filter a couple times while vacuuming the way you know is if you see dirt blowing back into the pool through the returns while you’re vacuuming that’s an indication that you should backwash the filter and then resume vacuuming. Hope that helps and hope you’ll subscribe to my channel and share it with others and please check out my website poolschooler.com.

[@rtrbrown]

@@PoolSchooler I am subscribed to ur channel. Thank u for ur quick response. Have a good day. Thank u again. 🙂

[@isaihernandez150]

Just replaced my de grids and pool chem is good chlorine a little low cause I did a big shock cause pool was green….. filter pressure going pretty high just makes me nervous… pool is very cloudy not sure what to do… Arizona pool

[@PoolSchooler]

Sounds like the grids were not installed correctly and you have DE blowing back into your pool.

[@isaihernandez150]

@@PoolSchooler also uses a phosphate remover could that also be it? I installed the filters myself and I’m pretty sure they are good although I’ll definitely take it apart and check cause it’s always possible I made a mistake

[@PoolSchooler]

@@isaihernandez150 the cloudiness could absolutely be caused by the phosphate remover. That should dissipate and clear up within a few hours or so.

[@brigulick410]

I recently took over servicing my pool. We just emptied and refilled. I am confused on what “start up” chemicals I am needing. I have tested and I am high in ph, right on the money with alkalinity, and low with stabilizer and chlorine. I have a 25k gallon pool with a sand filter. Any recommendations?

[@PoolSchooler]

Hi Bri. I'm certain there are specific chemistry formulas to find out "exactly" how much of each to put in any size pool but I'm not a very good mathematician. Here's what I do: Stabilizer - add one pound at a time in the skimmer basket while the pump is running. Let it run and dissolve the entire pound and distribute for a few hours. Then test your CYA levels. If it's low repeat the process til you reach the ideal range. Regarding Chlorine. I'd start with 4 gallons of liquid chlorine. Add it all with the pump running (to disperse the product) and test in a couple hours. If it's still low, add a gallon at a time using the same method. (I also use chlorine tablets for regular chlorination: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eX3Wp4ukj6uekKs So make sure you have that floater in the pool with tablets in it. The good thing about the chlorine is that it does evaporate so if you do get the level a little too high it will evaporate over time or if you need to dilute it a bit you can always backwash your sand filter and that'll cause your pool to refill (if you have an auto fill valve) with fresh water. I'm doing a video on New Pool Start Up Chemicals next week and I may get this done this weekend and post so stay tuned. Hope this helps.

[@joleneweaver7578]

Hi question ever dealt with alge dust ..how do I get rid of it help

[@PoolSchooler]

are you taking about pollen on the surface of the water or algae residual after it's dead on the bottom of the pool. If it's the latter, vacuum it up. If it's pollen on the surface not much you can do about that since it's probably seasonal. Maybe increase the suction to your skimmer.

[@joleneweaver7578]

@@PoolSchooler alge at bottom of pool ..it just disappears when vacuum or touched

[@ashorinamoshe4643]

Hi i do everything still is green how I do it

[@PoolSchooler]

This video will assist you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3Kbc6KDmpx8jK8 Also check out my website poolschooler.com

[@bribird991]

That said......i had a new sand filter put in prior to buying my house.....this is my third summer on this sand filter and i am getting sand in my pool. I suspect a broken lateral inside. Would you reccomend purchasing a whole new cartridge style filter since i have to change out this sand and possibly new laterals?..your thoughts on repair replace sand vs. Cartridge style......would i save time and money for the future?

[@PoolSchooler]

Personally I'm a fan of cartridge filters overall. So I'd say yes. But that's just my opinion.

[@bettyrosalis1656]

I just bought this house will then Intex above ground pool. My pool water was turning green so I added shock and clarifier and algaecide. The water now is almost milky looking and is very high and pH and free chlorine and total chlorine. I have added so many different types of chemicals I am afraid to add more. What should I do please help

[@PoolSchooler]

It's either high phosphates and/or your filters need cleaning or replacing. Those index pool usually come with a very small and inefficient filter. To remove phosphates use PR 10000 by Orenda. But keep that filter clean.

[@bettyrosalis1656]

@@PoolSchooler The filter that came with it was replaced with an Intex tank sand filter, but I think it is too small for the 10000 gallon above ground intex pool. The ph and chlorine was extremely high so I added some ph down. It looks much better. I have been back washing it too and keeping the pump running filtering. Maybe when the sun gets rid of some of the chlorine it will completely cleared up. What size sand filter do you recommend for my size pool?

[@PoolSchooler]

@@bettyrosalis1656 I'm not sure. But if you backwash that filter more often you should be ok. But 10000 gallons is pretty good size for an above ground pool.

[@bettyrosalis1656]

@@PoolSchooler It is 22'x52" It is pretty big. It actually holds 10,472 gals. of water.

[@PoolSchooler]

@@bettyrosalis1656 We used to have a pretty large intex above ground pool with a similar sand filter. Not the best but it worked. I did a video on how I cleared it when our monsoons turned it green. Here's a link. I believe it'll help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/joqQc3Sad75jsKs That filter should be sufficient. Try what I do in the video and see I that helps. ALSO, with a filter like that I was backwashing it weekly..

[@lofton059]

Also, phosphate remover is not needed except in very rare situations. If you keep chlorine and cya in check, phosphates are not an issue. Phosphate remover can be expensive as well, it’s just not needed in most cases.

[@PoolSchooler]

I have actually found that at least in AZ phosphates are not completely controlled by chlorine and cya. Although I definitely agree that low levels of those can certainly create a better environment for algae to grow and phosphates to accumulate. But with all my pools and most of the other pool service peeps I talk with, we still need "maintenance" doses of phosphate remover added to our pools occasionally (usually every 2 or 3 months) to keep things in check.

[@vseddonvs]

Thank you x

[@marcuslosgreat4225]

9 times out of 10 when my pool is cloudy its due to the PH being lower than 7.2

[@PoolSchooler]

That's very interesting. I've never had a pool go cloudy with a low ph.

[@gbwhitewarrior]

I appreciate the content but your recording is much lower than your pool school intro