How Long Should I Run the Pool Pump? we clean the filter 3 times a day. Answer: So what has happened is the dead algae sank to the bottom. If it is a sand or cartridge filter I will use liquid chlorine, about 10 gallons, or four of the yellow "Jerry-jugs." As such, oxidation of the metals from a pool shock can turn the swimming pool water green. Most of these questions are based on real keyword searches that have found some of my articles. This is one of the most often searched questions. Since the shock process will take time, especially if your pool has turned a dark green, we should make sure the rest of our filtration system is working well. You will need to add one bag of BioGuard Burn Out Extreme to every 50,000L of pool water. I shocked it and added algae killer. The chlorine will kill the algae and the algaecide is used for a little insurance because the chlorine level will be reduced quickly due to the algae. You will need to lower your pH using hydrochloric acid. Remember that shocking alone does not clear up a green or cloudy pool; that is what the filter is for. Next, your pH might be above the normal range of 7.2 - 7.8. Applied chemicals earlier than usual and it cleared after a day but turned green again after a week. After you shock the pool, chances are that the green and cloudy pool water is now going to be a cloudy blue. What can I do? So remember, a cloudy pool can be caused by a bad filter. pH level – pH levels range between 0 (most acidic) and 14 (most basic) with 7 being neutral. We've never before had an issue managing the chemistry, and usually have crystal clear water. You can also use a pool volume calculator. Decrease your pH level. The chemicals are all within normal limits. Run, Filter, Run! You may also want to consider adding a few ⦠It's not an "exposed to oxygen" type of thing. Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on July 24, 2018: Hi Elizabeth. Help PLEASE, my pool is 10500 gal, I’m having a hard time bringing PH up, and lowering my alkalinity ..... any suggestions? Pool still green after shock, banish, and clarifier Postby chem geek » Mon 15 Jun, 2009 00:03 BioGuard Banish algaecide is copper ions (see here) and though copper kills and prevents algae, if overdosed or when the pH rises it can turn water green and ⦠Question: Should I run my pool sweeper if I have too much chlorine in the pool? I am about $600.00 in the last 2 weeks on chemicals. The chlorine level was a little high, but I had recently added shock. Then place some sequestering agent in the water and, finally, a metal eliminator ⦠The length will be determined by outside temperate and the turnover rate of the pool pump. Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on June 03, 2019: Ed, thanks for reading. Proper alkalinity – Alkalinity is different than your pH level and measures the water’s ability to resist change in pH levels making it easier for pH and chlorine ranges easier to stabilize. Filters out virtually everything else. I purchased a new pump and filter and shocked my pool Sunday night and took some water to the pool store and was told it was locked up so to shock again so I did that last night. How long will this take to totally clear up? Chlorine levels – If chlorine levels are left unchecked algae can overtake the pool water making it cloudy. A clarifier solution can also be used to help out. Answer: Above ground pools can be difficult when trying to get rid of algae, only because there is no "Main drain" or a drain at the bottom of the pool which helps the filtration process greatly. High levels of the wrong chemicals may be the issue. So many diseases in pool water that is not treated and filtered. Answer: In the pool industry, we refer to this as "smoking the pool". Because algae feed on phosphates, algae blooms due to phosphorus can become overwhelming in the summer months when the water temperature exceeds 78–82° F. This condition is easily treatable with a phosphate-removing product like this one. When adding a floccing agent, allow everything to settle to the bottom. Turn on the filter system. 2. Hope this helped. All Rights Reserved. After all that work your green pool water should be in the past. Without knowing the volume (gallon size) of the pool, I can not answer this accurately. Using Fill Water From a Well Sorry to hear the pool looks so bad. My pool has been shocked, why is it still green? Algaecide alone without chlorine will not prevent the pool from turning green. Pool water must have a sanitizer or something that will kill bacteria and algae. either the pump is not being run on a long enough cycle. Question: How often do you change the sand in a sand filter? What can we do? Since the shock process will take time, especially if your pool has turned a dark green, we should make sure the rest of our filtration system is working well. Once these levels are balanced, the pool can be shocked. Both work by reversing the flow and blowing buildup and debris to waste (or backwash hose) In my personal experience with sand filters, a solid 2 minutes is sufficient. Now I only use sodium hypochlorite for shock and I haven't had the problem again. We have rust in our water. This is about all the advice I can give at the moment without knowing more about what type of filter system being used. This article shows you how to lower stabilizer levels. Answer: Every 3 years is recommended unless the filtration quality begins to diminish before that. I Shocked My Pool, So Why Is It Still Green? How do I know if my filter is bad? That will end up making your pool look a little bit cloudy. These can be affected by the size of the pool as well as the gallons per minute rating of your pool pump. I am very frustrated. You could try floccing the pool. The choice depends on what type of filter it has. Question: What are the “color phases” of superchlorination? That depends entirely on the color of the pool algae. Not Enough Filtration. Question: My pool is green. I’ve been working with pool professionals and just have added 4 gallons to my 10,000 gallon above ground pool which I usually do not have too many issues with. If the pool is being filtered properly, you won't need a clarifier solution. You are on the right track. High phosphate levels can definitely cause algae problems. You can view my article on how to floc a pool here. Do you think the pool turned green that quick or maybe had some help from a disgruntled former employee? Chlorine combines with the ⦠Free chlorine. What should do I do next? Correct pH. As a one-time beginning of year treatment, maybe. My wife wanted the above ground pool, and she has trouble keeping the water clear (sand filter). Now its been 2 days and it still has some green but VERY cloudy! I take water samples to a local supply store to be tested. I would be willing to bet that most of the people suffering from the green shocked pool were doing it with dichlor. I just can't give a simple answer without knowing these things. It sounds like you are having the EXACT same problem as "Kim". Test the water 24 hours after shocking and start adjusting pH and alkalinity levels. This copper can occur naturally in the water or come from copper plumbing that is leeching into the pool. Do the test strips even work?? Start off by adding 3 or 4 gallons, and if you see no results overnight, add 3 or 4 more gallons the next day. the filter needs to be taken apart and cleaned or repaired. If you have green pool water after shocking your pool, then you may have too much copper in your water. I still use trichlor for daily management which has slowly built up my stabilizer since it doesn't every really go away (even in winter). I have cleaned the pool and started with clean water. We're at a total loss, and so is our local pool store! Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on July 23, 2018: Hi Tony. Anytime you can vacuum debris, dust or algae to waste, it's always a good thing! Question: I used the "Green to Blue" product and the next day the pool water was clear, but I see green in the middle of the pool on the bottom. Answer: Sand filters require a longer backwash time than a DE filter. By the time you exhaust all of your time, energy, and cost of chemicals it will be worth the cost of some water." Before adding granular shock to the pool, be sure the pH range is between 7.2 and 7.4. If the pool is still very cloudy or green, you may need to shock it to make it safe to swim in again. Question: How do I lower the pH of my pool? To lower the chlorine level, you could add sodium thiosulfate, but I do not recommend this, because adding too much can cause the chlorine level to seesaw back and forth. (90 - 100 ppm is ideal) If an increase is needed, add the sodium bicarbonate or "alkalinity up", then allow the water to circulate for at least one hour and then re-test the alkalinity level. (Used ascorbic acid, some kind of sequestering, began bringing ph up with borax and then baking soda. Bring valve back to filter position and run for one minute. I think the biggest reason for this being the highest googled question is the labeling of dichlor as shock. I ran into this problem several years ago. Another option would be to brush the pool often and run the filter as much as possible. We have a pop up 15 x 48 pool. Pool experts recommend a pH of 7.2 and 7.8 for everyday usage. Judging from the questions pool owners ask on the internet, they are having a hard time with water clarity even when they think all the chemicals are balanced. After scooping a ton of leaves out and still having some at the bottom, we dumped 2 bottles of black algaecide, 15 bags of shock, 1 pool first aid bottle (64 oz. Hopefully, your filter system has a waste valve otherwise you will continue to just recirculate green water. Answer: High calcium levels can cause scaling while low levels will eat at the plaster. If the water looks green but is clear, you may have a problem with metal content in your pool. For normal use, your poolâs pH should be between 7.4 and 7.6: for shocking, it should be between 7.2 and 7.6. How Much Shock Should I Add to the Pool? Backwash for 90 seconds. The 4 main colors of pool algae are: Light green/teal, green, dark green, and black Each one requires a different amount of shock to be defeated, with black algae being the strongest. I’m about ready to fill this thing in with dirt! What you need to do is add some ascorbic acid to the water. The color in the water is from metal ions combined with hydroxide or sometimes other oxides (oxygen) and is more likely at higher pH which is why this sometimes only shows up when shocking a pool (especially for copper turning a pool green). Office Hours: Monday - Friday | 8:00am - 5:00pm Saturday | 8:00am - 12:00pm (Noon), Address: 4003 N. Kalarama #2 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251. I had worked on it for 3 weeks for iron or copper stain and it had cleared but seemed to be returning. For the last two weeks, it's been about 90° with monsoon rains about every hour, every other day. Refraction can amplify the appearance of algae when more light is available. Answer: Before shocking the pool, be sure the pH is between 7.2 and 7.6. I had so much stabilizer that it was keeping the chlorine from doing anything. I Shocked My Pool, So Why Is It Still Cloudy? 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