(Intex) Pool Cloudy/algae

We have had many algal battles with a 17K gallon in ground pool - what has helped us the most is the info at http://www.troublefreepool.com/index.html - many people on the forum are in the pool industry and have helpful info that folks in the pool supply stores don't always know or tell. http://www.troublefreepool.com/pool-school/ gives you a good overview of basic pool chemistry and maintenance - particularly "How to Chlorinate Your Pool" http://www.troublefreepool.com/pool-school/types_chlorine..., and "Chlorine/CYA chart" http://www.troublefreepool.com/pool-school/chlorine_cya_c... and "Pool Calculator" http://www.troublefreepool.com/pool-school/pool_calculator

Some helpful things we've learned:
the chlorine "pucks" and many shock products contain a stabilizer, cyanuric acid (CYA), that prevents the chlorine from degrading from UV exposure. Trouble is, the stabilizer accumulates in your water over time, and too much of it greatly reduces the effectiveness of your chlorine (this is why at one point our pool had a chlorine level of about 4ppm and we were *still* getting algae - our CYA level was over 100 and we would have needed a minimum of 7ppm to keep the algae at bay!

- in many cases, a good dose of liquid chlorine (according to the "shock" levels listed in the Chlorine/CYA chart referenced above and using the Pool Calculator to figure out how much chlorine to add to reach the target shock level) works better than an algaecide for clearing up algae problems

- a good test kit (see descriptions here http://www.troublefreepool.com/pool-school/pool_test_kit_...) is also key to keeping your pool's chemistry in balance

and something we've learned from experience (and put to use when our filter was out of service due to leak issues) - if you've got serious cloudiness that's more than your filter can handle - use alum (available at pool supply stores) to precipitate out the suspended particles that are causing the cloudiness - let them settle out for a day or so and then vacuum the alum slurry to waste. Be sure to wait until *after* you've killed the algae before you do this (water's color should look blue even if clarity is still murky)

Hope that helps!

1 mom found this helpful

One thing we learned the first summer we had our pool was that chlorine = clear water. Sun leaches total chlorine from the water. Chlorine helps prevent algae growth and cloudiness. We had to treat our pool with a chlorine stabilizer in order to keep the chlorine in the water and then we treat the pool with shock once weekly and keep chlorine tabs in the water tray at all times. You can take a sample to a local pool supply and most will analyze the sample and tell you what the chemical breakdown is. Our always turned murky when it didn't have enough free chlorine in the water.

1 mom found this helpful

if the shock didn't work - then you will have to dump and bleach - contact a local pool company and ask them what they would do.

You will have to change the filters and ensure that all the water with algae in it is through the pumping system as well or you are just going to be in the same boat again in a few weeks.

GOOD LUCK!!!

1 mom found this helpful

Hey T., we have the same pool you do. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions but for now, yes, shock is great but goto your pool store (here, we have Leslies pool supply) and go buy Ultra Bright. Check this link out to the pool store so you can see what I am talking about.

http://www.lesliespool.com/Home/Pool-Chemicals/Water-Clar...

We just used this on Friday (used 4oz) and within a few hours, the pool was already clearing up. We had been struggling with the cloudiness. And...we have a sand filter so this issue may happen when you change filters too but this stuff is AWESOME! Anyway, good luck to you both....Let me know how it goes but make sure to have your water tested at the pool place. :)

1 mom found this helpful

We had the almost same pool you do for several years. The filtration system is comes with is just too small. Period. It doesn't push enough water. The biggest help was to buy the largest filter available, but I THINK you may be maxed out. I grew up with an inground pool so it was VERY frustrating the sheer level of effort it required to keep the water clear, but in addition to the bigger filter, this is what I did on a daily basis in order of helpfulness:

- Used the hose (and my thumb for the most water pressure) to spray clean the filter twice a day. Once before swimming, and once before putting the cover on at night. Occasionally a few more times throughout the day.

- Shocked it every night, and added chlorine and other chemicals throughout the day (I tested the water quality 2-3 times per day as well... Because the filter doesn't work very well a lot of biologicals end up building up and the chlorine gets low ALL the time). Pure and simple, you know there's not enough chlorine in your pool if algae is growing in it, because algae can't grow in water that has enough chlorine in it (3-6ppm). Oftentimes I'd be adding chlorine every single time the kids got out of the pool. It was a BEAR to keep the chlorine levels up in the safe range.

- Kept the cover on it as much as possible (direct sunlight breaks chlorine down into an inert substance)

- Used a "clarifier". This is a chemical that bonds to biologicals (skin, sunscreen, etc.) and makes them heavy to sink to the bottom/ more easily caught in the filter.

Doing the things above, I kept it crystal clear, but I had to stay ON the water quality every day. SO frustrating after coming from an inground. Refilling was never an option for us, since it cost us $800 to fill it. (Technically 'only' $400 in actual water price, but our city charges equal amounts coming and going in Apr-Oct. So if you use $400 in water, then you also have to pay $400 in sewer fees. Aaargh. The law was specifically enacted to keep people from watering their lawns from Apr-Oct, so you can't "challenge" it.

1 mom found this helpful

We had an Intex pool for 4 years and never had this problem either. I do agree that the filter that comes with it could be a *bit* better, but with the chlorine thingie bobbing around the pool (make sure the chlorine hasn't run out, of course), the filter, and regularly shocking it, I'm not sure what else you could do besides dumping it all out and refilling it.

1 mom found this helpful

No experience with that pool but don't they sell chemicals specifially for those pools at Walmart and the like?

1 mom found this helpful

Step 1- go to a pool store and buy pool shock.

Step 2- when it's green again next week, take an ax to it and throw it out!

Sorry, I had a terrible time when we had one of those pools ;)

ETA: When shocking wasn't working for ours, the pool place gave us different chemicals. Like you said, when it's just SO HOT you can't do much, but the stuff they recommended worked longer and you didn't have to wait as long as the shocker to get in. Good luck ;)

1 mom found this helpful

We have the same size. I had to use 2 huge tubs of shock this summer to get it to clean up. I shocked it enough for four pools 18x48 I had to constantly check my pH levels. I am still always adding chlorine tablets and adding pH. It's a constant battle.
My pool this early June had thousands of tadpoles and froglets in it. We had hundreds of frogs and it was greeeeeeen, yuck. We didn't have to dump and start over, we did get a new pump and cleaned the sand in the filter though.
My hubby has been out there every day vacuumming it. It took about three weeks and it is finally clear.
I took my water in every other day to the pool store and had it tested, which ours does for free if you buy your chemicals from them. Now that I know what to buy I get them from Walmart.

Only shock at night, doing it in the day is a lost cause, th4e chlorine evaporates too fast.
Use algeacide after you get rid of the algae, it is for the prevention not the killing of the algae.
Check your pH levels, once those are OK then the pool should become clearer. Add about 2#'s (2 cups of the sugary granules) at a time and wait two hours, THen check the water and add more. Do not add more than 6#'s in a day, check after 24 hours of adding pH increaser or decreaser.

Keep your chlorine levels up and that will help.

1 mom found this helpful

If the pool is in (almost) constant sunlight... You have to shock it SEVERAL times throughout the summer months. ALSO... You may need more shock than a pool that size would normally need if in direct sunlight for a long time during the day.

I had only a 14x28 ft pool that had to be shocked once a month and heavily chlorinated every other day just to keep the algae from growing. And I live in Michigan!!! Not like our summers are usually very long or hot. The chlorine would be burned off in just a matter of hours if we didn't have the floating time dispensing thing. This was also a hard side pool (permanent) with a huge sand filter. So... I'd try shocking again and keeping a constant chlorine source in it. DON'T DUMP IT!!! You CAN get this handled without doing so!

PM me if you have any questions. : )

1 mom found this helpful

have you shocked it? poured some bleach in it? that's what i would do. pour bleach in it and then wait 24 hours to swim in it.

1 mom found this helpful

Now, granted I have one of the smallest intex pools you can purchase but last year I let it go too long and had a heck of a time bringing it back to clear. My mom helped me some as she used to care for a large above ground pool. She bought me some PH+ that did the trick. Apparently the PH has to be up for the chlorine to properly do its job. I would also recommend if you don't have one, to purchase a test kit that will tell you what you need to add more of. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

This summer we bought the same size pool you have. If we had had enough money we were going to buy the Saltwater Water Sanitizing System. It has great reviews for keeping the water clean and clear no matter what kind of weather. I had never heard of it before but I saw it on Walmart's website when I was looking for reviews of the pool before buying it. I like that you use salt instead of the harsh chemicals. We are hoping next year to purchase it.