Why Did My Swimming Pool Turn Green
The color green in your pool means you have one enemy: Algae.
Algae is a simple plant, one that thrives in water that offers them food, and a hospitable environment. It doesnt take much for algae to enter your pool. Algae can become airborne, or ride into your pool on debris, a swimsuit, or pool toy. When it finds water with nitrogen and phosphorus, that isnt protected, algae start eating, and the bloom can seemingly appear overnight.
Interestingly, how deep the color is, ranging from light green sheen to swamp murk greeny-brown, gives you some of the information you need to fight it. Well get to that in just a minute, but more importantly, how did it happen?
Vacuum Up The Remaining Particles
Although using flocculant does save time overall, it requires more manual work. Because the particle clumps from the flocculant are too large for the filter to remove, you will need to use a manual vacuum to remove the debris. Automatic pool cleaners will not remove the debris. Too much vigorous movement will cause the clumps to separate and can make the water cloudy again. So make sure to be gentle with your vacuuming.
Abc Can Keep Your Pool Looking And Working Great
Not only does a green swimming pool look uninviting, it can also be a difficult and time-consuming process to figure out the right blend of steps and chemicals to fix the problem. For many of us, testing pool water, handling chemicals and keeping up with regular pool maintenance is just too much to take on. The pool professionals at ABC Home & Commercial Services can make your life easier by providing regular maintenance as well as troubleshooting any problems that may crop up on occasion, such as water turning green overnight. Well ensure that your pools chemical levels remain in balance so that algae is never able to bloom. Leave the hard work to us, so you can spend your time enjoying your pool.
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Can I Swim In A Cloudy Pool
I recommend identifying the cause of cloudy pool water before taking a dip. If the water is dirty because the filter is not getting rid of all the debris, its technically safe to swim in. But its not recommended as the filter isnt circulating water to remove bacteria.
Cloudy pool water is also a sign of a chemical imbalance. Basic water doesnt kill all bacteria, and acidic water is very irritating to the eyes and skin.
Why Is My Pool Water Still Cloudy After Shocking
The process of shocking your pool requires about 24 hours, so dont expect immediate results. You also want to make sure to use a shock that has an active ingredient of calcium hypochlorite. Big-box stores will often provide a less expensive product that does not contain calcium hypochlorite, but avoid this as it is less effective.
If the pool hasnt cleared up in a couple of days after applying shock, its likely a water circulation issue. If this is the case, clean your filter and make sure it is cycling correctly.
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Your Pools Water Chemistry
A swimming pool uses a host of chemicals in its water to keep the pool sanitized.
Its pH levelrefers to the waters acidity, which must stay balanced at all times. Its a delicate balance that requires you to keep a close eye on it, as many things can cause it to fluctuate rain, temperature shifts, airborne contaminants, and even swimmers themselves.
If the ph level does deviate from a balanced state, the water will either become acidic or alkaline, both of which you dont want happening.
When the pool becomes alkaline, the water turns cloudy because the high pH level leads to improperly dissolved calcium.
Alkaline pools are also a breeding ground for algae blooms, which cause your water to turn a lovely shade of toxic waste green.
In contrast, if the pool doesnt have enough chlorine, or too high a level of cyanuric acid this will also cause the water to turn that toxic shade.
Additionally, improper circulation and filtration can be the culprit of a green pool.
Each day, the filtration system should fully cycle the pools water to get rid of any contaminants. This is even more vital in the summer months when the temperatures are higher and the pool gets more use.
How To Balance Total Alkalinity
Finally, ensure that total alkalinity is within the required range of 80 ppm and 120 ppm to avoid bringing up pH levels and causing calcium scaling. To lower total alkalinity without extra equipment, add muriatic acid and aerate the pool to restore pH levels without having to add a pH increaser, which will increase alkalinity levels too.
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Buy A Swimming Pool Clarifier
Another simple way to reduce the cloudiness in your pool is to purchase a pool clarifier, which is a cleaning product that can be added to the water to clear any algae or unwanted murkiness.
Unlike other cleaning products, pool clarifiers have the ability to make fine particles clump together, which makes them easier to clean or filter away.
However, it should be noted that pool clarifiers are not considered a combative measure and are more preventative in their performance.
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If youve tackled these common problems and you want to fix cloudy pool water fast, you can use either a pool clarifier or pool flocculant . However, your cloudy pool water will return if you dont correct the underlying causes. So be sure your filter system is running smoothly, your chlorine levels are correct, your water is balanced and youve eliminated any algae growth.
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Chlorine Is Too Dilute Or Concentrated
Adding chlorine to pool water helps to keep your pool safe for swimmingsimple as that.
Chlorine kills off bacteria and other micro-organisms which cause unpleasant diseases and health problems like athlete’s foot, Legionnaire’s disease and ear infections .
Your pool’s chlorine levels will fluctuate based on how many people swim in it, based on the amount of rainfall you receive, and based on the amount of sunlight that shines on the water. .
The sun’s UV rays can destroy the chlorine , and lots of rainfall will also dilute its levels, giving microorganisms a chance to multiply, which affects the appearance and safety of your pool.
If the chlorine level in the water is too high, it’s also possible for the water to take on a murky or opaque appearance.
As the levels drop, due to swimmers using the pool or the sun’s rays burning it off, the cloudiness should clear up.
You should test your pool’s levels each day to make sure they aren’t too low or too high!
If a lot of people swim in your pool regularly, you might need to test the levels more frequently.
The suggested amount of free chlorine is between 2.0 and 4.0 parts per million .
How To Prevent Cloudy Pool Water
If you want to avoid cloudy water in the first place, it really just boils down to properly maintaining your pool. Test the water at least two or three times a week to ensure healthy water chemistry. Keep Free Available Chlorine, Total Alkalinity, pH, Calcium Hardness, and Cyanuric Acid levels in the proper ranges. Shock the pool once a week to keep your sanitizer working efficiently, oxidize contaminants, and ensure adequate chlorine levels. Run the pool pump long enough to filter all of the water in the pool at least once a day, and dont forget to keep your pool filter clean. To avoid overwhelming your filter and sanitizer with body oils, cosmetics, lotions, deodorants, and other contaminants, encourage swimmers to shower before entering the water. This is especially true if your pool has a heavy bather load or gets used frequently.
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More Reasons Why Your Pool Is Cloudy
What Turns Pool Water Blue
When it comes to above-ground and in-ground pools, there are a lot of frequently asked questions about pool health and upkeep. But did you know that one of the most common questions about pools is, Why are pools blue? There are many myths regarding what turns pool water blue. Lets look at a few of these myths and get to the bottom of the pool color mystery.
Can you tell the truth from the lies?
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Get Your Water Tested
That’s where a pool water testing kit can come in handy.
A testing kit lets you measure a variety of factors that affect the quality of your water so that you can balance your water.
Usually, you have two options when it comes to testing your pool’s water.
You can purchase test strips, which you dip into a water sample to measure pH, chlorine, total alkalinity and calcium hardness.
Remember that high alkalinity, high pH, and high calcium hardness can cause cloudy water.
Another option is to purchase a kit that includes reagents, which you add to the water. The reagents cause the water to turn colors based on the chlorine present or the pH level.
Whatever type of test method you use, it’s important to source the water from your pool correctly.
A good idea is to pull a sample of water from 18 inches below the surface. It’s also ideal to catch your water in the morning before the sun has had a chance to burn off any chlorine.
If there is a problem with the chlorine, pH or other chemical levels in your pool, adjusting those levels can be enough to correct the cloudiness.
For example, if your pool water is too basic, you can add hydrochloric acid or sodium hydrogen sulfate to lower the pH.
If the water is too acidic, you can use sodium carbonate to raise the pH.
Be sure to also use chlorine stabilizer to protect your chlorine levels.
Compare Pool Liner Colors In Water
The colour of a pool liner changes the second you add water, which makes it hard to decide which liner to choose. We’ve put together this post to help. You’ll see three of our most popular and trendy light-toned, medium-toned and dark-toned Latham pool liners shown in a single pool during the day and at night. It’s as close as we can get to a side-by-side comparison of pool liner colors in water so you can choose yours with confidence.
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Have You Shocked Your Pool Lately
- Powerful chlorine shock treatment that is great for regular maintenance
- Quickly eliminates algae, bacteria, and other harmful contaminants from your pool water
Sometimes, the best way to correct issues with the water in your pool is to “shock” it.
If you notice that your pool has a powerful chlorine odor or if the levels of combined chlorine are higher than they should be when you take a water sample, shocking the pool is in order .
Shocking your pool raises the chlorine to up to 10 ppm, and the super high dose of chlorine leads to the breakdown of dangerous chloramines .
The high level of chlorine also kills bacteria and pool algae in the pool or pool’s filter system.
An undesired aftereffect of shocking your pool is this: it can cause cloudy pool water.
In some instances, the cloudiness is a temporary thing .
Running your pool’s filter right after shocking can help it quickly clear away the particles and debris that cloud the water.
The condition of your pool’s water before you shock it can also play a role in whether or not it ends up as cloudy pool water afterward.
For example, if the water is fairly basic, with a pH over 7.6, shocking the pool can disrupt the solution of bicarbonates in the water.
To keep that from happening, test your pool’s pH before you shock and only use the treatment if the pH is 7.4 or lower .
Having hard water in your pool can also present a problem when you go to shock it.
How To Select The Combination Of Colors For A Swimming Pool
The right pool contractor always has a showroom with photos of projects and the materials available to convert your backyard into the perfect staycation. Keep in mind that:
- The main color is the foundation of the palette in most cases, the material used for a pool decking will be by the home or on the pools inlay.
- The accent color is the accessories like tiles, coping, or even the decorated tiles on a raised wall.
We recommend that you have a designer that can help a client to walk through the process of selecting the colors for the pool.
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When You Picture Some Of The Best Swimming Pools Youve Seen Or Been Lucky Enough To Swim In Do You Remember What Colour They Were Perhaps Youve Been Looking Out Over Your Surrey Swimming Pool And Pondered On What Makes Pool Water Blue In Fact What Makes Any Water Look Blue
This age old question must have been asked from the very beginning of human awareness, when the first people looked out over oceans, seas, lakes and rivers. They must have marvelled at the colours, just as we do today and wondered why and how there could be so many different shades.
The reasons for the colours that most people usually come up with, include anything from, whats at the bottom of the water, whats above the water, whats inside the water and whats being added to the water… And theyre all a little bit right!
The first explanation that lakes, oceans, rivers and swimming pools appear blue is because of the sky. As the sky reflects upon its surface, outside water has the added blueness. The same could be said for garden swimming pools. But what about indoor pools then?
Looking at the structure of water itself, science tells us about the way the water molecules work. When interacting with light, the molecules actually absorb red light waves, whilst reflecting blue light waves. This selective process is known as electromagnetic absorption and is the main reason that water appears blue.
Another factor that determines water colour is whats actually in it. Different mineral content and type of plants in the water have their own part to play, where the organic matter tends to reflect light back upwards towards the surface.
Pools Are Painted Blue
All pools are painted blue to give them that crisp, blue feeling. Just add water! Its a combination of paint and pool psychology!
FALSE
Not all pools are painted blue at the bottom. The most common pool finishes include white, blue, and a combination of both. However, due to developments in pool technology, more natural and unique pool finishes have experienced a meteoric rise in popularity. In fact, some of the more popular choices today include simulated stone, glass and porcelain.
And guess what in most cases, the water still looks blue.
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Some Final Tips On Keeping Your Pool Water Clear For Good
To keep your pool looking flawless all year round, remember these tips:
- Routinely deep cleaning will help prevent the water from getting cloudy and keep it from losing its sparkle.
- You can also keep the water looking fresh by stirring it and skimming a few times a week for debris or manually using a pool brush to push the particles down towards the filter.
- Regularly shocking your pool and backwashing the filter will go a long way in preventing cloudiness.
- You can also anticipate cloudiness by taking a pressure gauge reading and backwashing whenever the pressure reaches 5-7 pounds per square inch above average readings.
Remember, treat your pool like an art project. Clean the area regularly and make yourself aware of the common threats that change the waters properties.
Keep up with hygiene codes for family and friends, and keep tabs on your equipment for constant monitoring and maintenance. If you take the time to keep your pool looking beautiful, it will look as clear as glass for the summer months!
Increase Your Pool Circulation
Your skimmer located at the surface of your pool cant get to the debris or cloudy water at the bottom of your pool. To help all of your pool water pass through your filter, you can increase your pools circulation.
- Position your return jets. Point your return jet down at a 45° angle and all in the same direction. This will help churn the cloudy water up from the bottom of the pool to the top where your main skimmer can get it into your filter system.
- Use your bottom drains. If you have an inground pool, make sure the main drain at the bottom is on and is pulling water from the bottom of the pool into your filter system. This will speed up filtering and clear the pool water faster.
- Turn your vacuum upside down. If you have an above ground pool with no main drain, you can hook up your manual vacuum cleaner and turn it upside down at the bottom of the pool to mimic a bottom main drain.
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