Why is my pool water cloudy？

Cloudy pool water can be due to a number of factors including unbalanced water, insufficient filtration, lack of sanitiser and oxidation or algae growth.

Unbalanced water can cause cloudy water if, for example, the PH is too high. Perform a complete water test to check water and balance if needed.

Swimming pool water must be filtered adequately every day. Filtration should run at least 8 hours or more (depending on bather load and other factors) a day and insufficient filtration can cause cloudy water. Ensure sand filters and diatomaceous earth filters are backwashed as required and that cartridge filters are hosed down weekly.

Shock dosing a pool is required to sanitise and oxidise a pool. Especially in heavy bather loads, thunderstorms and adverse weather.  There must be enough chlorine residual to keep algae away which can cause cloudy water. Water must be tested regularly for chlorine demand and shock dose the pool water as needed

Even after balancing the water and sanitising, algae growth can still be difficult to eliminate in swimming pools.  Add an algaecide to help eliminate algae in the pool and use algaecide regularly as a preventative of algae growth

DID YOU KNOW ？The early stages of algae growth can cause the pool water to go cloudy before changing colour.

Why do I have algae in my pool ？How can I get rid of it ？

Algae growth in the swimming pool can be caused by a number of reasons including lack of sanitiser, adverse weather conditions, high phosphate levels and inadequate filtration. If the sanitiser level is too low for a period of time, algae can form rapidly on the walls which is commonly known as blackspot. The water normally goes cloudy and eventually green.

Algae can also enter the pool from rain, wind and dust.  It is important to shock the pool when adverse weather conditions arise.

It is important to play a proactive role in preventing algae by using specialty chemicals including Phosphate remover (starver) and algaecide.  Algaecide kills algae but is also a good preventative and should be added every 3 months.  The algaecide will work more effectively on the algae if the walls are scrubbed to break the top layer.  Phosphates in the water are food for algae and can be eliminated by adding Phosphate remover or Starver.

TIP: Stay out of the pool when you know algae is present. Algae contains bacteria which can make you very sick so “when its green it may be mean but when it’s clear you’ll have no fear”.

Why do I need to have a certain PH level ？

PH levels are an integral part of water balance for your swimming pools. PH levels measure how acidic or alkaline the pool water is. The Australian standards for PH range from between 7.0-7.6. If you don’t have the correct PH level then the following problems can occur:

-          Skin and eye irritation

-          Cloudy water

-          Scale build up on your pool surface and equipment

-          Interference with chlorine effectiveness

TIP: Your pools Total Alkalinity range should be between 60-200ppm (parts per million) depending on the pool surface. Total alkalinity helps keep the PH stable and is also known as PH bounce. Low Alkalinity will cause corrosion and damage the pool surfaces such as concrete and painted pools

What’s the best way to sanitise my swimming pool ？

Sanitising the pool is integral in helping prevent bacteria growth in swimming pools.  The chlorine level should between 1-2PPM (parts per million) free chlorine. If untreated these bacteria can cause ear infections, nose and throat infections, stomach upsets and other bacterial infections. Chlorine should be tested regularly to make sure there is enough residual before and bathers enter the water. 

Heated pools use up more chlorine than non-heated pools.  This is because warm water uses chlorine at a much quicker rate. Many people think that the smell of chlorine means there is either enough or too much chlorine.  It is actually the opposite. Not enough chlorine or used up chlorine known as chloramines gives a chlorine odour which means more chlorine is needed.

Why do I have scales forming on my pool ？

The problem could be due to high levels of calcium hardness. Calcium hardness is the amount of dissolved calcium in the water. If the calcium level is too high then scale formation can occur and will affect the pool and equipment.

DID YOU KNOW ？ If you calcium hardness is too low it can be corrosive. The recommended range is between 100 and 500ppm (parts per million).

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