How to Get Your Pool Clear Again

Rob is a puddle-service industry professional person with over 20 years of feel.

Help! The Pool Is Green!

Treating a puddle that has turned green? This article will take y'all pace-by-step through how to get that nasty pool in shape. I will likewise cover some basic chemistry and filtering tips to prevent this from happening again.

What Makes the Pool Greenish?

Algae makes your pool green, and a chemical imbalance lets the algae grow. If at that place is plenty costless chlorine in the pool, algae volition have a hard time forming. If for some reason the chlorine can't build upwards to a high enough level, algae volition grow. That'southward why yous stupor your pool with chlorine every bit role of the six-step process beneath. If the greenish comes back, you tin can adjust the levels of other chemicals too chlorine, equally there is more to pool water chemical science than chlorine alone.

Half-dozen Steps to Cleaning a Green Pool

1. Decide whether your water chemistry can exist fixed, or if information technology's likewise far gone.
2. Test the water to decide the pH balance.
3. Shock the pool.
4. Pump and filter the puddle to regain balance.
5. Brush and filter the pool again.
6. Maintain counterbalanced chemical science.

Each of these steps is described in particular below. All information is based on an in-ground domicile pool of average size, from 12 to 15 1000 gallons.

Step i: How Greenish IS Your Puddle?

If information technology'south as well green, these vi steps won't be enough; you lot may need to take the pool drained and acid-done, instead of shocked. I take seen many pools that were not but green, simply blackness. In astringent cases like this, it is more cost-effective and less time-consuming to only drain the puddle and have it acid-washed, even though it costs money to refill the pool.

This is my general rule for determining whether the pool can exist treated chemically or needs to be drained: if you tin can see at least six to eight inches below the surface of the h2o, most likely the pool can be treated chemically. An case is in the photo below; you lot can see the elevation of the first stair down into the puddle.

Once we establish that the puddle doesn't need to exist drained and can be treated chemically, we can get from there.

An example of greenish puddle water that can be treated chemically.

Step 2: Testing the Water

If the pool is green, at that place's obviously little or no chlorine in the pool, then if you are going to daze it you will be calculation a lot, so testing for chlorine is not very important. But you lot should test for pH, because if the pH is very loftier, the daze volition turn the pool cloudy. A shocked pool volition exist cloudy anyway until all the dead algae and other solids are filtered out, but high pH volition cause a VERY cloudy puddle.

To find out the pH, I prefer to utilize a high-end exam kit, but the cheap examination strips will at least requite y'all an idea if your pH is high or low. Y'all want it to be low: 7.2 or lower.

If the pH is high, add i gallon of muriatic acid, which should be enough. Don't worry that y'all may take added a petty too much, because the pool tin can be a little acid (low pH) for swimming purposes but however at a good pH for shocking. Test the pH again after shocking and four hours of apportionment.

Step 3: Shocking the Pool

Once your pH is 7.two or below, you are going to daze the pool with granular chlorine (calcium hypochlorite). I suggest purchasing a 25-pound container of granular chlorine, rather than the individual 1-pound bags they sell at pool stores or large chain stores. You lot'll salve a bully bargain of money, and y'all will need chlorine in the futurity for small doses from time to time. Use five pounds of granular shock, or 10 gallons (four ii.5-gallon jugs) of liquid chlorine. With the filter pump on, broadcast the chlorine evenly over the water, covering the entire pool surface, until all five pounds of shock, or all 10 gallons of liquid chlorine, have been used. Be sure to use a good algaecide besides, which y'all can add together afterwards a few hours of circulation. You tin can also add a floccing agent at this indicate to cause the dead algae particles to clump together.

I wrote a follow-up article nigh shocking the puddle that answers some of these questions in more detail:

• How much stupor should I use?
• How long should I run the pump after shocking?

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Read More From Dengarden

Stride 4: Pumping and Filtering

What type of filter do you take? Follow these steps for your type of filter.

• Diatomaceous Earth (DE) Filter: Before doing annihilation else, aftermath the DE filter. Add fresh DE pulverisation. Then shock the pool equally explained above, and run the pump for 24 hours. Make sure the pool bleed is not obstructed past leaves or other material while this pumping is going on. If the pool is so greenish yous tin't see the drain, merely run a brush over the gauge location of the main bleed at the deep terminate of the pool.
• Sand Filter: Aforementioned as for a DE filter, except the backwash fourth dimension should be a minimum of five minutes.
• Cartridge Filter: Brand sure it'southward in good condition and rinsed thoroughly. See note in Step 4 beneath about cartridges.

Step 5: Brushing and Filtration

Afterwards 24 hours of chemicals and circulation, you will run into an amazing transformation. Your pool should not be light-green anymore. But it will however be cloudy, and it volition demand a lot of brushing and filtration for the side by side few days. At that place will probably yet be a few stubborn isolated greenish areas that need some brushing.

If your pool is still light-green later on 24 hours, there may be too much of the wrong chemicals, for example an backlog of phosphate or cyanuric acid ("stabilizer").

It volition accept a while for the cloudiness to go away.

• For a sand filter, information technology will take a week or more.
• Cartridge filters will need to be cleaned more often than other filters during this procedure: twice a day for at least two days, or until the puddle is clear.
• If you have a DE filter, and the cloudiness does not articulate upwards, your filter may be clogged and demand repair or maintenance.

Step 6: Maintaining Your Pool in Balance

Tips for maintaining your puddle:

1. Make sure you have a reliable chlorinating system, whether information technology is an in-line, floater, or table salt system. Chlorine needs to be in the pool always. Throwing a jug of liquid in it once a calendar week isn't a skilful way of maintaining the pool. A elementary tablet chlorine floater is very effective.
2. Use a water description solution.
3. Make clean your filter. DE filters are by far the best filter to have. Although a bit more plush to purchase at first, they volition save you both time and lots of money in the long run.

How oftentimes to make clean your filter:

• DE filters: Backwash in one case a calendar month.
• Sand filters: Backwash once every two weeks. Exist sure to backwash your sand filter for a minimum of four minutes; otherwise, you will see filthy water shooting back into the puddle.
• Cartridge filters: Clean it eastwardvery three to four weeks, unless you see algae in the pool, in which case you should clean more than oft. Here's more than nearly how to clean a cartridge filter. Soak in trisodium phosphate every three months.

Fun Poll

This article is authentic and truthful to the all-time of the writer's knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes simply and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in concern, financial, legal, or technical matters.

Questions & Answers

Question: I shocked the pool, and and so waited over 12 hours to get in and vacuum. At this signal, the water was a blue cloudy. Towards the end of vacuuming, the pool is now green. I backwashed the filter, and let the pump run for over 12 hours. This morn I went out, it'due south nevertheless green, but articulate plenty to run into to the bottom of the pool. I can encounter what I believe is algae on the pool floor. Only I know if I get in to vacuum, it volition exist green once again. What do I use, what do I practice for this?

Answer: So what is happening is that when you lot vacuum, much of the "green" is shooting back into the pool. You lot mentioned backwashing, so you either have a sand filter or a de filter. If a sand filter, this makes sense. In either case, the pool needs to be vacuumed to waste so that EVERYTHING is being vacuumed to waste product and not returning to the puddle. Some systems just have a valve to open to drain the pool, but depending on the plumbing, sometimes when this is open up, some flow tin can continue through the filter and out the puddle returns (even though some of it is going to waste). If you lot can't vacuum all to waste, keep the filter make clean (daily) and the pump running for as long every bit information technology takes to filter out. But it sounds like you need a floccing agent and a way to be able to vacuum to waste. Check this article on using a flocculant:

https://hubpages.com/swimming-pools/Cleangreenpool...

Question: My pool was so clean all the fourth dimension, but I changed to another visitor, and my pool is too green. The company says that somebody used sun creams within the puddle, but they oasis't fixed the problem yet. What can I practice?

Answer: Suntan oil, lotion, sunscreen, etc., clog the filter. Cartridge filters absorb this the virtually. Sand filters are not highly afflicted past this. DE filters will absorb all of the oils, but will but need to be backwashed more than oftentimes. What tin can yous do? Go on the filter clean. Make certain there is plenty of flow. Equally long as the chemicals are balanced, and so brand certain the pump and filter are flowing at total capacity. Sunscreen type of products will cause build-upwardly on the filter reducing the flow. Clean or backwash your filter. If it's a cartridge filter, the cartridge may need to be replaced

Question: The pool store measured my copper level at .iii; they said this is what is making my pool green. My pH was loftier, and the chlorine was depression. I poured a bottle of Metalfree in just later 24 hours, there was still no change. Do you have any suggestions?

Answer: I would question the integrity of the pool shop you visited since copper will non turn a pool greenish. Information technology sounds as though you were the victim of an "upsell". Although it is good to continue your pool gratis from metals, this is not why the pool is green. Low chlorine and high pH makes more sense. To balance the chemistry (pH, chlorine, and alkalinity), I recommend the pool besides exist tested for phosphates. Make sure the puddle filter is clean and working properly with skilful flow. (Does the cartridge filter chemical element demand replacing? Is the sand filter working properly? Is the DE filter property the DE powder?) If you lot accept an in-footing pool with a concrete blazon surface with a serious copper trouble, then blue or teal color stains will exist visible. A vinyl liner will brand information technology difficult to detect any "metallic" type furnishings.

Question: Why did my pool turn dark-green after I missed a day or two of handling?

Answer: Try checking these things: The filter. Make sure information technology's make clean, and in that location is plenty of catamenia. Chemical science: Have the h2o tested for phosphates and treat every bit needed. Check the stabilizer and make sure information technology'due south nether 50. If the chemical science is balanced, I suspect a bad filter and lack of flow.

Question: Why did my pool turn greenish after shocking?

Answer: This is a chemistry issue. If the pool turned green immediately after shocking the puddle, then there is an imbalance with other chemicals or something else has been added to the water that should not have. If the pool has been brushed and shocked, information technology volition take a few days to filter out the "green" and for water clarity to improve. If the puddle has been shocked and is no longer light-green, but turns green once again after a day or 2, check the water chemical science and pay particular attending to phosphates in the water. Make clean the filter often during this process. After shocking the pool, filtration becomes a cardinal cistron in clearing up a puddle.

Question: Can water temperature exist also high to get authentic chemical readings from a pool?

Answer: No. Even in a spa that usually runs 100-104 degrees Fahrenheit, an accurate chemical reading will exist available. Warm water will non create any fake readings regarding chemistry provided the test kit being used is not out of date. DPD test kits (kits that use liquid "drops" rather than dry exam strips) have a shelf life.

Question: I take an to a higher place ground Hayward sand filter. Does it have a vacuum to waste system?

Answer: If it has a multi-port valve that has a "waste" position, then yes. If it is a plunger blazon aftermath valve, then no. Hayward systems, similar other brands, vary depending on the model.

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on July 17, 2020:

Hi Gary. Sounds like stabilizer is way likewise high, you could be experiencing chlorine lock. As well check for high phosphates.

Gary W Keelin on July sixteen, 2020:

I have an above ground pool. It'southward been green ever since we received a major pelting storm. The chlorine level is ten, PH 7.2, stabilizer 150. I have shocked and zero. I have also back flushed several time, with a sand filter. Ideas please!

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on June xiii, 2019:

Moore70813, I would look into testing phosphate levels. If information technology's a commercial pool, probably uses a "vac-pac" system or a tank with the grids in it. Make certain there is enough of menstruum and the pre-blanket of grids is done correctly. When y'all shock the pool, use some sodium bromide as an algeacide.

Moore70813 on June xiii, 2019:

Im a maintenance man overseeing a 25 000 gal pool. High traffic puddle at apartment complex. Im shocking and clorinating but puddle turns green within 1 twenty-four hour period of clearing pkease help

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on May fourteen, 2019:

Hi Dennis. I don't fully understand your question but I would suggest that you make sure your chemicals are counterbalanced and the filter is clean.

Dennis on May 14, 2019:

I stayed a month without treating a puddle considering there wasn't chemicals just they had supplied me with Chemicals I've started treatment this is at present the second week but in that location is just a slight change,what should I practice?

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on May 08, 2019:

How-do-you-do Tony, thank you for reading. I'm a bit baffled on this one. Could the manifold exist cracked? I thing to attempt would be to aftermath the filter, add fresh DE powder and encounter if whatsoever of the powder blows back into the pool. If information technology does, it ways at that place is nonetheless an upshot with the filter. (Torn grids, cracked manifold)

Tony on May 08, 2019:

Question, I cleaned the DE filters myself for the first time. Put everything dorsum together Runned the filter for 6-8 hours the pool looked swell. The following twenty-four hours I turned on the pump and the first 30 seconds of a light-green sludge came from the puddle filter, after a bit it was gone. Following twenty-four hour period did the aforementioned matter and again dark-green sludge came out to my clean pool, but then it was gone why? Is one of the filters damaged?

Would capeesh your advice. Jo

Donovan on November 25, 2018:

Hello Rob

I did as you said. Got upward this morning and all the debris was lying at the bottom of the puddle. I will vacuum when i return from work today. Just need to find a fashion to filter. Will definitely have to call in a professional person. Thanks for the advice.

Rob Hampton (writer) from Port Richey, Florida on November 25, 2018:

Hi Donovan. Thanks for reading. I am a little puzzled as to why they would advise y'all to drop chlorine to nix. It also sounds like your local pool shop is no unlike than many of the large chain puddle stores here in the US. They are sales driven and volition make sure to sell you lot whatever they can. I am guessing likewise that your pool is equipped with a salt chlorine generator? If annihilation, I would add together enough liquid chlorine to bring the level upwardly at least a fiddling bit. Filtration will be the cardinal to clearing upwards the cloudy water. Clean the cartridge oft. If all else fails, you tin can use a floccing agent which binds the particles in the water together and so drops everything to the bottom of the pool leaving the water clear merely with debris on the bottom. This method requires the power to be able to vacuum to waste matter. The filter will not catch this and most of the sediment volition shoot back into the pool when vacumming. If yous tin bypass the filter and vacuum to waste, this solution works well. Hope this helped.

Donovan Mackier on Nov 25, 2018:

I have been to the local pool shop. They brash me to lower the chlorine level to nothing and gave me puddle magnet and ph increaser to add to my pool. I shocked the pool but notwithstanding my water is light green and very cloudy. I apply a catridge filter a bought a new one final month. The ph is vii.2, chlorine is 0. I also have a chlorinator which they adviced i must switch off. I likewise added salt before the summertime actually started in South Africa. Please advise because i take been struggling to become my pool crystal articulate for a calendar month now. I likewise added water clarifier. To be honest information technology seemed like they did not know what to give me to solve the problem and i accept spend well-nigh R1000 at that store. They just give me something else when i visit the shop.

Rob Hampton (writer) from Port Richey, Florida on September 17, 2018:

Howdy Margaret. Higher pH volition not clear up a Green pool. Although information technology's good to have counterbalanced chemistry, there is probably something else going on. Information technology's difficult for me to say without seeing everything so I can but make some suggestions. Filtration: make sure the filter is clean and with your water being green, you will need to clean or backwash the filter frequently...make sure there is plenty of flow and apportionment. Have the water tested for phosphates. If present, you'll demand to add together phosphate remover. Without knowing the setup and type of pump/filter organisation (which makes a difference for treating a light-green puddle) this is all I can advise for now. Hope this helped.

margaret holmes on September 16, 2018:

the puddle is saying at that place is to much clorine and not much ph then we put ph plus in and it is still light-green

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on September 09, 2018:

Hi Ron. Since you lot have a sand filter I'g going to guess it has a multiport valve that allows you to drain to waste material? If so, use a floccing agent, drop everything to the bottom and then vacuum out to waste. You'll lose a couple inches of water, but will exist worth it.

RonC on September 09, 2018:

I applied recommended chemicals from a local pool store, followed their processes with a powder to beginning, then 6 pouches of a super shock that were applied over a recommended time period. While this has worked in the past, I have seen absolutely no modify in the water this fourth dimension. I take a 12,000 gallon in ground with a sand filter. Whatever thoughts?

Chelsey on August thirty, 2018:

Thank you for the communication. I went yesterday had had my water tested once more but for phosphates. They were through the roof! I treated for them yesterday and this morning time I can see the bottom of my pool! Need to advisedly vacuum merely I might be on my way to a articulate pool!

Rob Hampton (writer) from Port Richey, Florida on August 29, 2018:

Chelsey, when vacuuming to waste, y'all will lose a few inches of water. Sometimes though, in all honesy with to a higher place footing pools, information technology actually is best to just beginning over.

Chelsey on August 29, 2018:

Thanks rob. My ph is seven.ii and I am cleaning my filter i-iii times a 24-hour interval only to keep information technology clean and yesterday I added 4 gallons of liquid shock (pool identify was airtight and couldn't find the lb packs anywhere else). Today information technology is much lighter in color and very cloudy. Still can't meet to the flooring.

If I vacuum to waste product I will have to lodge water (nosotros accept a well and so I can't fill up from home) then I would prefer non to practice that only I'thousand wondering if my only pick is to drain information technology and kickoff over.

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on August 28, 2018:

How-do-you-do Chelsey. Sorry you're having an issue. As some of my customers tell me "I wish I could just bulldoze this damn pool and fill it with dirt!" lol so I understand the frustration. Brand certain you have good filtration. This is nearly as important as chemicals. When it comes to a light-green pool, I usually add together much more than is recommended or as we say in puddle manufacture "nuke it". I would certainly add together double the daze they recommended, minus the algeacide. Go along the pH low (7.2 - 7.4) run the pump as often as possible and clean the filter daily until the pool is articulate. I have some other article about using a floccing amanuensis which may help you only if your system allows you to vacuum to waste. As well did they cheque for phosphates when testing? Promise I helped some. Thanks for reading.. Rob

Chelsey on August 28, 2018:

I have a 24ft circular to a higher place ground. Currently the biggest headache in my life. Yesterday I took a water sample to a local pool identify and she said my h2o chemistry looked good but my chlorine was basically nonexistent (which I figured since my pool is green). So I bought the recommended 2 numberless of daze with algae crystals in it and added to my puddle yesterday. Today nigh 24 hours later on, no change. Someone please assist! I accept been fighting my h2o for over a month.

R. Lindsey Parsons on August 22, 2018:

The amount of shock packets (5) you recommend is for what size pool? Ours is 25,000 gallons.

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on July 30, 2018:

Eileen Rose.. Thank you for your comment. I, too hope your water stays make clean and clear. Sounds like you take information technology under good control..(DE filter...YES!) ever satisfying to hear. Enjoy your pool!

Eileen Rose on July 30, 2018:

Splendid data. Especially nearly our DE filter. We accept a large 34X18 oval and accept had issues. Promise to see clear water the balance of the summer. Thank you

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on May 17, 2014:

Johng743 thank you lot for your comment, but not quite sure what you hateful.

Johng743 on May 17, 2014:

Y'all are my inspiration , I have few web logs and very sporadically run out from to brand. geeceddagkdf

BarneyBM on September eighteen, 2013:

I totally agree with robhampton, empty your pool, clean it and fill up it with fresh water. I read an article of a person cleaning his son'due south pool, took him most a month and liters (a lot!) of bleach, anti algae and who knows what (oh and not to mention the bottles of wine he consumed waiting for the puddle to turn from green to blue). I will never swim in that pool, it will kill me!

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on July 15, 2013:

@Traceylee...If you lot employ well water, offset you need to exist sure the pool water is gratuitous of metals. Well water has a high concentration of certain metals. .. Iron, Copper, Magnesium, Chromium, pb, etc.. It tin can exist devastating if you shock a pool with high amounts of metals. At that place are products you can purchase to rid the puddle of metallic content. I've really turned a pool black (the actual finish turned black) in my younger days past shocking it without testing the metal content. Luckily I was able to ready it with citric acrid. Just become a quart or two of metal remover earlier shocking, circulate for 24 hrs, you lot'll be fine

Traceylee on July xv, 2013:

What if yous used well water in your pool and shocking or calculation chlorine makes it turn dark-green...or brown depending how much shock was used..

Rob Hampton (writer) from Port Richey, Florida on June 17, 2013:

@Michele..Thanks for inquiring. Sounds similar a drain/clean and acrid wash to me. If you have annihilation other than a DE filter, so yous volition need to drain the pool. The cost of re-filling a pool is non as costly every bit most people would assume, and so don't allow that scare you. Less than $100.00 for sure (unless y'all have some crazy Olympic sized pool) If you have a DE filter, information technology tin can be cleaned chemically. let me know if you accept any questions at all. I can walk you through both the drain/make clean process as well every bit a chemic clean. But shoot me an email. Skillful luck...Rob. . . poolservice@email.com

Michele on June 17, 2013:

We had some eletrical issues and our pool pump was downwards for ii weeks. We live in Florida and between the heat and pelting our pool is now black. I put two daze treaments in it, just that did nothing. Was going to go get chlorine to put in pool. Should nosotros drain or tin can we treat to become blueish again? Thanks for your assist!

Clayhounds on June 09, 2013:

Nicely written Hub. As well similar all the links. By the way, I do have a swamp pool that I volition try these steps

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on May 21, 2013:

Dr alex murray.... That is i of the weirdest comments I have ever seen. Sounds like you are counterfeit money maker? Hopefully the feds will give y'all a call.

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on March 21, 2013:

Cheryl, I hope it helped, cheers for the comment. I'll be certain to check out your site. Rob

swimfan from United States on January 08, 2013:

Crawly step-by-pace guide. Seems like this is an issue that plagues a lot of puddle owners.

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on July 30, 2012:

I propose highly that you drain and refill. It would cost far less than spending money at those pool stores that attempt to sell you stuff you lot don't demand. The other alternative is a flocking agent, or "drop out" or "drib and vac" This will sink all of the algae to the bottom of the pool and will need to be vacuumed out to waste. Does your sand filter have a multi-port valve in order to vac to waste matter? I would consider installing a cartridge filter likewise. Will relieve y'all a lot of headaches.

Pixtaker on July 29, 2012:

what practice I do almost an higher up ground pool that has the same problem? We've sunk at to the lowest degree $300 at the pool store.....it was clear for two weeks, and so slowly returned to this pea soup state even while maintaining....we have a sand filter and i tin meet the elevation stair almost the second....

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on June 09, 2012:

Johnr54, Cheers for your comment. Battle is a good word for that. I know how difficult cleaning up a pool can be sometimes. Glad to hear you lot finally have it taken care of. Feel free to post whatever questions you might have in the future.

Joanie Ruppel from Texas on June 09, 2012:

Very useful hub. I am a widow taking intendance of a big pool that we use oftentimes. I use a pool visitor to maintain the puddle, merely am happy to read more virtually what to do for a light-green pool. I am happy to say nosotros are crystal clear after 6 weeks of battling the dark-green!

Richard Stephen on August 10, 2010:

I've had to go through this procedure a couple of years ago. Your instructions are basically what I did too. The improvement after 24 hours was astonishing and the pool looked great after 3 to iv days. It is important to make clean the cartridge filters (if you take them) equally the algae will clog them and make your pump piece of work too hard. After a few days of filtering, a clarifier volition assistance clear upwards the cloudiness. Practiced hub!

Karen Reader on June 01, 2010:

From light-green to clean, I like that! These are some groovy tips on taking care of your puddle. Thanks for sharing.

Pool Chemicals on May 12, 2010:

Slap-up hub. Breaking this downwards into steps definitely makes it easier to understand. Thanks for sharing.

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Source: https://dengarden.com/swimming-pools/How-to-turn-your-swimming-pool-from-green-to-clean

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