How To Clear a Cloudy Pool in 5 Days or Less!

A sparkling, inviting pool is the epitome of summer relaxation. However, cloudy pool water can quickly turn that dream into a murky nightmare.

Here is a step-by-step guide to help you clear a cloudy pool quickly

What you'll need to do this efficiently are your basic pool water chemicals, enzymes, clean filters, possibly a phosphate reducer, and a pool test kit.

Day 1:

1. Test Water and Balance:
• Check the pH, chlorine levels, alkalinity, and calcium hardness. Imbalanced water chemistry is often the primary cause of cloudy water.
• Adjust the pH level to the recommended range of 7.2 to 7.6 and ensure the total alkalinity is between 80 to 120 ppm.
2. Backwash Filter:
• Backwash the filter to remove any debris or dead algae that may have accumulated.
3. Enzyme Treatment using Orb-3 Pool Enzymes:
• Our recommended usage rate is 1 ounce weekly per 2,000 gallons of capacity.
• Mix the recommended dosage with a bucket of pool water and evenly apply around the pool’s surface.
4. Filtration & Circulation:
• Keep your pool pump and filter running 24/7 during the five-day period to ensure thorough circulation. This will help the enzymes and filter to work effectively to clear the water.

Day 2: 

Stain Treatment -

1. Skim and Brush:
• Skim the pool surface to remove leaves, debris, and floating particles.
• Brush the pool walls and floor using an enzyme cleaner such as
  Orb-3 Pool and Spa Enzyme Cleaner, to dislodge clinging algae or scum lines.
• This will help to penetrate and loosen build-up without changing the water chemistry.
  
  

Day 3:

1. Enzyme Treatment:
• Add the second dosage of the enzyme solution to the pool water using the above directions.
2. Test Water and Balance if needed.
3. If water is not beginning to clear, test for phosphates. Elevated phosphate levels (over 500ppb) can make pool water cloudy and contribute to algae growth. To reduce high phosphate levels, add about 10oz of Orb-3 DropOut to each 10,000 gal of pool water to get 1000ppb reduction.

Day 4:

1. Skim and Brush:
• Skim the pool surface and brush the walls and floor as part of your regular maintenance routine.
2. Filtration & Circulation:
• Continue running your filter and pool pump to maximize the effectiveness of the chemicals and filtration system.

Day 5:

1. Test Water and Balance:
• Check the pH, chlorine levels, alkalinity, calcium hardness one last time to ensure that they are within the recommended range.
2. Monitor Progress:
• Observe the changes in water clarity and improvement in pool conditions over the five-day period.
• Continue with regular skimming, brushing, and filtration to support water clarity.

Remember that the size of your pool, its age, and other factors can influence the time it takes to achieve clear water. 

Future Maintenance:

1. Weekly Water Testing & Balancing:
• Continue with regular chemical and enzyme treatments, skimming, brushing, and pool filtration to maintain water clarity.
2. Periodic Specialty Product Usage:
• Consider using a natural flocculant periodically to assist if cloudiness takes over. You must have a DE or Sand Filter or be able to bypass your Cartridge Filter system to use a flocculant.
• You can add Vitamin C Tablets (Ascorbic Acid) to remove mineral and metal stains on pool surfaces. You can treat the entire pool or spot treat by crushing and sprinkling this ascorbic acid powder in targeted areas.
• Watch your chlorine levels when using this product.
• If your makeup water tends to have phosphates in it, use Orb-3 PRA & Enzymes Maintenance to help keep phosphate levels low. It has an added benefit of enzymes to boost performance.

You are now ready to have a fun and refreshing day with family and friends who can enjoy the lasting effects of a sparkling pool. Bring out the lemonade and popsicles, it's time for some fun!