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If it is malfunctioning, or is a sand-bed filter, backwash cleaning methods could have damaged the filtration media. It is essential to continue pool maintenance, and any malfunction should be treated seriously. Check the lines and filtration media before deciding what to replace. Vacuum any loose debris, scrub the sides and floor with a brush, and vacuum any loosened detritus. Run the pool filter for 8-12 hours to remove any flotsam and detritus that might be clouding the pool. Loose colloidal particles cause cloudiness. They are either organic in nature (like algae) or mineral buildups (loose calcium). Adjust the chemicals to these ranges and run the pool filter system for another day before re-testing. Free chlorine: 1-2 ppm Combined chlorine: <.3ppm pH: 7.2 7.8 Total alkalinity: 80 120 ppm Calcium hardness: 180 220 ppm (higher levels are acceptable up to approximately 400ppm) Do not attempt to mix strong acids or bases in your pool or without eye and skin protection and respirators. Combined chlorine is free chlorine that has reacted with an agent in the water to form chloramine, which produces a strong chlorine scent. Pool shock kits should raise the chlorine to over 30ppm. If your pH test kit uses litmus paper and produces a purple or off color, this may be due to high levels of chlorine. Test kits often have a reagent, typically thiosulfate, that will remove the chlorine and enable an accurate test. High levels of cyanuric acid can reduce chlorine's efficacy as a sterilizing agent and can be reduced with dilution. High variance day-to-day indicates a chlorine demand problem. Monitor cyanuric acid levels, which acts as a stabilizer for chlorine to prevent UV degradation, and consider investigating your chlorinator or investing in one to ease the process of keeping your pool stable. Add them according to the directions on the package according to the volume of your pool. The solutions should be dispersed and accomplished their chemical reactions within six hours of treatment. You can also use dilution with softer water to soften the water. These are agglomerating solutions that work best in slightly alkaline water, and take several days for the full effect to be observed. The hardness of local water resources varies tremendously from area to area, and the strength and dilution of these products can be recommended by pool cleaning professionals. Clarifiers are agglomerating solutions that bind to colloids from the water and bring them out of suspension, to be removed by vacuum or through the filter. These chemicals are called flocculents, and the process is referred to as flocculation. Continue filtering for without interruption until the water clears. and continue to run your filtration system if the pool has not cleared. Keep in mind that too much clarifier will actually work against the clarifying process; particles will repel one another rather attract, and the concentration of the clarifier will increase. Follow label instructions to the letter. Do not repeat more often than 2 additional times over the course of one week. Discoloration, buildup, or rust, is likely the result of water hardness or alkalinity changes, rather than the flocculent. Multiple treatments failing generally indicates a secondary, unseen problem that can be detected and treated most effectively and safely by a professional. Multiple cleanings can cause skin and mucous membrane irritation for swimmers. Make sure any cleaning hardware is not malfunctioning.
Consider replacing your pool filter. Clean the floor and walls of the pool. Treat the water chemically to remove small particle buildup. Adjust the pH using a commercial acidifier or basify it with borax. Shock the pool if combined chlorine levels (the total chlorine level minus the free chlorine level) exceed .3ppm. Monitor the chlorine and bromine levels over several days for stability. Adjust the total alkalinity of the pool using sodium bisulfate or muriatic acid. Adjust the water hardness of the pool using a water softener. Use a clarifier on the pool water according to the directions, if all else fails. Use a second dose of clarifier, or a stronger clarifier chemical. Vacuum and scrub the hard surfaces of the pool to remove any deposited sediment from the flocculation. Call a pool cleaning professional in case of continued failure.