Clear a Cloudy Pool: Floc vs Clarifier

There are two methods to clearing a cloudy pool, clarifying & floccing.

Clarifying uses a clarifier and your filter to remove the fine debris in the water. This is usually the option for slightly cloudy water where you can see the bottom of the pool.

Floccing a pool is for pools that are very cloudy. This process is much more intensive and involves using a product called Floc which binds all the fine floating particles in the water together, so they become heavy enough to sink to the bottom of the pool, where you vacuum them out to waste.

In most circumstances we advise using a chlorine shock and clarifying before moving to floc.

How to clear a cloudy pool with a clarifier.

If you can see the bottom step or the bottom of the pool, you usually will be able to clarify your water and filter it out. These are the steps we follow.

1. Empty skimmer and pump baskets.
2. Remove cleaners from the pool and turn off in-floor cleaning systems.
3. Backwash media filters or clean cartridge filter elements.
4. Depending on the reason the pool is cloudy and the type of debris it is likely to contain, either scoop or rake the pool floor to remove as much debris as possible & brush walls and floor. If requiring vacuuming, vacuum to waste* and brush walls and floor.
5. Check & adjust alkalinity to 70-140ppm (depending on your pool surface) & pH to 7.2-7.6
6. Add chlorine shock treatment & clarifier.
7. If the pool is brown or green, treat this first with our [green pool treatment guide]
8. Leave the filter running continuously for 24-48 hours. (Be sure to backwash and check chlorine once per day until it clears.)
9. Once clear, top up the pool water level then vacuum to waste any debris remaining on the bottom of the pool.
10. Add another clarifier to deal with any remaining cloudiness if necessary and re-balance the water.

If the pool hasn’t improved significantly by 2-3 days, consider floccing the pool (see below).

*If you have a cartridge filter, discuss with us whether you have a bypass to allow you to vacuum to waste.

How to floc a pool

Floccing your pool is for pools where you can’t see the bottom or even the step area. This process will drop all suspended particles in the pool to the bottom and requires little to no water movement during the process otherwise it can undo all your hard work! You will also lose a lot of water due to vacuuming to waste.

1. Fill the pool to the very top with your garden hose as you will lose water when you vacuum to waste.
2. Depending on the reason the pool is cloudy and the type of debris it is likely to contain, either scoop or rake the pool floor to remove as much debris as possible & brush walls and floor.
3. Check & adjust alkalinity & pH to 7.6-8+ (this may need to be increased)
4. Add an algaecide & chlorine shock treatment.
5. Turn the filter to “recirculate” or if you have a cartridge filter, remove the cartridge filter element, and replace the lid.
6. Dissolve the floc into a bucket of water and disperse across the top of the water, a watering can can also be used for even distribution.
7. Leave the filter running for 2-3 hours (on recirculate) to thoroughly mix the floc throughout the pool.
8. Turn off the pump and allow all sediment to drop to the bottom of the pool and settle (this can vary from 24-48 hours, sometimes longer, so be patient and allow time to drop).
9. When everything has settled on the bottom of the pool, change the filter setting to WASTE or bypass* & manually vacuum slowly**.
10. Add a clarifier to deal with any remaining cloudiness, top up the pool water level again and re-balance the water.

* If you have a cartridge filter, please discuss whether you have a bypass to allow you to vacuum to waste prior to floccing your pool.

**The sediment on the bottom of the pool is very fine and if disturbed too much, will cloud the pool again, requiring you to wait for it to settle again before continuing.

Pro Tip: Add your garden hose without the nozzle attached to the skimmer box to keep your water level as high as possible for as long as possible.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a general guide intended for pools that have become cloudy recently. Please discuss with staff in-store if your pool has recurring issues.