Phosphate Remover Made My Pool Cloudy - Why?

If you’ve recently had an algae infestation or abnormally high phosphates in your pool, you may have needed to use a phosphate remover. While these products are extremely effective at what they do, one side-effect of them is that they can create cloudy pool water.

In this article, we will talk about why phosphate removers can make your pool cloudy, as well as what you can do to return your pool water to its formerly clear conditions.

Why Do Phosphate Removers Cause Cloudy Water?

In order to understand why phosphate removers make your pool cloudy, you will need to understand how they are intended to work. Phosphate removing products are coagulants, which work by binding to free phosphate molecules that are present in your pool water.

However, they aren’t able to target just phosphate molecules, but instead they react with a wide variety of dissolved compounds in your water. Once they react with either the phosphate or these other compounds, they form a solid which is visible to the naked eye.

If enough solids are produced, they can make the water appear cloudy, milky or hazy.

Most phosphate removal products do not require further intervention for your water to change back to clear. Over time, your pool’s water should return to normal as you run your filter and these particles are slowly removed.

However, in some cases, additional steps may need to be taken to return your pool to normal. Be aware that accidentally adding more phosphate remover than necessary can also create lingering cloudy conditions.

Before taking further steps such as adding any additional chemicals to your pool, it is essential that you have correctly followed all instructions on your phosphate removal product’s packaging.

This includes appropriately observing all recommended waiting periods, and running the filter for an adequate length of time.

If you have not let your phosphate removal product run its full course as indicated by the instructions on its packaging and are still facing cloudy water, here’s what you can do.

How to Fix Cloudy Water Caused by Phosphate Remover

Once you have let your phosphate remover adequately circulate in your water and have let the filter run for a substantial amount of time, you will want to consider additional steps to clear up your water.

We recommend using products known as pool clarifiers. These products work in a similar way as phosphate removers because they function by binding to existing compounds and tiny debris within your pool water and cause them to become larger.

This is helpful because it allows your filter to collect a larger number of particles more efficiently, including those that may have previously been too small to be caught.

Our top-choice for this purpose is the Algon Liquid Pool Clarifier because it is relatively fast-acting and requires very minimal effort.

All you need to do to get rid of your cloudy pool water is add the appropriate dose of clarifier to your pool and leave your pump and filter system running until your water becomes clear.

Conclusion

Phosphate removers can make your pool cloudy because they work by binding to the phosphates in your water to create larger, inactive compounds. Over time, your filter will remove these particles from your pool and restore your water’s former clarity.

If your pool water is not returning to normal after the use of a phosphate remover, you can choose to use a clarifying product, which will finish the job and return your water to its previously clear state.

Do you have any questions about how phosphate removers can cause cloudy pool water? Leave us a comment down below, we’d love to chat!