Swimming Pool Clarifier Considerations For Commercial Pools

Swimming Pool Clarifier Considerations for Commercial Pools How do you know if a clarifier is necessary or is working? One subtle way to tell is if you can see particles floating in front of your pool light. Another obvious way is a haze or cloudy pool. Will a clarifier clear up a cloudy pool? For most clarifiers the answer is no. Most clarifiers only work on positive and negative ion charges. Thus, the clarifier only works on dead particles. Most clarifiers are polymeric coagulants and have a positive ionic charge and are called cationic clarifiers. The particles that they remove from the pool have a negative electrical charge. The good old opposite attracts principle works here. The particles lump together large enough to filter out. What happens if the particles don't have a negative charge? The clarifier doesn't work. Algae and many other particles/organisms won't filter out with cationic clarifiers. Are there clarifiers that work on multiple types of cloudiness? Yes, some clarifiers are more complex and can pull algae out of the water, along with other particles that cause hazy or cloudy pools. Problem: The clarifier did not clear up your pool. There are many reasons for cloudy water: 1) Poor filtration -Old worn out sand -Dirty sand, just won't come clean -Not backwashing sand filters long enough. Most sand filters should be backwashed about 5-8 minutes per week. -Old or worn out cartridge elements 2) Poor circulation -Circulation rates vary on residential pools and commercial pools. Most commercial pools need a turnover rate of 2 to 6 hours depending on the legal requirements. Residential pools should circulate longer, or continuously when they have a cloudy pool. 3) Low chlorine levels -Most commercial pools should run chlorine levels between 2 PPM and 5 PPM for many reasons, including water clarity, adequate disinfection, etc. 4) High pH levels -Most pools should run their pH levels in the ideal range of 7.4 to 7.6. Pools will cloud easily with a pH of 7.8 or higher. 5) High TDS levels -Most pools shouldn't exceed 1500 PPM for TDS if they are having clarity issues. 6) High cyanuric acid levels -Pools should keep the cyanuric acid (the ones who have cyanuric acid in their pool) under 60 PPM 7) Bather loads are too heavy for your pool 8) Your used the wrong type of clarifier -There are specialty clarifiers that will clear up all types of cloudy pools. A good example would be a hotel with an cloudy indoor pool could add the clarifier in the morning, let bathers swim as long as the pool meets the legal clarity requirements. The pool should clear up as the day goes on. It should be completely clear the next day as long as you keep your chlorine levels over 2 PPM.

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