Pool clarifier clears cloudy water by clumping together the small particles and contaminants. "headline": "Pool Clarifier vs. Flocculant: What's the Difference? Pool chemistry can be one of the most confusing aspects of owning a swimming pool. However, if youre constantly experiencing cloudy pool water, you may have other underlying issues like poor filtration or bad water chemistry. Many pool owners use a clarifier regularly even when the pool isn't cloudy as a way to boost filtration efficiency and keep the water sparkling. "url": "https://lesliespool.com/", Plus Free Shipping for Pool Perks members. You can help churn the cloudy water up from the bottom of the pool to the top by pointing your return jets down at a 45 angle and all in the same direction. Floc is stronger than a clarifier and forms larger clumps that sink to the bottom of your pool. When you use flocculants in your water, the clumped particles will fall to the pool floor. A pool clarifier or flocculant can help! Use this clarifier once a week or whenever the pool water is cloudy. These products have multiport valves with a waste option, making it simple to bypass when removing the flocculant and grouped particles. Apool is an investment, so we have written this guide to help you understand the process. Its a simple method for clearing up cloudiness in your swimming pool. Sorry wish I had a better answer! You may have heard more about pool clarifiers than flocculants because they're a little more commonly used. It reduces start-up time and effort, controls plaster dust and yields no phosphates. The primary difference in a pool flocculant vs. a pool clarifier is that they perform the same job in different ways. The solution? But it wont work in every cloudy pool situation. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Here are two simple ways to bring up the CYA levels in your pool. Learn more. If have a bit more time, then clarifier will give you the same result but can take up to 3 days to get fully cleared. In this article, I provide a detailed comparison between pool clarifier vs. flocculant, including my final recommendation. Shoot me a message, and Ill be happy to help. Another upside to clarifiers is that if youre using a clarifying cube, you can just pop one into the skimmer basket or if youre using a liquid one, just broadcast the recommended amount around the pool and thats it, you just wait for it to do its job while the pump is running. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Although these products work in slightly different ways, the main mechanism through which they clean is the same. Shop Online or at any of our 900+ retail stores! The Difference Between Pool Clarifier and Flocculant Remember, keep the filter running 24/7 while the water clarifier is working. It gets the job done in less than a day, even though it is more work. We recommend starting with a water clarifier unless you need the water clear in a hurry. Be sure to read the manufacturers instructions before adding any chemical to your water. Filters have the strongest filter capacity and will clear up cloudy water very quickly. Heres a quick guide on the difference between clarifier and flocculant and how to use clarifier for crystal clear water. Up to an inch of water loss per day might not seem like much, but pool leaks waste thousands of gallons of water every year and should be fixed without delay. It works just like a packaged pool flocculant, so be sure your water chemistry is balanced before adding it, and be sure to vacuum to waste. Regardless, you should never add two chemicals to your pool water at once. It is reasonable for your pool to get cloudy occasionally, but how do you clear it up? Just let the filters do their job. Different products have different dosage amounts, so you need to read the label to figure out how much to use. These clumped particles can then get trapped in your sand filter, and your water becomes clear. Heres the pool flocculant that we recommend: A fast-acting formula that drops cloudy water particles to the bottom of the pool so you can vacuum it out. "width": "1060", But instead of relying on a pool filter to do the cleaning, it requires vacuuming. NEW Low Prices on Chlorine! Thickener vs. Clarifier: What's the Difference? | McLanahan Ultimately difference of use between flocculent or clarifier is time. White Chalky Residue On Fibreglass Pool - What Is It? Just like any other pool chemical, be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions and add the appropriate amount based on your pools volume. What's the Difference Between Clarifier and Flocculant? "Whats the difference?" Pool flocculant, on the other hand, coagulates particles intolarger clumps that sink to the bottom of the pool. There is a simple process to clarifying your pool, and you will find many useful products to choose from. "logo": { You can then do the toughest part and vacuum the bottom of the pool to get the final clumps out. Pool clarifiers are the least labour-intensive option for ridding your pool water of tiny particles of debris. Flocculants also have a quicker working time overall, with most products causing your debris to drop out after approximately a 12 hour waiting period. Nitrates in your pool? Flocculation - Wikipedia This in no way impacts my research process or opinions. Pool clarifier takes around 2-3 days to clear the pool while pool floc clears the pool in just a couple of hours. A pool floc is faster and more effective than a pool clarifier. Please check your entries and try again. Floc is only suggested for use with filters with bypass options, i.e. Matt Giovanisci is the founder of Swim University and has been in the pool and spa industry since 1995. As the days go on, monitor the waters chemical balance to ensure optimal clarification. No, you shouldnt swim in cloudy pool water. Frameless vs. Semi-Frameless Glass Pool Fences, Astral Viron V25 & V35 Salt Chlorinator Review. If you have decided to use a flocculant for your pool, our top pick is Algon Pool Floc. When a high-quality product is used, water clarity improves dramatically, quickly and without affecting water balance. Looking for more help using pool clarifier? The other drawback is that you will need to clean the pool filter thoroughly afterward. AstralPool VX Salt Chlorinator No Flow Light, Best Automatic Pool Cleaners In Australia, Best Salt Water Pool Chlorinators In Australia, Crystal Clear Chlorinator Review (RP2000 & RP3000). As a result, the filter captures these size-enhanced materials. But pool flocculant is useful at fighting the early stages of algae growth. These often develop a hard, white film on them (scale) that Metal Gone will remove. As a superior alternative to acid for scale prevention and for start-ups, many pool service companies use FastStart-Tech. However, Iusually suggest it as a last resort,because you must vacuum it to waste. Should You Run Pool Pump & Filter While Swimming? To vacuum the clumps, you will need to attach your vacuum and change the multiport valve on your filter to Waste. As you vacuum, you remove the clumps from the pool without allowing them to enter the sand filter. Thats it, no vacuuming or doing anything else to clean the pool. Pool clarifier is a mild coagulating agentthat boosts your filters cleaning capabilities by clumping small dirt particles into larger particles your filter media can trap. What is the Difference Between Clarifier and Flocculent? Allow the pool to sit for at least 12 hours, so the chemical has time to take effect. Difference Between Clarifier and Thickener - 911 Metallurgist Should You Turn Your Pool Pump & Filter Off At Night? The flocculant works more effectively at clumping together particles. Unlike a clarifier that may take a few days, a floc may only take a few hours to see the benefits. "address": "", Then brush your walls with a stiff pool brush and vacuum your pool manually. This will allow you to quickly and easily remove the accumulated debris from the pool floor. "@type": "ImageObject", Cloudy pool wateris caused by poor filtration, low chlorine levels, poor water chemistry, or contaminants in the water, like debris or algae. You can also leave the pool filter off overnight while the pool floc goes to work, which is one less thing to do. It all depends on your timeframe and goals. "name": "Rachel Godoy", Although these products have many similarities, there are some important differences you should consider when choosing between pool floc vs clarifiers. Browse All Our Pool Water Treatment Products. And if you have an algae problem, youll have to address that first before adding clarifier. Ask your Lo-Chlor rep about Lo-Phos Max now. I am a pool man that neglects his very own spa at home. When phosphates are removed from pool water, algae loses the food it needs to grow. These products are intended as a last resort in the pool cleaning process, because there are many causes of impure water quality that flocculants and clarifiers cannot address, such as pre-existing chemical imbalances, or living algae and bacteria. Turn your sand filter or DE filter multiport valve to recirculate. Do notallow pool flocculant to get into your filter. Being mindful about the level of the water and making sure not to run the water below the skimmers, slowly and methodically work your way around the pool with your vacuum being sure to not go too fast as to kick up the particle from the pool floor. If you end up constantly needing to use pool flocculant or clarifier, check that you clean or backwash your filtration system regularly. Learn why you should save your money. Cloudy pool water is full of debris and contaminants that cause eye irritation. Besides the effectiveness and speed of the solution, there are a couple of benefits of pool flocculant. If you need your pool up and running for the weekend and it's Friday, floc is by far, the way to go. Pool Salt vs Table Salt - What's The Difference? Assuming you have all the right equipment, the answer depends on how quickly you want your pool cleared, and how involved you want to be in the process. The good part about clarifiers is that they can be used with any type of filter. What chemicals are used for flocculation? If your pool is only a little cloudy or you have a cartridge filter, use a pool clarifier. Looks like your current store isn't near your delivery area. How Long To Wait Between Adding Chemicals, How Many Hours To Run Pool Pump In Summer & Winter, How To Change A Saltwater Pool To Mineral Pool, How To Clean A Salt Cell With Hydrochloric Acid, How To Make Homemade Pool Cartridge Filter Cleaner. If you have cloudy water but your water chemistry (pH, alkalinity and chlorine) is balanced and your filters are clean, you can add pool clarifier. Consumption: 8 oz. Subscribe to our Swim University YouTube Channel, CYA Levels Low? A clarifier is a concentrated chemical substance that thickens the tiniest debris in your pool. However, it is okay to use a clarifier once a week. This means no extra labor on your part, aside from cleaning the filter as you normally would. After your pool shock has dissipated, its time to add pool clarifier. Or, do the logical thing, and educate yourself first. What's the Difference Between Flocculants and Pool Clarifiers? Just let the filters do their job. Can I use clarifier in a Saltwater Pool? Mineral Pool System vs. Turn on the pool filter- At first, you have to turn your sand or DE filter's multiport valve. The downside to clarifiers is that they take a long time to work, and you can be waiting several days before your water is clear again. A single cube can last a whole month so as long as you have a clarifying cube in your skimmer basket then your pool water is constantly being cleaned. Most pools can be treated with clarifier up to once a week. Flocculants can also occasionally be used for more mild issues. After a day or two, you can help the process along by swimming to move the water around. Biguanide (Baquacil) vs. Chlorine: Whats Right For Your Pool? as pools have gotten cleaned-up, geared up, warmed up and now, with, Mrs. Robinson had been a customer of mine for nearly two years when her Salt, Your email address will not be published. Because of their quicker action time and increased strength, flocculants are preferred by many commercial pool owners even for less serious water clarifying needs. It also cheaper as you will not have to add extra water to the pool and chemicals from to replenish those lost from vacing to waste. If you have learned something new, please share this comparison on Facebook and Twitter. But instead of relying on a pool filter to do the cleaning, it requires vacuuming. If have a bit more time, then clarifier will give you the same result but can take up to 3 days to get fully cleared. And if you need help vacuuming your pool, be sure to check out our guide on How To Use A Manual Pool Vacuum. Draining pools for leak repair not only throws away more water, but also takes time and increases water costs enormously. If you dont have a main drain, you can use a manual vacuum cleaner and turn it upside down at the bottom of the pool to act as a main drain. What chemicals are used for flocculation? - Studybuff.com Yes, flocculant will work on any water system. Be sure to check out our guide on The Smart Way To Kill Algae In Your Pool Quickly. Floc should never come in contact with your filter mediaas the clumping agent can cause havoc. If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. These two products work counter to one another and can create even more problems in your water. If there is no filter-bypass setting on your pump and you cannot remove the filter cartridge, you should use a clarifier instead. Instead, they bond the tiny particles together into larger clumps. In colloidal chemistry, flocculation is a process by which colloidal particles come out of suspension to sediment in the form of floc or flake, either spontaneously or due to the addition of a clarifying agent.The action differs from precipitation in that, prior to flocculation, colloids are merely suspended, under the form of a stable dispersion (where the internal phase (solid) is dispersed . Flocculants coagulation process is basically a supercharged version of a clarifier. Get $10 off your first order over $99 and hear about sales, exclusive offers & helpful DIY tricks from our pool experts. The Difference Between Pool Clarifier and Pool Flocculant Both give outstanding results within 24 hours. How Pool Flocculants Work A pool flocculant is an agent that causes fine particles to clump together and settle out of water. When you pour clarifier into a pool, you add positively charged ions into the water. We DO NOT want any floc to enter the sand filter. These clumps can clog your sand filter, so you will need to vacuum the debris, which means you will be draining a lot of the water out of the pool. Flocculants cannot be used with a cartridge filter because they can wreak havoc on your filter elements. And when should you use a flocculant instead? After 10 hours you will find that the pool water is crystal clear however the pool floor will now be white with particle matter that has sunk to the floor. You need a clean pool in a day. Degree of Water Cloudiness It'll help you save $100 right away on pool care! In refilling the pool your water is likely to be unbalanced and will require adding some chemicals. Pool Flocculant: How Does It Work and Is It Better Than Pool Clarifier? It works by combining small contaminants in your pool into larger ones so your filter can trap & take them out. Is the only way to remove it is to vac to waste? So when should you use flocculant? Heres a step-by-step process for using clarifiers: Flocculants are a type of water clarifier that uses aluminum sulfate instead of the shells of shrimp and crabs. Should I try a clarifier and see if the filter will remove it? Over the next several days, continuously run your filter to help clear up the cloudy water. The clumps fall to the bottom of the pool within a couple of hours, but you will need to manually remove them with a pool vacuum, which takes some patience. Lets start with the different levels of water pollution. We cut out all the confusion of pool maintenance in this easy-to-read illustrated ebook and video course. Once it has settled to the bottom of your pool, use a manual vacuum to remove all of the coagulated particles. Theres also an increased risk of drowning since visibility is limited. Even though the overall process is much quicker, it requires more work. Pool Clarifier: How Does It Work and Is It Better Than Pool Flocculant? Water clarifiers are safe for all types of filters, and your pool will require no other maintenance after adding the chemical to the water. Both of these products are water clarifiers, and they work better in different situations. Nearly all water clouding particles have a negative (anionic) charge, and are drawn to the positive (cationic) clarifier chemical. When they collect into bigger clumps, the filter goes to work, and your swimming pool will soon be clear again! Thats it! ", 2023 Lo-Chlor Chemicals. Clarifiers also clump particles together, but these particles are discarded through the filter. They're great for targeting microscopic foreign particles that are floating in the water. There are a few drawbacks of pool floc that you need to know, though. We have also had success using flocculants after a clarifier was not able to clear up the water. Here are some basic tips to help your clarifier and pool filter clear your cloudy pool more efficiently: Flocculent or as it is commonly called floc, is the fastest way to clear a cloudy pool. Flocculant also works much faster than the pool clarifier. So, what qualifies as a pool clarifier? A Comprehensive Guide to Pool Flocculants: What, When and How Because a pool clarifier brings a negative charge, they magnetically bind to the foreign particles with a negative charge. Check pool chemistry- Check your pool's chemistry; if it has any error, fix it. Flocculants also waste a lot of water since you will be vacuuming those clumped up particles to waste. A Cheat Sheet For Perfectly Balanced Pool Water and Crystal Clear Swimming. The good part about clarifiers is that they can be used with any type of filter. To achieve high levels of clarity, both a flocculant and coagulant may be required. Connect your manual swimming pool vacuum and turn the multiport valve on you filter to waste.