Not sure which one to use? Flocculant can be used after clarifier. The debris can then be removed from the filter and from the pool system. And be sure to keep your pH levels balanced. These clumps are significantly more heavy, and sink to the bottom of your pool rather than remaining suspended in the water. You can also leave the pool filter off overnight while the pool floc goes to work, which is one less thing to do. Thank you all! Nitrates in your pool? The usage system of Pool Flocculant is similar to the clarifier. Add flocculant to your pool with your filter on recirculate. Then let the flocculant sit overnight with your pool pump off. When metals appear in excess amounts they can adhere to the pool surface, requiring a metal sequestrant be added to the water to bind them until they are safely filtered out. Clarifier is best suited for basic maintenance, and picking up straggling silt your filter just cant seem to catch. "author": { Flocculants also have a quicker working time overall, with most products causing your debris to drop out after approximately a 12 hour waiting period. 2023 Mr Pool Man, 3 / 5 Brooks Avenue Wyoming, NSW 2250 | ABN - 70600015647, Free Shipping on Orders Over $79 Australia Wide*. What chemicals are used for flocculation? - Studybuff.com Cons: Requires vacuuming Water waste Can't be used on systems with cartridge filters (unless there is a bypass) Flocculant's coagulation process is basically a supercharged version of a clarifier. You can lose a good bit of water while cleaning the pool. Clarifier or Flocculant - What's the difference? - Lo-Chlor Specialty The other drawback is that you will need to clean the pool filter thoroughly afterward. "@type": "ImageObject", This will effectively allow you to vacuum to waste when using a flocculant to treat super-cloudy pools. I will never EVER put phosphate remover in again. Or, do the logical thing, and educate yourself first. Its fast and effective at clearing up cloudy water. Each of them aggregates the tiny-sized bits of suspended material in pool water so that these bits can be more quickly separated and removed. A cloudy pool is full of contaminants that can cause eye irritation. If your pool is only mildly cloudy and youre not in a rush to clear up your water, pool clarifier is an easy choice for several reasons: Before using a swimming pool clarifier, there are a few instances when its not the best option to clear up a cloudy pool: If you want to never deal with cloudy water again, check out our pool maintenance video course! Pricing and offers are subject to change. First, lets lay out the similarities and differences between flocculant and pool clarifier because they both have the same end goal: to clear up your pool. Flocculant, on the other hand, is capable of handling problems ranging from moderate to severe, including muddy water that is introduced to your pool during severe storms. You can use this in any situation with any filter setup. It helps bind floating algae particles, making it easier to vacuum them out of your pool. A Comprehensive Guide to Pool Flocculants: What, When and How So there you have it, while theyre similar, clarifiers and flocculants have very different usage scenarios. But its not only for start-ups! Floc clumps the dirt into largeclots, so large that they no longer float, dropping all the dirt to the pool floor where you can then vacuum to waste. A Cheat Sheet For Perfectly Balanced Pool Water and Crystal Clear Swimming. 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. Instead, Leak Sealer can find the leak on its own! Flocculants and clarifiers both cause tiny, previously uncapturable debris particles to stick together into clumps. 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. Use a pool calculator if you need help figuring out your pools volume. Pool Is Losing 1 Inch Of Water A Day - Is This Normal? You can use this in any situation with any filter setup. The downside to using flocculants is that the clumps fall to the bottom of the pool and will require vacuuming to remove them. Pool clarifiers are helpful to use when youre opening your pool or with mild cloudy water. However, there are some situations when flocculant is the best solution. We use cookies to provide a personalized experience for our users. If you want to perform the most efficient pool clarifying process, you should keep it going 24/7. "@context": "https://schema.org/", Yes, clarifier will work on any water system. Differences Between Pool Clarifier vs. Flocculant When comparing pool floc vs clarifier, there are two main differences between these products. Use Leak Sealer for water loss of up to one inch per day. Just let the filters do their job. Connect your manual swimming pool vacuum and turn the multiport valve on you filter to waste. Keep Water Comfortable and Extend the Pool Season. First, the process is somewhat slow and takes up to two or three days before you see 100% clarity in your swimming pool. Remember: if you also have algae in your pool, address that problem first before using water clarifier. What chemicals are used for flocculation? Since then, his mission is to make pool and hot tub care easy for everyone. Should You Turn Your Pool Pump & Filter Off At Night? Let's review how each pool additive is used. The main difference between the flocculant and pool clarifier is where the clumped particles go. Pool Care 101: All You Need to Know About Pool Flocculants - Beverly Gage Looking for more help using pool clarifier? I mean, they both do the same thing right? Thats it! And they both sound incredibly similar almost too similar. I have NO idea where my high levels of phosphates originate each year. Swimming pool clarifiers are pool chemicals containing positively charged molecules, which are mutually attracted to negatively charged particles. What's the Difference Between Clarifier and Flocculant? NEW Low Prices on Chlorine! Its a coagulant, which means it clumps the small particles causing the cloud together. Clarifiers VS Flocculants, What's the Difference? Youll be glad you did. Youll need to balance your water and run your filter 24/7 while the clarifier is at work. "description": "Need to clear up cloudy pool water? More importantly is that the owner of the blog and its readers.., took the time to answer! The Ultimate Guide to Pool Flocculants: Do and Don't While Using Floc is dosed directly to the pool water like seed sewing. 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. Of course, all this efficiency comes at a price. The key differences are the time it takes for the reaction to take place and the extra elbow grease needed from you to finish the job. He also holds multiple patents for pool performance products he has engineered over the years. Because youll be using the power of your filter to clear up the water, your pool will clear faster depending on the type of filter you own. Subscribe to our Swim University YouTube Channel, CYA Levels Low? We did some research and the truth is, it's not. In order to get all of your pool water through your skimmer and into your filter system, be sure your pool has good water circulation. Remember to keep your filter set to recirculate, not filter.. If your pool is just a little cloudy, opt for the pool clarifier. Just one inch of water loss per day from a 15,000 gallon pool equals 111,000 gallons wasted per year! Pool chemistry can be one of the most confusing aspects of owning a swimming pool. Clarifier keeps the bounded matter at the top of the pool to be grabbed by the pool filter. Then retest your water. Without a water clarifier, those small particles would simply pass through your pool pump and filter and head right back into your pool water. So well do our best to explain this in layman's terms. The solution clumps the particles together and then keeps them grouped until you extract them from the pool. Both products are coagulants, but the main difference is the time it takes for the products to work. So be sure your filter system is functioning properly, your pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness and chlorine levels are balanced, and your water is free of algae or debris. Here are some common questions and answers. Chemicals (coagulants) are added to the water to bring the nonsettling particles together into larger, heavier masses of solids called floc. Flocculant shows results within a few hours, making it great for cleaning incrunchtime. Flocculant is best for more severe cases, like part and spring cleanup. Unlike clarifier, which can take Our pool flocculant clumps together tiny particles in your pool, a process know as coagulation. You need a clean pool in a day. Although using pool clarifier is as easy as pouring it into the pool, there are a few preliminary steps that you must address before you begin. After replacing the lost water immediately, you can complete the process by backwashing your pool filter. Now you must be wondering which one you should use. However, using too much of any product can work against the clarifying process. It's very quick. Before you use pool flocculant, make sure your pool filter has a waste setting. Main Takeaways Pool clarifier condenses all of the little particles in your pool into bigger clumps so that your filter can clear it up and is is ideal for a slightly cloudy pool. Pool clarifier, on the other hand, coagulates particles into smaller clumps that are removed by the pool filter. Sediment basins are temporary ponds with appropriate control structures, used on construction sites to capture eroded or disturbed soil that are washed off during or after rainstorms or other runoff events. All I can tell you is we have been backwashing every day and slowly its clearing up. It takes 12-24 hours to coagulate particles and sink them to the bottom. After a lot of research if your water stays balanced the phosphates will be too. Theyre great for mildly cloudy pool or if you have a silt problem that your filters just cant catch. Pool floc is the way to go. And there are Aluminum Sulfate products, called simply Alum by those in the know. Do you have any questions about this topic or the featured products? Browse All Our Pool Water Treatment Products. The Difference Between Pool Clarifier and Flocculant, Copyright 2020 INYOpools All rights reserved. You can watch the quick video below. Think of your flocculants as your clarifiers on steroids! This makes it easier for your pool filter to trap and remove the debris suspended in the water. of this product per 10,000 gallons of water. Pool Flocculant vs. Clarifier Both a pool clarifier and a pool flocculant are very similar in function, but each serves a unique purpose in clearing up cloudy pool water. The solution? Pool clarifier also helps your filter operate much more efficiently, so you can save on water and not have to remove it. Michael has over 30 years of experience in the swimming pool industry. There are two main chemicals you can use that will help clear up your water: clarifiers and flocculants. Just make sure you have the ability to bypass your filter when vacuuming water out of your pool. Hear about sales, exclusive offers & helpful DIY tricks from our pool experts. Algae needs phosphates. Meanwhile, pool floc snags the particles, assembles them, and then sinks them to the bottom of the surface. We do not recommend swimming in cloudy pool water. Lo-Chlor makes our famously powerful Miraclear Blue liquid clarifier as well as the ever-popular Miraclear Clarifier Tab which continues to work non-stop for 30 days. 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. "contentUrl": "https://blog.lesliespool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Blog-1060x500-pool-clarifier-vs-flocculant.jpg", Flocculant is added into the feed pipe and mixes with the solids, forming larger agglomerations, that will rapidly . Pools with cartridge filters cannot use pool floc unless your plumbing setup allows you to bypass the filter. filter with a multiport valve "Waste" setting. Outdoor heated swimming pools and outdoor permanent spas shall be equipped with a vapor-retardant cover on or at the water surface or a liquid cover or other means proven to reduce heat loss. But pool flocculant is useful at fighting the early stages of algae growth. Turn your sand filter or DE filter multiport valve to recirculate. Do notallow pool flocculant to get into your filter. clear pool water is using a clarifier, and with chlorine supplies tight and prices rising, the preference for use of a good clarifier is rising, too! Even though the overall process is much quicker, it requires more work. Adding a high dose of chlorine, also known as shocking your pool, will help kill any contaminants in your water. Get $10 off your first order over $99 and hear about sales, exclusive offers & helpful DIY tricks from our pool experts. But it wont work for every cloudy pool problem. Frameless vs. Semi-Frameless Glass Pool Fences, Astral Viron V25 & V35 Salt Chlorinator Review. As much as wed like to give an extensive lesson on chemical types, pool flocculant is actually quite similar to pool clarifier in function. We'll help you make sure your pool stays swim-ready all season long. Check pool chemistry- Check your pool's chemistry; if it has any error, fix it. All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy, Lo-Chlor Chemicals is affliated with Team Horner Group - An Employee Owned Company. Something went wrong. However, owning a swimming pool comes with, One-piece pools have been gaining popularity in recent years due to their numerous benefits over traditional concrete or above-ground pools. Feel free to leave us a message and we will be in touch as soon as an agent is available. Pool flocculant, also known as pool floc, also thickens tiny particles that cause cloudy pool water. Since then, his mission is to make pool and hot tub care easy for everyone. It works by combining small contaminants in your pool into larger ones so your filter can trap & take them out. Free Chlorine Level Low - How To Raise It? Add the correct amount of flocculant based on your size pool. The primary difference in a pool flocculant vs. a pool clarifier is that they perform the same job in different ways. A pool water clarifieris a mild chemical often made from the shells of crabs and shrimp. { The Difference Between Pool Clarifier and Flocculant It requires a lot of work. Only one solution: Get every bit of nitrate out! Floc is only suggested for use with filters with bypass options, i.e. In this post, we'll explain what they are, what makes them different, and which one you should choose when making your pool sparkling clear again! It's perfect for systems that have a multi-port valve like sand and DE. We cannot deliver to Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico. Pool Clarifier Vs. Pool Flocculant: What Is The Difference? You've probably heard phosphate remover is essential to pool care. Once these particles have settled, then . Buying a pool is an investment, so we have written this guide to help you understand the process. Filters have the strongest filter capacity and will clear up cloudy water very quickly. You'll also need a sand or D.E. Heres the pool clarifier that we recommend: Clears cloudy pool water by combining particles, making it easier for your filter to remove. Run your filter and let the shock dissolve overnight or for at least 8 hours. Metal Gone can also remove scale buildup on glass tiles and adjacent grout positioned behind water features. The easy solution to enjoying beautiful. In this article, I provide a detailed comparison between pool clarifier vs. flocculant, including my final recommendation. If you need your pool up and running for the weekend and it's Friday, floc is by far, the way to go. Pool flocculant coagulates small particles into larger clumps that sink to the bottom of the pool. Once you add the clarifier, you will need to wait several days for it to take effect. You know Metal Gone as the solution to removing metal stains in swimming pools. Hence, using floc is faster, taking only 24 hours, while clarifiers may need several days to work. If your pool is only a little cloudy or you have a cartridge filter, use a pool clarifier. Lo-Phos Max provides the strongest liquid phosphate remover in the pool chemicals industry. Yes, you can Aluminum Sulfate, also known as Alum Floc, as a pool flocculant. 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. So if you need a clear pool fast, or if you just went through a flooded pool then flocculants are the way to go. Thats it, no vacuuming or doing anything else to clean the pool. One, they are primarily targeted towards different levels of water pollution. Unlike a clarifier that may take a few days, a floc may only take a few hours to see the benefits. These pools, which are made, Luxury pool manufacturer Aquatic Leisure Technologies recently announced that the 2022 International Rising Star Award was being presented to XL Pools for their professionalism and, a: Unit 5, The Glenmore Centre, Orbital Park Roundabout, Willesborough, Ashford, TN24 0TL, Proud Members of SPATAContractor of The Year 2015, 2018, 2020. Floc should never come in contact with your filter mediaas the clumping agent can cause havoc. Just be sure to let the pump run for a couple of minutes without the cartridge installed afterwards to fully flush your cartridge filter tank of any remaining floc. For inground pool owners, make sure your main drain is pulling water from the bottom of the pool into your filter system. Despite the name, the answer is may not be what you think. It is reasonable for your pool to get cloudy occasionally, but how do you clear it up? Take your flocculent and hand feed it in a scatter fashion (like chicken feeding we call it) over the pool water. Its game on! For over 40 years, Lo-Chlor has formulated top quality pool and spa water solutions that are rigorously lab tested. Cloudy pool water is usually caused by dead algaeor mists of particles suspended in your pool water. Some pool clarifiers may increase your pH levels, so use a pH decreaser as needed. Pool clarifiers are the least labour-intensive option for ridding your pool water of tiny particles of debris. sand and DE filters with multiport or slide valves. We cut out all the confusion of pool maintenance in this easy-to-read illustrated ebook and video course. Flocculants build particle size even faster and flocculant can be used after a . How clarifiers work The clarification process uses gravity but is often enhanced with chemical treatment. Chemicals Timothy TeOct 28, 2020 0 comments Clarifiers and Flocculants are both coagulants, they both clear up cloudy water, and many people often confuse the two and for good reason. Be sure to always follow the manufacturers instructions and add the appropriate amount of clarifier based on your pools volume. This in no way impacts my research process or opinions. Most pools can be treated with clarifier up to once a week. One litre of this product can treat a pool of 50,000 litres in volume, and it also boasts an especially fast action time. In refilling the pool your water is likely to be unbalanced and will require adding some chemicals. What are clarifiers in waste treatment? This is great for all levels of pool murkiness and it works very fast! "identifier": "" Before using any water clarifier, you must treat any algae in your pool. Clarifiers and flocculants work in the same way to achieve the same result. And because visibility is limited, theres an increased risk of drowning. These often develop a hard, white film on them (scale) that Metal Gone will remove. And each year, he continues to help more people with water chemistry, cleaning, and troubleshooting. You should choose the flocculant if you need a quick solution that clears up your pool for a party. Be cautious when using pool clarifier if you use a metal sequestrant in your pool water. As the founder of House Grail, Pete's primary goal is to help consumers make educated decisions about DIY projects at home, in the garage, and in the garden. And each year, he continues to help more people with water chemistry, cleaning, and troubleshooting. If you have decided to use a flocculant for your pool, our top pick is Algon Pool Floc. Metal Gone is also capable of removing stains from hard surfaces: Ask your Lo-Chlor rep for Metal Gone and try these time-saving solutions! 2017 Florida Energy Code C404.9.3 Covers. When a high-quality product is used, water clarity improves dramatically, quickly and without affecting water balance. Copyright 2023 House Grail. What chemicals are used for flocculation? Flocculants can also occasionally be used for more mild issues. I know we said we wouldnt get too technical here, but bear with us for a second. Lets start with the different levels of water pollution. Pool Flocculant: How Does It Work and Is It Better Than Pool Clarifier? To spread the flocculant solution evenly around the pool, go ahead and run the pool filter for a couple of hours. Do You Vacuum A Pool On Backwash Or Waste? This sometimes requires that you take breaks to stop and clean your filter cartridge so that more debris can be removed, but this can vary depending on your filter type. Once added to your pools water, these products can restore your water clarity as your filter runs over the course of a few days. Astral ZX Cartridge Filter Is Leaking - How To Fix It? Both of these products are water clarifiers, and they work better in different situations. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. No worries, we're here to help! Need to raise the cyanuric acid in your pool? If you have learned something new, please share this comparison on Facebook and Twitter. Flocculants are used in water treatment processes to improve the sedimentation or filterability of small particles. Like any chemical, you should never add algaecide and pool flocculant at the same time to your pool water. And when should you use a clarifier instead? Take a look at the difference between these two products, how to use each and how to determine which one is right for your pool. 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. If there is no filter-bypass setting on your pump and you cannot remove the filter cartridge, you should use a clarifier instead. Plan ahead and ask your Lo-Chlor rep for Aqua Blanket right away. Its easier to use than flocculant, but its not as powerful and generally takes longer to clear up your pool water. "logo": { In a nutshell, pool clarifiers are mild versions of flocculants. As manufacturer and distributor, we are proudly located in Fort Lauderdale, FL and our products are "Made in the USA. A flocculantis an easy-to-use coagulant that attracts tiny particles and clumps them together. Pool floc is faster and more effective than a clarifier, but it requires more work and the particles must be manually removed with a pool vacuum. Run your pool pump for 2 hours after dosing and then shut the pump off for 8-10 hours. Clarifiers are usually intended for mild to moderate issues with water clarity, such as cloudiness caused by small-particles of debris that accumulate through regular pool use. Soda Ash vs Baking Soda - Are They The Same? "width": "1060", We did some research and the truth is, it's not. Learn why you should save your money. Unless you have specific plumbing, you cannot utilize a pool floc with a cartridge pool filter. Clarifiers can do this because they're made up of polymers that act as coagulants (or as some like to call them, thickening agents). "url": "https://lesliespool.com/", Because of their quicker action time and increased strength, flocculants are preferred by many commercial pool owners even for less serious water clarifying needs. Very fine particles may pass right through the filter, which makes them especially difficult to remove. For more details, please read our Privacy Policy. This step is crucial because there are different products with different instructions and processes. WONDERFUL SITE! This solution from BioGuard is really effective and is what I use when I need a powerful flocculant. Amazing, right? Pool Clarifier & Flocculant - What Are They & Why It Matters Consumption: 8 oz. So essentially, we'll only use flocculants as a last resort! Pool clarifier condenses all of the little particles in your pool into bigger clumps so that your filter can clear it up and is is ideal for a slightly cloudy pool. If your cloudy water was caused by pool algae bloom, youll have to double or triple shock your pool depending on the type of algae. By continuing to browse this site, you give consent for cookies to be used. Plumb in a bypass line after your pool pump with a 3-way valve! Flocculation is the process of bringing together the destabilized, or "coagulated," particles to form a larger agglomeration, or "floc." Sedimentation refers to the physical removal from suspension, or settling, that occurs once the particles have been coagulated and flocculated. His other interests include astronomy, hiking, and fishing. Clarifiers can also get used any time when you want a boost for the pool. As the days go on, monitor the waters chemical balance to ensure optimal clarification. Pool clarifier, on the other hand, coagulates particles into smaller clumps that are removed by the pool filter. It's very effective, even if you have a large or very green pool. Two, the final coagulated debris is removed from your pool via different methods. 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. Be sure to check out our guide on The Smart Way To Kill Algae In Your Pool Quickly. Let the pump run for two or three hours to distribute the chemical evenly throughout the water and turn off the pump. Two, the final coagulated debris is removed from your pool via different methods. First, you should raise the water level a little extra since you will lose pool water when the process is completed. It is used as a remedy and not a preventative measure. Pool Flocculant vs. Clarifier - Which Should I Use? - Pool Advisor Even though the vacuuming takes more work, floc works more effectively at clumping together particles. The main difference between these two products is that clarification changes the physical structure of particles, whereas coagulation reduces their number. Free Chlorine Too High - How To Lower It?