How to use pool flocculant?

Is your pool water cloudy despite regular and diligent maintenance of your pool? The problem probably comes from your filter, which is no longer able to prevent the formation of floating particles.

Used to improve the performance of the filtration system , the swimming pool flocculant can restore a beautiful crystalline color to cloudy swimming water .

But how does flocculation work? What are the different types of flocculants ? How to use flocculants correctly? In this article, discover all the answers to the questions you may have about the principle of flocculation .

What is a pool flocculant? 

Used in addition to the filtration of your swimming pool , flocculating products are maintenance products capable of cleaning and depolluting the water in the blink of an eye. To do this, the flocculant acts as an agglomerate: upon contact with the microparticles present inside the pool, the flocculating product will transform into what are called "flakes" around which the suspended particles will cling, agglomerate and coagulate. Subsequently, these flakes are filtered and eliminated more easily by the filtration system . Your water then regains its natural crystallinity.

This chemical treatment is particularly recommended in cases where the filtration system has difficulty filtering fine particles and the water becomes cloudy. This is the case, for example, when you carry out an anti-algae shock treatment with chlorine or bromine.

Depending on the filtration system used, there are mainly two types of flocculants :

Liquid flocculants

Reserved for pools equipped with a sand filter , liquid pool flocculants are known for their rapid action. Very often, they are used after a shock treatment of the pool, to restore healthy and clear water almost immediately.

Before pouring the product into the pool water, make sure you read the instructions for use. In fact, to avoid any unpleasant surprises, it is best to follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding the recommended dosages. These are calculated based on the number of cubic meters of water the pool contains.

Cartridge flocculants

Unlike flocculants in tablet or liquid form , this system allows for slow diffusion and permanent treatment. Once placed in the skimmer basket (or in the buffer tank of your pool), the flocculation action starts as soon as the water enters the filtration system.

In this way, cartridge flocculants are ideal as a preventative measure, when the water is naturally cloudy and the filter no longer achieves sufficient efficiency. In fact, it acts as a sort of complementary treatment to that used regularly. Please note, this solution is not suitable for bag filters or cartridge filters . It is only reserved for sand filters !

Finally, watch out for overuse of your filter: to avoid this situation, you will need to be vigilant and clean it regularly.

How to use swimming pool flocculant?

To successfully flocculate and maintain your pool , it is important to scrupulously respect the dosage indicated on the product. Be aware, however, that this will depend on the type of flocculant used, but also on the reason for its use.

As a guide, for routine maintenance, you will need to pour approximately 10 ml of liquid flocculant/1 m3 of water into your pool, once a week. If you use cartridge flocculant , you will need to place one in the skimmer or buffer tank of your pool every 15 days.

But the dosage is not the only thing to check if you want to successfully flocculate your pond. Indeed, for everything to go well, it is important to follow these few recommendations:

– Check that the pool pH is between 7 and 7.4. Readjust if necessary;

– Before using the flocculant, stop the pool pump and read the instructions carefully; 

– Clean the filter and set the filter valve to “circulation” so that water no longer passes through the filter. This will prevent it from becoming clogged;

– Once the product has been administered, activate the pump for a few hours so that the water is properly mixed;

– Stop the pump for 24 hours to allow the flocculant to act. Agglomerated residue will begin to fall to the bottom of the pool;

– Set the filter valve to “filtration”, turn on the pump and clean the bottom of your pool using a vacuum cleaner.

How to remove pool flocculant?

Is your pool water still cloudy despite using flocculant? You may have administered too many flocculants to the pool , causing an overdose. In this case, there is no point in adding more products to the pool, as this would only make the problem worse.

Conversely, immediately stop using the flocculant and wash (or replace) your pool filter. Also stop the filtration system for 24 hours to allow the product to settle at the bottom of the pool.

After that, vacuum up the flocculant deposit using a vacuum cleaner or a hand broom . Do not use your pool robot for this operation, as this could spread the particles all over your pool.

Additionally, you can also use a clarifying product to obtain crystal clear water.

If, despite your efforts, the water remains cloudy for several days, it may be necessary to call a professional. To do this, do not hesitate to contact our Aboral team. A swimming pool specialist for over 30 years, they will be happy to provide you with the necessary advice to improve the maintenance of your pool and avoid this type of disappointment.