Salt water pool cloudy
Water looking hazy? Check your free chlorine and pH before anything else. As the cell runs, it drives pH higher. Hayward's manual puts ideal free chlorine between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm (parts per million, the unit on your test strip), with pH from 7.2 to 7.8.
Why is my salt water pool cloudy
Having Salt within range tells you nothing about your free chlorine. Measure free chlorine by itself.
Each hour the cell operates, it also keeps raising pH.
Keep an eye on stabilizer as well. CircuPool's manual points out that stabilizer over 50 ppm may weaken chlorine's effectiveness.
Look at the cell first
Begin with water flow. Pentair IntelliChlor Plus and LT models only produce chlorine when the flow sensor shows a minimum of 25 GPM.
After that, look at the salt level. Pentair's chemistry guide recommends 3000 to 4500 ppm, aiming ideally for 3600 ppm.
Free chlorine under Pentair's 2.0 to 4.0 ppm band (1.0 to 3.0 for Hayward and Jandy)? Turn on boost mode. Both Pentair and CircuPool boost modes push chlorine production to 100% output for 24 hours. With Hayward AquaRite, super chlorination lasts 24 hours and the filter pump keeps running.
Check pH
Every running hour, the cell keeps lifting pH. That's why pH is your next test.
You'll find 7.2 to 7.8 given as the pH span by Hayward, Pentair and CircuPool. The ideal target of 7.4 to 7.6 comes from Jandy's manual and the guide for Pentair's Plus and LT.
Should pH rise above 7.8, muriatic acid is what brings it back down. Should pH sink under 7.2, soda ash is what brings it up.
Now clear it
With cell output and pH dialed in, get the rest of the water balanced. Hold total alkalinity between 80 and 120 ppm, plus calcium hardness between 200 and 400 ppm.
The right stabilizer level varies by equipment. Outdoors, Hayward AquaRite 900, Pentair and CircuPool systems call for 30 to 50 ppm. For indoor AquaRite 900 pools, the requirement is 0 ppm. With older AquaRite models, aim for 60 to 80 ppm, where 80 works best. Jandy's target sits at 50 to 75 ppm. Once water tops 30 C, Jandy's range becomes 75 to 85 ppm.
Leave the filter pump running until the cell has caught up. The Hayward super chlorinate cycle requires the pump to run, and Pentair IntelliChlor boost tracks 24 hours of pump operation.
Questions people bring to the counter
What's the fix for cloudy water in a salt pool?
Switch on boost mode so the cell runs at 100% output for 24 hours, keeping the filter pump on. Bring pH back between 7.2 and 7.8 with muriatic acid. Hold free chlorine between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm for Hayward and Jandy equipment, or 1.0 to 4.0 ppm for Pentair Plus and LT. Aim for 80 to 120 ppm on total alkalinity, and 200 to 400 ppm on calcium hardness.
Should I put in extra chlorine when the water looks cloudy?
When free chlorine falls under 1.0 to 3.0 ppm, the water needs added sanitizer. With a salt pool, one option is super chlorinate or boost mode, which runs the cell at 100% for 24 hours. Jandy owners shouldn't hold free chlorine over 3.0 ppm day after day. Doing so may eat away at metal parts in the pool.
Will a cloudy pool clear up by itself?
The pH won't correct itself. Every hour the cell operates, it drives pH higher. Muriatic acid is what you add to hold pH within 7.2 to 7.8. Making chlorine also takes a flow of 25 GPM or more on Pentair Plus and LT cells. Stabilizer has to stay in range too, like 30 to 50 ppm on Pentair and CircuPool equipment.
In what order should I fix everything?
First confirm salt is sitting between 3000 and 4500 ppm; 3600 ppm is the sweet spot on Pentair systems. Next, lower pH into the ideal 7.4 to 7.6 window with muriatic acid. Next, let super chlorinate or boost mode run 24 hours with your filter pump going.