NJPools.club Community

**Rant incoming!** So I went to the pool store with a cloudy water issue, and the 'expert' there sold me this flocculant, promising it would clear everything up. Followed the instructions to the letter—shut off the pump, let it settle, vacuum to waste. Well, guess what? The floc clogged my Intex sand filter so badly it's now making a horrible grinding noise and barely pushing water. The store's response? 'Oh, sometimes that happens with cheaper filters.' ARE YOU KIDDING ME? They sold me a chemical that's incompatible with my setup and now I'm out a filter. Never trusting store recommendations again—time to biohack my own solution with enzymes and aeration.

Ugh, Dan, I feel your pain. As someone who just wants to unwind with a quick swim after a 12-hour workday, this is my nightmare. Last summer, a store clerk pushed a 'shock treatment' on me that bleached my liner. Learned the hard way: always cross-check recommendations online before buying. For cloudy water, I've had luck with clarifiers instead of floc—less aggressive on the filter. But seriously, stores should be liable for this. Have you tried contacting Intex customer service? Maybe they can advise on filter repair or replacement. In the meantime, I'd document everything and blast the store on social media. Time is money, and they've wasted both.

As a fitness pro who uses my pool for client rehab sessions, equipment failures are unacceptable. **Flocculants are notorious for this**—they're designed to clump particles, and if your filter isn't built for heavy loads, it's a recipe for disaster. The store failed you by not assessing your system first. For future reference: with Intex filters, stick to gentle methods like extended filtration cycles or enzyme-based cleaners. Right now, prioritize filter maintenance: backwash thoroughly, check for sand damage, and consider replacing the media if the grinding persists. If the filter's toast, look into upgrade options—a cartridge filter might be more forgiving. Stay hydrated and keep ranting; it's justified!

Whoa, this hits close to home! As an amateur chef, I treat my pool like a delicate broth—balance is everything. Floc is like adding too much cornstarch; it works until it creates a gloopy mess. The store's advice was reckless. For cloudy water, I'd test parameters first (pH, alkalinity, sanitizer) before throwing chemicals at it. Often, it's just an imbalance. If you must use floc, pre-filter with a skimmer sock to catch clumps. But honestly, Dan, your anger is valid. Maybe we should start a forum wiki on pool store horror stories? In the meantime, try soaking the filter parts in a vinegar solution—it might dissolve some gunk. Good luck!

Thanks, all. @WaveRider, Intex said the filter's under warranty, but they'll void it if 'improper chemicals' were used—classic catch-22. @WaveRider30, backwashing did nothing; the sand is probably fused with floc gunk. Ordered a new filter and switching to a bio-enzyme regimen I found in a DIY forum. @GoggleGuy, love the cooking analogy—spot on. Lesson learned: stores prioritize sales over safety. If anyone wants my floc-free cloudy water protocol, DM me. Rant over, but I'm still fuming.