Pool
Water Chemistry Tips
|
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TEST YOUR POOL WATER?
  After
adding make-up water at spring opening (filter for at
least 5
hours to
mix the
old water
with the new water)
After
pool water has circulated for at least 5 hours
during any other
time of
year
After
taking a sample from at least 18-inches below the pool
surface
and
away from
the skimmer
and filter returns
Before
adding water chemistry products
Before
adding a shock treatment
When
chlorine or bromine level is below 4 ppm
As
soon as it is removed from your pool—water
chemistry begins
to
deteriorate immediately!
|
*****
ALKALINITY
IS THE
KEY
TO
WATER
BALANCE!
*****
|
BALANCED
WATER—Clear
pool or spa water is not necessarily sanitized or balanced.
After all, the water in your toilet bowl is clear, but
not sanitized or balanced! Balanced water prolongs the
life
of your pool and spa equipment and ensures healthy swimming.
|
WHAT IS CHLORINE'S
EFFECTIVENESS AT DIFFERENT pH LEVELS?
at
pH Level 7.2 — 66% of Chlorine is Effective
at
pH Level 7.5 — 48% of Chlorine is Effective
at
pH Level 7.8 — 33% of Chlorine is Effective
at
pH Level 8.0 — 21% of Chlorine is Effective
IDEAL
RANGE: 7.2 to 7.6
|
| |
* * * * *
WALL
BRUSHES
ARE THE
SINGLE MOST
IMPORTANT
WEAPON IN
FIGHTING ALGAE!
* * * * *
|
ARE YOU HAVING
A HARD TIME CLEARING YOUR POOL WATER?
The majority of water chemistry problems are related
to poor filtration and circulation. Your problems will
not be corrected
by adding more chemicals. Before you correct any water
chemistry problem, inspect the operation of your filter,
pump and/or cartridge.
Check the following:
|
Is
your filter sand older than 3-5 years?
Have
you chemically cleaned your DE fingers or grid
within the last year?
Have
you chemically cleaned your filter cartridge
recently?
Are
you backwashing your sand filter often? Only
backwash when the water
returning to
the pool is sluggish. A recently backwashed sand filter
only traps
the
largest particles that
are suspended in your pool water; as the sand gets
dirtier,
the sand will filter smaller and
smaller particles.
Are
your water return jets pointed downward at a 45-degree
angle away from
the
skimmer for the best circulation? Jets that are pointed
towards
the pool surface
or
pointed straight
result in poor water circulation. Disturb that
entire body of
water
by pointing the jets
downward.
|
HOW DO METAL STAINS
OCCUR?
Low
pH causes corrosive water
Corrosive
water causes metals to come out of solution and stain pool
surfaces
(there are metals in all water)
Corrosive
water attacks metal items (ladders, copper heating elements,
etc.) and
introduces more metals into the water
As
pH rises, stains are depositied on pool surfaces
Overdosing
on metal algaecides introduces metals into water
MORAL
OF STORY: keep
pH in balance and do not overdose on metal algaecides
|
|
METAL
STAINS |
WATER
OR STAIN COLOR
|
|
Greenish-Blue,
Blue or Gray-Black |
Copper |
Yellow
or Reddish-Brown |
Iron |
Tan,
Purple or Black-Gray |
Manganese |
Gray |
Oxidized
Metals, Scale
or Moisture Trapped in Plaster |
|
|
pH
VALUES OF DIFFERENT SANITIZERS |
SANITIZER NAME |
TYPE |
FREQUENCY
OF ADDITION |
pH VALUE |
Bromine |
Bromine |
1x
- 2x per week |
4.0 - 4.5 |
Sustain
HTH
Duration |
Calcium-Based |
1x
per week
1x per day
1x - 2x per week
|
11.7 |
Relax
Stabilized Granular |
Stabilizer-Based |
1x
per week
1x per day |
6.9 - 7.0 |
Liquid |
Water-Based |
1x
- 2x per day |
10.0 - 13.0 |
3" Slow Dissolve Tabs
1" Slow Dissolve Tabs
1" Quick Tabs
|
Stabilizer-Based |
Varies:
2x per week
Varies: 2x per week
1x per day |
2.9 - 3.0 |
|
|
WATER
CHEMISTRY FACTOR |
IDEAL
RANGE |
Chlorine |
1
- 3 ppm |
pH |
7.2
- 7.6 |
Total
Alkalinity |
80
- 120 ppm |
Calcium
Hardness |
200
- 400 ppm
|
Chlorine
Stablizer
(Cyanuric Acid)
|
40
- 80 ppm |
Metals
(Iron, Copper, etc.) |
0 ppm |
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) |
Less that 1500 ppm |
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