PH is the most important factor controlling your pool water
balance. It refers to the measure of the relative acid or base of the pool
water and should be tested daily.
If PH is too high - PH values above 7.8 will lead to cloudy
water, staining, scale deposits, filtration problems and reduces chlorine
efficiency.
If PH is too low - PH values below 7.2 may lead to metal
corrosion, etched plaster, rapid loss of chlorine residual and possible
irritation to swimmers.
Ideal PH - To maintain an ideal PH level in your pool water,
use liquid chlorine when the PH drops below 7.2. When the PH level rises above
7.8, use muriatic acid to lower the PH.
Total Alkalinity
Total alkalinity is the measure of your pool water's ability
to resist change in PH. Alkalinity does not have to be tested on a daily basis.
This is a measure of the buffering capacity or the ability of pool water to
resist a change in PH.
High Total Alkalinity - When the total alkalinity is above
140 ppm (parts per million), the PH will tend to slowly creep up and resist
efforts to change.
Low Total Alkalinity - When the total alkalinity is below 75
ppm, the pH is likely to "bounce" from one extreme to the other and
it will be difficult to keep the PH in the proper range.
Ideal Alkalinity - When the total alkalinity of your pool
drops below 100 ppm use baking soda/ bi carb. If the total alkalinity rises
above 140 ppm use soda ash to reduce it.
Calcium Hardness
High Calcium Hardness - Calcium hardness above 300 ppm can
cause calcium to precipitate from the water causing cloudy conditions and scale
deposits.
Low Calcium Hardness - Calcium hardness below 100 ppm may
lead to corrosion.
Ideal Calcium Hardness - If the calcium hardness level in
your pool rises above 300 ppm, the use of a good reducer will prevent cloudy
water and hard water scale. A low calcium hardness level can be corrected by
adding an increaser.
Stain Producing Metals
Iron, copper, silver and manganese are metals which commonly
cause colored water, or stains in pools. If you are fortunate enough to have
"ideal" fill water, and a properly constructed and maintained pool,
these would not be a problem. Since ideal conditions rarely exist, we recommend
the regular use of a good metal removal agent like metal out to continually
protect the pool against stain producing metals.
Sanitizing Your Pool Water
Disinfection is an essential element of any pool water
treatment program. chlorinated products are designed to disinfect your pool
water by releasing "free chlorine" into the pool water to control
germs and microorganisms, algae and organic matter.
The best method for maintaining a proper chlorine level in
pools is by using one of the stabilized chlorine products. They also contain a
much higher percentage of available chlorine than liquid chlorine products and
do not alter the hardness level.
Because water conditions change rapidly, it is very
important to test the water every day for chlorine residual. The free available
chlorine reading should be 1-3 ppm. You should also test pH at the same time.
Protect your chlorine from sunlight. At the start of each
season, test your pool for stabilizer content, and if necessary add Stabilizer
following label directions. Sunlight will rapidly lower chlorine level in
outdoor pools unless the pool water is "stabilized." Stabilizer,
technically known as Cyanuric Acid, will shield your chlorine from rapid
destruction by sunlight's UV rays.
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