Chemicals Guide
Ensuring correct and consistent pool chemistry is vital. Fortunately, it’s not too hard to do, if you follow our guide and keep up with it on a regular basis.
Water Balance
Pool water is delicate, which means it has to be balanced to look and feel good. It can’t be too soft or too hard – it’s gotta be just right! You will need to balance the following levels:
- pH
- Alkalinity
- Calcium hardness
pH Levels
A good range is between 7.4 and 7.6. A good rule of thumb is this: when pH is low, your water is acidic; when it’s high, your water is basic. Keep pH increaser on hand to adjust the levels.
Alkalinity Levels
The best range is between 100 ppm and 150 ppm. Alkalinity is a pH buffer, absorbing changes to the waters before impacting the pH. You will need an alkalinity increaser on hand just in case.
Calcium Hardness
The best range is between 175 ppm and 300 ppm. Too little calcium will lead to calcification, while too much will lead to scaling.
Keeping the Water Balanced
Check your pH and alkalinity levels weekly. Use these products to make adjustments if needed.
- pH Increaser
- pH Reducer (hydrochloric acid)
- Alkalinity Increaser
Sanitization
Chlorine is the most common form of pool sanitizer but you could also use salt, stabilized chlorine and minerals.
Chlorine Levels
The best range is between 1 ppm and 3 ppm. Chlorine is necessary to kill off bacteria and algae. Plus, it’s cost effective. You can add chlorine in the following ways:
- Chlorine tablets
- Granular or powdered chlorine
- Salt chlorine generator, which converts table salt into chlorine
Pool Shock?
When chlorine particles kill bacteria, this converts it into chloramine or chlorine that won’t kill off bacteria any longer. It will simply float around in the water until it oxidizes and is able to be broken apart.
In order to reach that breakpoint oxidation, the chlorine has to be 10 ppm above the combined chlorine reading, of which there are two: free chlorine (FC) and combined chlorine (CC).
Other Pool Chemicals
In addition to pH, alkalinity, and calcium products, as well as sanitizers, you may also want to use the following chemicals:
- Cyanuric Acid or Stabilizer
- Algaecide
- Clarifier and Floc
- Stain and Scale Remover
If you want to maintain a safe, healthy pool, keep the chemicals at these levels:
- pH: 7.4 to 7.6
- Alkalinity: 100 to 150 ppm
- Calcium Hardness: 175 to 225 ppm and 225 to 275 ppm for plaster pools
- Chlorine or Salt Water Pools: 1 to 3 ppm
- Bromine Pools: 3 to 5 ppm
- Biguanide Pools: 30 to 50 ppm
- Mineral System Pools: 0.5 ppm of chlorine
For more guidance on what chemicals to use and how, contact Central Jersey Pools anytime.