Attention: Water balance is very important to ensure that your swimming pool chemicals work properly and for as long as they should
Before adding pool chemicals it is important that you read and familiarise yourself with the workings of your spa / pool and support equipment. A clear, clean fresh spa or pool is only possible if you have good filtration and clear water flow
Water balance is the first thing to establish when treating your pool or spa. This helps make sure the later stps like sanitation are effective and use the minimum chemicals required The main criteria affecting water balance are calcium hardness, pH and Total Alkalinity.
Calcium hardness
Hardness is the measurement of calcium salts in the swimming pool or spa water and this will vary depending where you live. Low calcium hardness can cause damage to your pool materials. High calcium hardness levels (hard water) often leads to the formation of scale in pipe work and equipment.
these are guideline levels
• Ideal calcium hardness levels are between 100 – 200 ppm (mg/l).
• If the measurement is below 75 ppm (mg/l), use Hardness Plus
• When the measurement is above 200 ppm (mg/l), apply Scale Inhibitor.
pH Measures
The pH scale has a range of 1 – 14 with 1 being very acidic, 7 being neutral and 14 being very alkaline. It is essential to maintain spa water within the 7.2 – 7.6 range which, because it is mildly alkaline, will protect equipment from corrosion and give the perfect environment for the swimmers enjoying the pool or spa and also gives the best sanitiser efficiency.
• Ideal pH level for spas is between 7.2 – 7.6.
• If the level drops below apply pH Plus
• If the level exceeds 7.6 use pH Minus
Note
pH can be hard to manage in spas because the system water turns over quickly, is highly agitated and operates at higher temperature than swimming pool systems. [All these factors
pH rises can be caused by this which causes chlorine products such as chlorine shock to lose effectiveness. Much higher doses of chlorine sanitisers such as will then be required. This can be avoided by using Bromine Tablets, Bromine (HOBr) is a highly effective sanitiser, and it is stable over a much wider pH range than chlorine treatments. Bromine also remains in the spa for longer than chlorine so it reduces the quantity of hot tub chemicals you use.
Total Alkalinity
Total Alkalinity (TA) acts as a buffer to prevent pH change. The water pH varies drastically when Total Alkalinity levels are very low
If Total alkalinity is too high then water clarity can be affected but it also makes it difficult to make changes to water pH levels
• optimum Total Alkalinity is 100 ppm (mg/l) When it drops below 80mg/l remedy it with Alkalinity Plus
• When Total Alkalinity is above 140mg/l remedy it with pH Minus to reduce it
You should definitely check your water balance on a regular basis as it is the basis for your other chemical treatments
Use Test strips to measure your water balance, they are very easy to use
By Pool Support Team, OnlinePoolChemicals.com
Balance
Managing the correct proportion of pool chemicals in your pool is the key to a sanitary swimming pool and indulging in an agreeable swim time after time. Your water will look and smell clean and, really critically, bacterial and algae growth will stay at a low level, ensuring that neither you nor your pool suffer.
The initial stage is to make sure that the pool has the right mix of chemicals when you fill. A swimming pool starter kit could be the best option here to ensure you get it right from the start, and there are a wide variety available on the market just like the ones we manufacture and distribute from our pool, spa chemicals store.
Continuation
On an ongoing basis, you need a reliable pool tester to ensure that the right balance of chemicals are maintained.
{To let you get the best from your swimming pool spa or hot tub it is important that you test the water on a timetabled basis and you ensure you keep it in a healthy state. You can do this by the regular use of pool treatment chemicals. The testing of the water will at first seem initimidating, however test kits are easy to use and will give quick accurate results. }
The fundamental tests are
1. pH
2. Alkalinity
3. Sanitiser (Free Chlorine or Bromine)
Additional Investigations
1. Calcium hardness
2. Combined chlorine
3. Copper levels
Sight [InspectionInvestigation]
1. Check the pool water for clarity, and ensure it is clear.
It is a sensible practise to regularly note your results and the chemical dosings you carry out. Keep a note book with your test kit and chemical treatments.
Don’t Forget to retest the water after the addition of chemicals to ensure you have created the appropriate chemical levels.
Don’t Forget
* If the water is cloudy then it is not safe to swim, people cannot see the bottom and may dive into shallow water!
* Swimmers in difficulty under the water will not be visible!
* Foggy water is an indication that there is a problem with the treatment.
Sanitation is the priority reason for using pool chemicals. If not properly treated, a swimming pool can become a breeding ground for bacteria and algae. The algae can affect the pool but the bacteria will damage you!
The answer is a sanitiser like Bromine or Chlorine. You will need to ensure that the levelsare maintained at all times and levels should be checked and supplemented weekly or as needed. Don’t Forget, if you want to lower the levels, just add more water to your pool to reduce the concentration of the chlorine. There are a number of choices for delivering the Chlorine to the pool. Try using slow dissolving tablets in conjunction with a chlorinator or, alternatively, a floater. You will need to be very careful that the floater stays in your pool though!
Fortnightly you will also need to treat your swimming pool with additional products to deal with the waste by-products created by the Chlorine, i.e. the sterilised bacteria and algae. Most will, of course, have been removed by your filtration system but some will still be present and decompose creating to unpleasant smells and skin and eye irritation. You will soon know when this is necessary because the water will appear cloudy, you can use clarifiers and flocculents to sort this out.
When testing your pool, watch the ph levels. This measures the acidity in your pool. The balance needs to be kept stable to enable the Chlorine to work effectively. After that, an effective pool filtration system will help you to keep your water clean and healthy. Which is the key to an enjoyable swim every time!
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