Water Balance
Water Balance
Keeping your water chemistry balanced is imperative to keeping a swimming pool clean, clear, and in good working order. The swimming pool's structure and filter system can be adversely affected if the water is not kept in balance. The following are the levels that we recommend for proper pool water balance:
Free Available Chlorine - 2 - 3 p.p.m.
Combined Chlorine - 0 p.p.m.
Bromine - 3 - 5 p.p.m.
pH - 7.2
Total Alkalinity - 80 - 120 p.p.m.
Calcium Hardness - 250 p.p.m.
Cyanuric Acid - 40 - 60 p.p.m.
Total Dissolved Solids - <1500 p.p.m.
Iron - <0.2 p.p.m.
Copper - <0.2 p.p.m.
Strong Odor/Eye Irritation: A common misconception among swimming pool owners and swimmers is that strong chlorine odor and eye irritation is due to high chlorine levels in the pool water. In actuality, the reverse is true. Strong chlorine odor and eye irritation are most commonly the result of a high level of combined chlorine present in the pool water. Combined chlorine is most commonly found in the form of chloramines (chlorine combined with ammonia from perspiration or other sources). This type of chlorine is not effective as a sanitizer and produces a strong chlorine odor, as well as irritating swimmer's eyes. Shocking the pool with a quick-release non-stabilized chlorine is recommended to eliminate chloramines. Thus; adding more Free Chlorine will solve the problem, not amplify it as is commonly misconstrued among pool users and owners.
High Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer) Level: If you use 7.5cm stabilized chlorine tablets (tri-chlor tablets) or stabilized granular chlorine (dichlor granular), you will be adding stabilizer to the pool every time that you add chlorine. The stabilizer (cyanuric acid) level limits the effectiveness of your chlorinewhen it reaches a level of 100 p.p.m. or more. This level should be checked at least once a month if you use either of the chlorine types listed above. If shocking (boosting the chlorine level quickly) is necessary, we recommend using a non-stabilized chlorine such as calcium hypochlorite.
Low pH Due To 3" Tablet Usage: If you use 7.5cm stabilized tablets to chlorinate your pool, you should monitor your pH closely. 3-inch tablets have a pH of 2.4 and lower the pH of your pool water consistently over time. If ignored, the pH of your pool water can decrease drastically and lead to structural and equipment damage. We recommend testing your pH at least three times a week.