AquaTech Pool Services, Inc. - Maintenance
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Water Balance is simply the relationship of different chemical parameters to each other.
Swimming pool water changes constantly due to: sunlight, bather load, oils, rain, wind, dirt, lawn fertilizers, cosmetics and many other things that can enter the water.
The Filtration and Chlorination of the pool water remove contaminants and keep the water sanitized but do not Balance the water!
In order to balance your chemicals in your pool you first must do a test.
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WATER TESTING
1. You need to have a test kit that will test for free chlorine, combined or total chlorine, pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, and cyanuric acid. It is recommended that you purchase a new test kit at the beginning of each season.
2. Follow the instructions in the test kit precisely. If the readings do not seem correct, repeat the test.
3. Make sure your hands are clean before doing the testing, so not to contaminate the test sample.
4. Get the water sample(s) from an area of the pool not near an inlet, and from at least 12 inches under the surface.
5. Rinse the sample cells before and after each use.
6. If you are testing in a glass or clear plastic containers make sure you hold the sample against a white background in order to get a true color reading.
7. Return all reagents and sample cells to there proper place in the test kit. Store in a place away from direct sun and heat. If an reagent comes in contact with your skin, flush with cold water.
8. Test the pool more frequently in hot weather, after heavy bather loads, and after rainfall.
9. Free chlorine, Total or Combined chlorine, and pH need to be tested more often than total alkalinity, cyanuric acid, and calcium hardness.
The recommended chemical parameters should be in this range:
7.2 - 7.6
100 - 150ppm
200 - 300ppm
30 - 100ppm
1 - 3ppm
pH
Total Alkalinity
Calcium Hardness
Cyanuric Acid
Free Chlorine
ADDING CHEMICALS TO YOUR POOL
1. Use a rule of halves.
(a) Add 1/2 of recommended dosage, from the label on the container
(b) Wait 30 minutes and retest the pool water
(c) If needed add the other 1/2 of the original dosage
2. Always treat the pool water in order (Steps 1 through 5)
(1) Chlorine
(2) Total alkalinity
(3) pH
(4) Cyanuric acid (outdoor pool only)
(5) Calcium harness
3. Add chemicals evenly around the pool when no one is in the pool
4. Only add small amounts of chemicals to the skimmer
5. Always add chemicals separately
6. Mix granular chemicals with water in a plastic bucket. DO NOT use a bucket that has previously stored
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chlorine or bromine.
ALWAYS PUT WATER IN THE BUCKET FIRST. THEN ADD THE CHEMICAL SLOWLY
7. Add chemicals slowly and in the proper steps.
8. If the free chlorine reading and the total chlorine reading do not equal one another, if you need to Super-
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hlorinate the pool. If testing is done properly free chlorine will be equal to or less than total chlorine.
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ALGAE CONTROL
Algae are tiny plants that bloom and grow in swimming pools if nutrients are present and a sufficient level of free chlorine is not maintained. Below are descriptions of the three most common algae problems in swimming pools.
Green Algae The most common algae in swimming pool floats in water and coats pool surfaces. Left unchecked green algae will very quickly turn the pool water pea green.
Mustard Algae settles on pool walls and causes a slimy yellow film.
Black Algae appears in "buds" or clumps attached to tile grout, corners, steps and pool surfaces.
Solution:
Green Algae - is very susceptible to chemical treatment. Super-chlorinate with 10 to 20 ppm chlorine in the evening. Keep the filter running and brush the pool walls and bottom. Periodically check chlorine and maintain above 3 ppm until water clears. Using an algaecide containing quaternary ammonia the next morning will help prevent the return of green algae.
Mustard Algae - is much more resistant to chemical treatment and clings more tightly to pool walls than green algae. Adjust pH and super-chlorinate as for green algae then brush diligently. Later vacuum the pool, check chlorine and super-chlorinate again if necessary. Mustard algae will generally return unless treated with a special mustard algaecide or a copper based algaecide. Algaecide should be added in the morning to treat algae in daylight - its most active period.
Black Algae - is very difficult to get rid of. It can be controlled to some extent by frequent super-chlorination and diligent brushing with a stiff brush. Spot treatments can be made by turning off the recirculation pumps and pouring granular chlorine directly on recently brushed spots. Trichlor tablets can also be rubbed on recently brushed areas to spot treat. Black algae can usually be controlled with the use of strong algaecides and maintenance of relatively high free chlorine residual, but complete removal of black algae may require draining and cleaning the pool.
Note: Algae blooms are a problem best avoided. Maintaining proper water quality and frequent brushing of pool walls will deprive algae of the opportunity to get started.