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What Chemicals Go In Pool First

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Spring Pool Opening Chemicals

Pool Chemicals For Beginners Above Ground Pool Start Up Easy Care and Tips

For pools that are covered and winterized, long periods of stagnation can affect your water balance, and by the time the pool cover comes off, winter algaecides and floaters are depleted.

What pool opening chemicals do I need is often asked by new pool owners, and a reply often given is that it depends on what type of pool you have, and what type of pool start-up is being done.

Step 1 – Water Balance First! Before adding any of your spring start up chemicals, its important to test and adjust all water balance parameters, so that your pool opening chemicals work at their best, and to prevent staining and scaling during treatment. Put away your start-up kit, and pull out your test kit verify that your pool chemical levels are within these ranges:

To adjust Calcium Hardness: Add Calcium Increaser to raise water hardness levels, and when too high, dilute with softer, fresh water. 3/4 lb. of Calcium Up will increase hardness by 10 ppm in 10,000 gallons of water.

To adjust Alkalinity:Add Alkalinity Increaser to raise total alkalinity levels and when too high, use pH Reducer. 1 lb. of Alkalinity Up will increase alkalinity by 10 ppm in 10,000 gallons of water, and 1 lb. of pH Down will reduce alkalinity by 10 ppm in 10,000 gallons of water.

How To Close A Pool For Winter: In Ground Pool Recommendations

In ground pool owners in cold climates typically have to completely shut down their pool for winter, which includes an involved process consisting of partially draining their pool, plugging all the returns, adding antifreeze, draining the lines and other steps. However, those of us who own a pool in milder climates dont usually choose to close the pool for the winter. After all, there are some winter days when its 80 degrees outside and we can wear shorts and its warm enough for a dip in the pool.

If you do choose to close your pool for the winter, the trick is knowing your water temperature. The water in your pool needs to be consistently below 65 degrees to keep algae from growing. These conditions exist when the outside temperature is typically in the mid-60s to low 70s during the day and in the 40s at night. If you put a cover on your pool before temperatures drop, you run the risk of having to deal with algae overgrowth.

To close a pool for winter, follow these steps:

Choosing to close your pool during the winter can help with keeping debris out, but remember you still need to follow the pool closing steps we mention above and shock your pool. Between the chemicals, cold weather, protection from debris and dark conditions, algae will be unable to grow. Although in some cases pool owners see algae grow at near-freezing temperatures, development slows to almost nothing when temperatures drop below 50 degrees.

What Chemicals Should Be Kept On

As a minimum, the average pool will want to keep the following chemicals on hand even if you use a salt chlorinator, you will need these other pool chemicals from time to time:

  • Chlorine tablets and pool shock
  • Pool pH Up and/or pH Down
  • Test strips or test kit

Every pool will also need other chemicals to raise calcium, cyanuric or alkalinity levels, usually once per year and clarifiers, enzymes, algaecides can be an important part of the overall routine, or are especially handy when youre in a pinch!

Theres lots to learn, with 12 categories of pool chemicals you wont need them all but its important to understand what they do, so that when you do need them, you know which chemical to use!

Safe swimming!

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Pool Chemicals : What You Need To Know

When you first decide to get a pool, youre thinking about the fun youll have: pool parties, kids frolicking, swimming laps in the morning. Unfortunately, once you fill your pool up with water you cant just set it and forget it.

Pools tend to grow algae and get dirty from the chemicals and skin cells from all those swimmers, plus debris and other natural contaminants can also cloud the water and create an unswimmable, bacteria-infested environment. The last thing you want is to go for a pleasant dip and find that the water is too dirty and might even make you and your friends or family ill.

Sometimes it seems like you need a degree in chemistry to make sure your pool chemicals are perfectly balanced. Not true. It doesnt have to be hard to make sure your pool is always clean, safe and ready for a good time. Once you understand the basics of pool chemicals and maintenance, it becomes easier and less time-consuming to make sure your pool is balanced and swimmable, especially if you have a smart water monitoring system to help.

This overview of pool chemical basics will help any new pool owner as well as those with years of experience owning and maintaining their pools. The basic chemicals you need to monitor and adjust are:

Pool Sanitizers: Chlorine and Bromine

Algaecides

The ideal target balance for bromine is between 3ppm and 5ppm.

Weekly pool shocks are required with bromine to clear the pool.

Bromine does not add cyanuric acid or chlorine to the water.

What Is Breakpoint Oxidation

Natural Chemistry Pool First Aid Water Cleaner

To reach breakpoint oxidation, the chlorine reading must be 10 ppm over your combined chlorine reading.

Your chlorine has two readings: free chlorine and combined chlorine . Free chlorine refers to the chlorine that is free and available to kill.

NOTE: Pool shock products are made with unstabilized chlorine or no chlorine at all. They will go in, do their job, and get eaten up by the suns UV rays very fast. Thats why its important to shock your pool at night or dusk, and let it work for 8 hours throughout the night.

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How Much Time Between Adding A Chemical And Using A Pool

Swimming pools need chemicals such as chlorine added on a weekly basis to keep the water free of algae, bacteria and other harmful microbes, and to balance the pH of the water to the recommended level of 7.2 to 7.6. You and your family should not swim in the water until the chemicals have fully integrated, because the concentration of chemicals can irritate the skin and eyes.

Pool Waters Vs Regular Water

When my parents moved to the city, my brother and I were rather young. We did not have a private pool, but my fathers friend, Mr. Collins did. We used to visit his place during the summers. I was in the same class with his son, and we were buddies.

Wondering why I am taking a stroll down memory lane? Well! You need to read a bit more to figure it out. As I said, I knew nothing about pool or pool water back then. One day, we were playing by the side of the pool. Yes! It is dangerous, but boys will be boys. Anyways, I felt thirsty and scooped up a glass of water from the pool.

As I was about to drink it, Mr. Collins stopped me. He was the first person who told me that pool water was far different from regular tap water. I did not understand what he meant back then, but now I do.

Regular tap water contains minerals, which are good for health. But pool water contains chemicals, which can upset your stomach if you swallow it. I regularly check the chemical balance in the pool to ensure safety and water quality. I empty my pool and refill it after every six months.

I attach a big hose to the fire hydrant and fill in the pool. It is less expensive. You can opt for water delivery trucks, or get water from a nearby well or lake. Make sure to filter pool water before you pour it in the pool.

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Intex Pool Start Up Chemicals

Intex pools are small aboveground pools, but they still need startup or opening chemicals as any other pool. Perhaps you arent as concerned about staining and scaling as an inground pool owner, but you certainly want clean and clear water, without any signs of algae.

If you are starting with a freshly filled intex pool, consider screwing on a pre-filter to your garden hose before filling the pool, to remove excess solids and minerals, and reduce the workload for your pool filter.

Step 1 – Water Balance First! As usual, start by balancing pH, Alkalinity and Calcium Hardness levels to the chart above. Calcium is not as critical in a vinyl Intex pool, but maintaining a minimum level of 150 ppm is still a good idea. Your pool water pH level is best in the 7.2-7.5 range, and to hold the pH steady, the waters Alkalinity should be around 100 ppm. Intex pool chemicals startup would not be complete without cyanuric acid ), to protect your chlorine from the sun. Add 1 lb per 2500 gallons, to raise CYA levels to 40 ppm.

Step 2 Add Clarifier: Most Intex pool filter systems are decidedly small, and can use a helping hand. Swimming pool water clarifiers coagulate suspended material into larger clumps that are more easily filtered.

Step 5 Add Algaecide: Following label instructions for dosage, treat your Intex pool with a good quality pool algaecide, as a supplement to your chlorine treatment, to prevent algae growth.

Once Every Other Day Test The Water

Pool Start Up – Chemicals and How to Add Them

At least three times each week, test the pH level of your water. As long as you test it that often, it shouldnt go out of balance by too much.

Depending on the Results, Use an Appropriate Treatment:

Lets say that the pH level was higher than usual. Then, you should try to lower it. Additionally, if the pH level is lower, then you should raise it.

Usually, We Suggest Using a Litmus Strip:

Perhaps, the litmus strip is among the easiest testing methods. With one of these, you just dip the paper into the water. Then, see what color it becomes. Depending on the results, youll have your answer

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Fill Pool To Middle Of Waterline Tile And Do Final Debris Removal

Grab a garden hose and fill the pool until the water level reaches the midpoint of the waterline tile or middle of the skimmer weirs. Once youve got the water level where it needs to be, you can now clean leaves, twigs and debris from the pools bottom by using a wall and floor brush. This is also time to dust off your algae brush and pool vacuum. Also be sure to remove any debris from the leaf basket.

Halogens Bind To Free

When the halogens are free, they bind things quite easily. Since they are so reactive, they tear through the pool water. Nevertheless, once they encounter something, they become inert.

Consequently, Youll Notice the Water Is Cloudy:Once enough of it is deactivated, you can see it in the water. To the naked eye, it will appear as if there are clouds in it.

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What Chemicals Are Needed For A Pool Start Up

When youre finding the chemicals you need for a pool start up, it all starts with your water.

Ideally, you should have properly cleaned your pool prior to filling it back up. Going through a full pool cleaning before filling it back up will cut down on contaminants in your water, equally a pool maintenance service can ensure chemically balanced water on start-up.

If you are filling from a freshwater source, it isnt going to be perfect pool water. It would be a bit ridiculous to use entirely purified water too, so this is something youre going to have to deal with.

The first thing that you need to do is test your water. While you can do this with a small test, it is better to go all-in with a full water test.

You need to know exactly what it is that youre working with if you want to start your pool up right.

Pool Chemicals: The Key To A Clean Pool

Natural Chemistry Pool First Aid 2L

You could fill your pool with fresh, clean water, and then skim and vacuum it every day, and the water would still get dirty. Leaves, twigs, and other debris fall into your pool. Bugs take their last swims in it. Birds fly overhead and bomb it.

And every time someone swims, they leave behind body oils, hair, dead skin, shampoo, soap, everything we humans put on our bodies and slough off on a daily basis.

The only thing keeping those contaminants from turning your pool into a black lagoon is sanitizer, probably the most important pool chemical youll ever use.

And in order for the sanitizer to work, other water attributes must be balanced: pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness.

Finally, youll add pool chemicals to treat algae, to clear your pool, and to prevent staining, if you have hard water.

All of these factors work together to create balanced pool chemistry so you can swim in peace, so knowing what to use and how is crucial.

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The Ultimate Pool Chemical Guide

The best pool chemical guide you can get a hold is through CPO® certification. If you are planning on getting a CPO® certification, make sure to go to experts. Pool Operation Management offers award-winning CPO®certification courses to give you the most comprehensive education in everything about pool operation. Over a two-day course or during online training, our experienced professionals not only will help you get certified, but you will acquire real-world knowledge to aid you in your career of pool operation. To start your CPO® certification courses or use our many services, contact Pool Operation Management today.

*This information is obtained from the Certified Pool and Spa Operator Handbook. This information may not be applicable to your pool based on your pool type and location. One should reference all applicable regulations and standards for your facility.

Filling Your Pool With Water For The First Time

Follow these simple steps to get your new pool ready:

Filling Your Pool with Water for the First Time

Check filtration system

Make sure the filtration system is operational.

Fill pool

Based on temperature and type of finish, fill the pool to the middle of the skimmer or specified water level without interruption and as rapidly as possible with clean water, to help prevent a bowl ring. Be sure to place the hose in the deepest area with a clean rag on the end to prevent damage to the surface material.

Start filtration

Based on temperature and type of finish, fill the pool to the middle of the skimmer or specified water level without interruption and as rapidly as possible with clean water, to help prevent a bowl ring. Be sure to place the hose in the deepest area with a clean rag on the end to prevent damage to the surface material.

Test the pool

Test the pool in multiple spots, at least 600mm 900mm below the surface to make sure the readings are right.

Additionally:

  • At no time should any person or pets be allowed in the pool during the fill
  • To prevent streaking, do not allow any external sources of water to enter the pool
  • Do not swim in the pool until the water is properly balanced
  • Test the water for: pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness and metals

Dont forget to record the results.

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Chemical #: Chlorine To Shock The Pool

Saving the best for last, the chlorine. You will want to add double of the amount you would use for a regular shock. This will oxidise the pool, killing any bacteria, algea and other organics that would have grown over the winter. If you use granular chlorine, do

mix if first thoroughly, given that the water is cold and the quantities are large. If you are using liquid chlorine, pour a little all around the pool and the reminder near the water return.

Note: Do not splash the chlorine on yourself or your clothes, it will bleach.

When Balancing Water Start With Total Alkalinity

Buying Pool Chemicals for the First Time

Once you have tested your water chemistry, it is time to start adding chemicals to balance your water during pool opening. Total alkalinity should be balanced first, because it will help bring the other aspects of water chemistry closer to their normal range. This makes it significantly easier to achieve a safe and clean pool.

To lower the total alkalinity, you can use Leslies Dry Acid. This product quickly decreases total alkalinity levels in your pool. A dose of 1½ pounds of Leslies Dry Acid in 10,000 gallons of water will lower the total alkalinity by 10 ppm. If you need to increase total alkalinity levels, use Leslies Alkalinity Up. To raise total alkalinity by 10 ppm in 10,000 gallons, use 1½ pounds of Alkalinity Up.

Once the total alkalinity has returned within the range of 80 to 120 ppm, you can begin to adjust the other chemicals. To increase pH, adding Leslies Soda Ash will help raise it to an acceptable range. To decrease pH, you can again use Leslies Dry Acid.

If the calcium hardness is too low, 1¼ pounds of Leslies Hardness Plus will raise the levels by 10 ppm in 10,000 gallons of water. It’s much more difficult to lower the calcium hardness level than it is to raise it, so be sure to keep calcium levels below 400 ppm, and don’t add too much hardness increaser at once.

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