Adjusting The Cyanuric Levels
Cyanuric acid is an essential chemical that you need to add to the pool, if you desire to maintain the quality of water. It acts as a stabilizer. As Stellas pool was filled for the first time, the level of Cyanuric acid was very low.
Adding Chlorine tables did increase the level of this stabilizer, but more was needed. Thus, I had to pour more cyanuric acid into the water. The stabilizer will prevent the chlorine in the water to react, and turn the water cloudy, in the presence of sunrays. I added 3 lbs of Cyanuric acid for 10,000 gallons of water. Stella had two kids. I was very cautious while adding these chemicals to the pool.
A small miscalculation from my side can cause problems for them. I dont want them to suffer as my daughter did.
What Is Breakpoint Oxidation
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.
Enzymes / Phosphate Removers
2-Days Before: For pools that have a history of opening with green algae, using a phosphate remover or pool enzymes can be a real problem solver. We recommend Natural Chemistry Pool Magic Spring and Fall, a blend of phosphate remover, algaecide and clarifier to purify your water. Use Spring and Fall for year-round protection. This product needs to circulate for a day or two before lowering the water level.
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What Chemicals Do You Need To Close An Above Ground Pool
To close an above-ground pool, you need many of the same chemicals needed to close an inground pool. Test and balance chemical levels, using chlorine, alkalizers or acids. Keep in mind these differences for above ground pool closing chemicals:
- Use a non-chlorine pool shock in above ground vinyl pools or plaster pools. The vinyl or plaster can corrode from harsh chlorine pool shock.
- Clean your pool and prepare to cover for the winter. Remove ladders and rails so that your pool cover fits securely and prevents rain or snow from disturbing your winter pool chemistry.
Pool Closing Supplies
Pool closing supplies can help pool chemicals keep your pool in good shape through the winter. Youll want to have these things on hand for optimal off-season pool care: a safety cover to keep all unwanted intruders out of your pool, a pool cover pump to remove water from your pool cover, and an inflatable pool bubble to prevent ice from damaging your pool.
Can You Add Pool Chemicals At The Same Time
Owning a swimming pool results in a list of daily, weekly and monthly tasks that need to be tended to keep the water safe, clean and fresh.; Ignoring these basic duties can result in dangerous, dirty water and damage your swimming pool components.; Youll need to take regular measurements of a variety of levels in the water and add the proper chemicals to get these levels back in balance.; But when it comes to the additives, can you add pool chemicals at the same time?; The fact is that theres a favoured order when it comes to adding pool chemicals.; In this article, well detail this order as well as some other factors to keep in mind while maintaining your swimming pool water quality.
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Basic Pool Chemistry 101
Wouldnt it be great if you could just fill your pool with water, and then never worry about algae growing, or bacteria building up, or the water just becoming a gross breeding ground for all kinds of nasty contaminants and organisms? Sure, testing the water and adding pool chemicals on a regular basis might be time-consuming and tedious, but its absolutely necessary.
A little up-front work means a lot less remediation later when your pool becomes infested with algae, or so imbalanced, the only solution is to drain it and start over. While keeping your pool clean and sanitized may not be the most fun tasks, theyre also not difficult. All it takes is a little basic pool chemistry knowledge, the right equipment and supplies, and a desire to keep your pool clean and swimmable.
How To Test Your Pool Water Chemicals
There are three different ways you can test your pool water chemistry: using pool test strips, using a pool testing kit, or using an electronic device. Each method has pros and cons. First, lets take a step-by-step look at the how-tos of each testing method.
Just remember: no matter which method you choose, its important to test and balance your water regularly ideally, at least two or three times per week. Regular water testing will help ensure that your pool remains cloud-free, crystal-clear, and most importantly, safe to swim in.
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Get The Care Your Pool Needs From A Trusted Latham Dealer
In order to enjoy your pool for years to come, proper and attentive maintenance is important. If you have questions about maintaining your pool, contact your local Latham dealer.
While these resources can help guide you, enlisting the help of a pool professional can ensure that one of your largest backyard investments gets the care and protection it deserves.
Shock The Pool Not The Monkey
No matter how well you keep your pool chemistry balanced, its a good ideano, its necessaryto shock your pool on a regular basis. Shocking is also sometimes referred to as superchlorinating the pool because all it means is youre adding a high dose of chlorine to the pool all at once.
This is a good method for keeping the water clean, but its also a remedy for things like pool algae, and certain bodily mishaps that may occur in the pool, especially when small children swim.
To get the best results, we recommend using calcium hypochlorite shock at least once a week. If youre maintaining a chlorine-free pool, youll also find chlorine-free shock available.
ProTip: Pool shock is made with unstabilized chlorine or no chlorine at all. Itll get eaten up by the suns UV rays very quickly. So always shock your pool at night or dusk, and run the pump overnight to fully distribute it and allow it to dissipate.
Important: Products that contain calcium can raise your pools calcium hardness level over time. If you use those products, keep a closer eye on calcium hardness levels so you can correct them before they become a problem.
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How To Put Chemicals In Pool For First Time
You finally did it!
You took the plunge and made the investment in a pool. You will not be disappointed in your decision. There will be hours of making memories, relaxing, playing games and cooling off with friends and family. But, first things first, you need to know how to put chemicals in pool for first time.
Before you can get to the fun part of pool ownership you have to master the art of adding and balancing chemicals. You didnât realize you now have to be a chemist, did you? Donât fret, the process isnât that hard and the subsequent adding and balancing becomes second nature as you get used to it and youâll be enjoying your pool in no time!
What is the Purpose of Chemicals in a Pool?
Before we unpack the procedure for adding and balancing pool chemicals perhaps we need to drive home the necessity of this action. Why canât you just use regular water to swim in? You use it to shower with and drink, so whatâs the difference?
Regular drinking tap water has minerals that make it safe to drink and use on your body. The difference between the two is that you are not wading in this water with your closest, dirty friends and exposing yourself to the potential of ingesting that water.
When you add people to the equation you begin to place contaminates into the water that were not there before. Contaminates like feces, urine, bacteria, sweat, vomit, spit and blood just to name a few.
Illnesses Associated with Swimming
Diarrhea Causes
- Cryptosporidium
- Coli O157:H7
Youre A Pool Chemistry Wiz
Hey, no one ever said having a pool would be easy. But it also doesnt have to be difficult. Knowledge and the right pool chemicals make all the difference in the world.
Dont let your pool intimidate you. Youre supposed to manage it, not the other way around. Just remember that no one expects you to know everything overnight. Even more important than having the right tools is knowing where to find the right information. And youve already done that, so youre on your way!
Happy Swimming!
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Shock The Pool To Remove Bacteria And Contaminants
Shocking your pool is the final step for getting rid of all the bacteria, algae spores, and other organic contaminants that may have entered your pool during the winter off-season. To shock your pool, use 2 pounds of shock for every 10,000 gallons of water, which should raise your chlorine levels to 10.0 ppm. Depending on your pool, you can use either;Leslies Power Powder Plus or;Leslies Chlor Brite. After shocking the pool, run the circulation system for at least 2 hours before adding an algaecide.
What Chemicals Do You Need To Close A Saltwater Pool
Just like any other pool, you want to test chemicals levels and balance pool chemistry before closing your pool. Also, test and adjust salt levels. You want salt levels at the low end of the normal range because salt could react with contaminants over the winter months, staining your pool.
Use the same winterizing chemical steps as you would use on any inground pool, including shocking the pool and adding algaecide and stain and scale preventers. You can even buy winter pool kits that include all the chemicals you need in a convenient package.
One additional step for saltwater pools is to remove your salt water generator, drain it, clean it using diluted muriatic acid if necessary, and store for the winter.
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How Do I Add Chemicals To The Pool
By now you probably know that water balance is one of the most important factors of keeping your swimming pool healthy. If youre still confused by the cocktail of chemicals your swimming pool requires day to day to keep the water clean and balanced? Check out this quick;overview;regarding the most used pool chemicals and their role in pool maintenance.
Adding pool chemicals to your pool can be quite tricky. Just follow the steps below and youll be able to get it right, every time!
1. Test the water. By testing your pool water regularly, you can know exactly how much product to add to your pool. Under or over-dosing your pool can lead to problems that could take a long time to fix. Testing will help keep everything running smoothly and end up costing you less in the long run. Most pool stores have free water testing to give a complete diagnosis of your pool health.
2. Follow manufacturer’s instructions. Remember safety first. Read the label on the packaging to ensure you have the right protective equipment. Gloves and eyewear are required for some chemicals and be careful not to breathe in any dust or fumes. The label is also a great place to find information on what to do if skin or eye contact occurs. Refer to the chemical dosage chart to determine how much of each chemical is needed. You should also add chemicals while pump and filter are running.;
In a Nutshell…
1. pH 7.2 7.6
2. Total Alkalinity 100 200ppm
3. Calcium Hardness 200 300ppm
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.
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Test Pool Water Chemistry Using Digital Pool Testers
You can connect digital pool testers to smartphones or other devices, which offer convenience and detail. However, electronic testers tend to be more costly and often, less accurate than alternatives like kits and strips. Since digital testers vary widely in their quality and design, be sure to follow the app or devices instructions.
Still have questions about how to test your pool water? Just contact a Latham dealer, and well handle the testing for you! You can even bring your sample to us for testing. Our expert technicians will explain exactly what you should add, remove, increase or decrease to achieve the perfect swimming pool water chemistry.
What Order Do You Put Chemicals In A Pool
4.4/5Pool Closing Chemicals: Best Order to Add?
The safe and proper chemical levels for standard, chlorine pool water are as follows:
- Total Alkalinity 80 to 120 ppm.
- pH Level 7.4 to 7.6.
- Free Available Chlorine 2.0 to 4.0 ppm.
- Calcium Hardness 200 to 400 ppm.
- Stabilizer 30 to 50 ppm.
Secondly, what chemicals do you use to winterize a pool? Regular chlorine pool shock, or non-chlorine pool shock is usually the best choice as a winterizing pool shock. Follow the label instructions to add the proper dosage. If you have visible algae, double the dose, and then brush the pool.
Secondly, how much chemicals do I add to my pool?
To maintain a safe and healthy swimming pool, you need to keep your pool chemicals at the following 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.
How do you keep a pool clean without chemicals?
How to Clean Your Pool Without Chemicals
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When Balancing Water Start With Total Alkalinity
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.
How Long Does It Take To Balance Pool Chemicals
It may take up to 24 hours to balance pool chemicals properly. The time required can increase or decrease depending on factors like the size and volume of the pool, the quality and condition of the water, whether youre shocking the pool and how many adjustments need to be made using chemicals like sodium bisulfate or calcium chloride. For instance, if you raise the pools alkalinity by adding baking soda, you should wait a minimum of six hours before retesting alkalinity levels.
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