Why is balancing my pool so important?
If your pool water is not balanced properly, it can lead to skin and eye irritation as well as harm the equipment and surface of the pool
My pool has a white substance floating in the pool. What is it?
Water mold is a whitish, mucous-like substance that looks like shredded tissue paper when floating in the water. It is not harmful to humans, but is unsightly and can clog equipment. It also depletes oxidizer levels, which can other undesirable conditions to occur. Water mold usually begins growing in the lines, and by the time it becomes visible, the growth is often quite heavy.
If I have water mold, what should I do?
If the pool uses chlorine or bromine, the first step is to brush the sides and bottom thoroughly. If you think you might have missed a few maintenance algicide applications, add an initial dose of your algicide (algae and fungal growths usually indicate inconsistent algicide applications). Next, shock with three times the normal dose of Aqua Chlor or Aqua Burn. Allow the filter to circulate overnight. Repeat as necessary. When the procedure is complete, chemically clean the filter.
I keep adding chlorine, but when I test my water, there's no chlorine reading. Why?
The reason for the absence of a chlorine reading is that your chlorine is tied-up. It is combined with amine groups causing your chlorine to be inactive. This is commonly called chlorine demand. What you need to do is shock or superchlorinate your pool. Shocking your pool will cause the chlorine to free up. Double and triple levels of super-chlorination may be depleted within hours of application. Often the pool water will be sparkling and attractive while this problem is taking place. In some cases, the chlorine stabilizer disappears and cannot be measured.
What causes chlorine demand?
There are many causes for chlorine demand and in most cases - there is no one cause for a particular chlorine demand but several combined: algae, fertilizer contanimation, excessive chloramine accumulation, rain, pollution, excessive cover debris rinsed or dumped in pool, source water (sometimes municipal water supplies contain chloramines), organic and other contaminates in source water (ponds, lakes, well water, vandalism, etc.
This is the second year I have had chlorine demand, what do I do?
We recommend that if you have had a continuous problem with chlorine demands that you shock your pool weekly.
What level should I maintain my chlorine?
You need to maintain enough chlorine in the pool to control the amount of bacteria. It is recommend you keep a free available chlorine residual between 1ppm - 3ppm.
How often should I shock my pool?
You need to shock your pool at least every 2 weeks in the summer. Depending on the usage and weather.
How long should I wait to go into a pool that is sanitized with chlorine after I shock?
Wait until the chlorine level drops below 3ppm. Usually if you shock in the evening, the chlorine level will drop to 3 ppm
What is pH Increaser?
Raises the pH in pool water to guard against skin and eye irritation, corrosion of metal fixtures.
What is pH Decreaser?
Lowers the pH in pool water to prevent scaling, cloudy water and reduced effectiveness of chlorine. It is safer to store and use.
What is Total Alkalinity?
Raises Total Alkalinity to control pH bounce, staining of surfaces and corrosion of pool equipment.
What is acid rain?
The term "acid rain" refers to any precipitation that has a pH of 5.5 or lower and can be in form of rain, sleet, snow, or fog. It is estimated that half of the acid rain formation is caused by man-made factors, such as vehicle and industry emissions. The other half is attributed to natural causes, such as forest fires and lightening. These emissions form sulfuric acid and nitric acid when exposed to moisture and sunlight and fall as acid rain.
What effect does acid rain have on my pool?
Natural rain has a pH of 6.0, and acid rain has a pH of 5.5 or lower. As rain becomes more acidic, the total alkalinity of your pool decreases. Regular testing and adjusting of total alkalinity and pH will help protect against acid rain.
What is Chlorine?
Chlorine is a very aggressive and efficient disinfectant that kills bacteria. It is very important in maintaining pool water for swimmers safety and health. Over 90% of all pools (commercial and residential) use some form of chlorinating products as a sanitizer. Bacteria and algae enter the pool every day from sources ranging from bathers to the weather. So every day you have to fight bacteria and algae with sanitizers and algicides.
What is ppm?
Parts per million is a unit of measure used in measuring chemical application. It indicates that amount, by weight, of a chemical in relation to one million parts, by weight, of water.
What is pool water testing?
Pool water has chemical characteristics that must be measured regularly. Pool owners need to check two of these characteristics on a regular basis. pH. and Sanitizer. When these two factors are maintained within specified ranges, your pool water is probably not going to experience problems. By testing your pool water on regular basis, it will help you understand how bather load, weather conditions and chemical applications affect the water. We recommend you have your pool water professionally tested a minimum of twice yearly as they perform a more comprehensive set of tests. This will ensure that all the important parameters are in balance. Pools that are maintained in the proper test ranges will be protected from uncontrolled bacteria growth, be comfortable to the eyes and skin of swimmers, be less aggressive to pool surfaces and equipment, protected from growth of algae and most important be clear, sparkling and inviting to swimmers.
What is chlorine stabilizer?
Chlorine stabilizer is an organic compound that protects chlorinating products from the sun. It is also known as Cyanuric Acid and is sometimes referred to as "conditioner." Pool water that is stabilized offers pool owners a definite advantage over unstabilized pools. For instance, every 35 minutes a pool is exposed to the sun, the water will lose half of the HOCI present (which is the killing power form of chlorine.)
When do I add chlorine stabilizer?
Pool owners using unstabilized chlorine products to sanitize their pool can extend the life expectancy and efficiency of their free available chlorine residual by adding Aqua Clear Chlorine Stabilizer to outdoor pools. Indoor pools are usually not exposed to UV rays of the sun and, consequently, do not require the use of stabilizer. Initially, you should add enough Chlorine Stabilizer to achieve 40 ppm. When Cyanuric Acid levels drop below 30 pppm, stabilizer should be added. However, a pool being maintained on stabilized chlorinating products will constantly have a replenishing source of stabilizer being fed to the pool as the stabilized product is dissolved into the water.
What type of chlorine sanitizer do you recommend with the use of chlorine stabilizer?
Rather than continuously adding stabilizer, most pool owners prefer the convenience of a sanitizer that contains both a chlorinating product and a stabilizer. We recommend the use of Aqua Clear Aqua Tabs or Aqua Clear Rapid Chlor-56. Aqua Tabs strong chlorine formula dissolves slowly and completely. Rapid Chlor-56 is not as strong and dissolves faster. Because it dissolves so fast, when it's used as a primary sanitizer, it is usually and fed into a pool. More often, dichloro is used to provide a quick stabilized chlorine residual to boost a pool with heavy bather load or to oxidize waste or kill algae.
How do I add chlorine stabilizer to my pool?
To add 40 ppm of Aqua Clear Chlorine Stabilizer, add 1 pound of Chlorine Stabilizer for every 3,000 gallons of pool water, for 30 ppm add 1 pound per 4,000 gallons. Slowly add the appropriate amount of Chlorine Stabilizer granules through the skimmer with the pump running. Allow the pump and filter to run at least 24 hours. DO NOT BACKWASH the filter for 48 hours after product application. Stabilizer dissolves very slowly (which is why the skimmer application method is preferred) and if the filter is backwashed too soon after application, the Chlorine Stabilizer will be washed out of the filter before it has a chance to dissolve. We recommend a minimum level of 30 - 40 ppm. 30 - 200 ppm is an acceptable range. The maximum level of CYA in commercial pools is a established by local health departments.
How much is too much stabilizer?
A common myth in the pool industry claims that too much Stabilizer (Cyanuric Acid, CYA) in pool water "locks-up" the free available chlorine residual. Chemically, this is not accurate. The free available chlorine residual kills microorganisms with CYA levels up to 500 ppm. Minimum CYA level is 30 - 40 ppm, acceptable is 30 - 200 ppm for residential pools.
How do I lower Cyanuric acid (stabilizer) in my pool?
The only way to lower Cyanuric acid level is to partially drain your pool, then refill it with fresh water. Please contact your nearest pool dealer before attempting to drain any pool. If this procedure is not done properly, you could damage your pool.
How do I winterize my pool?
Once you have your pool balanced, add the correct dosage of winter shock and winter algaecide. To add additional protection to your pool's structure, finish by adding a chelating agent, such as AquaClear IronOut Formula II to keep minerals from dropping out and onto the pool's surface in cold temperatures. There are also a variety of winter products and accessories.