A Guide to Water Balance For Swimming Pool and Maintenance
Posted on | March 9, 2010 | No Comments
Attention: Water balance is very important to ensure that your swimming pool chemicals work properly and for as long as they should
You must be familiar with the way your pool or spa works before adding any pool chemicals A clear, clean fresh spa or pool is only possible if you have good filtration and clear water flow
Water balance is the first thing to establish when treating your pool or spa. This helps make sure the later stps like sanitation are effective and use the minimum chemicals required There are three major factors affecting water balance, they are pH, total alkalinity and calcium hardness
Calcium hardness
Hardness depends on the levels of calcium salt in your water. This depends on where you live Low calcium hardness can cause damage to your pool materials. High calcium hardness levels (hard water) often leads to the formation of scale in pipe work and equipment.
these are guideline levels
• Calcium Hardness should be between 100 – 200 ppm (mg/l).
• When the measurement is below 75 ppm (mg/l), apply Hardness Plus
• If the level exceeds 200 ppm (mg/l), use Scale Inhibitor.
pH
The pH scale has a range of 1 – 14 with 1 being very acidic, 7 being neutral and 14 being very alkaline. Make sure you keep your water within the 7.2-7.6 range which, because it is slightly alkaline, will protect equipment from corrosion and give the ideal conditions for the swimmers using the pool or spa and also gives maximum sanitiser efficiency.
• Ideal pH level for spas is between 7.2 – 7.6.
• If the level is below use pH Plus
• If the level is greater than 7.6 apply pH Minus
Note
These things] will cause the pH to fluctuate.
pH rises can be caused by this which causes chlorine products such as chlorine shock to lose effectiveness. Much higher doses of chlorine sanitisers such as will then be required. avoid this problem by using Bromine. Bromine works effectively over a wider pH range than chlorineIt is also less volatile than chlorine and will remain in the spa for a longer period reducing your spa chemical usage and ensuring hygienic conditions prevail.
Total Alkalinity
Total Alkalinity (TA) acts as a buffer to prevent pH change. The water pH varies drastically when Total Alkalinity levels are very low
If Total alkalinity is too high then water clarity can be affected but it also makes it difficult to make changes to water pH levels
• Ideal Total Alkalinity is 100 ppm (mg/l) When it drops below 80mg/l remedy it with Alkalinity Plus
• When Total Alkalinity exceeds 140mg/l remedy it with pH Minus to reduce it
Water balance should be checked regularly and, certainly, every time you top up or refill your pool or spa.
Test Strips/kits are available for you to test the water regularly.
Tags: bromine > chemicals > chlorine > hot tub > pool > pool maintenance > spa chemicals > Swimming > swimming pool chemicals > water balance
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