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POOL CHEMISTRY 101

  What is it? Range Symptoms-High Symptoms-Low Action Helpful Hints
pH acidity/basicity
of water		 7.2-7.8 Baquacil
7.4-7.6 Chlorine		 -scaling
-cloudy water
-short filter cycles
-staining
-eye/skin irritation		 -corrosion
-pitting/etching
-staining
-metal stipping
-liner wrinkles
-skin irritation		 -Lower than
7.2 add pH
Increaser

-Higher than
7.8 add pH
Decreaser		 -If pH is showing
dramatic changes
check TA
ALKALINITY alkaline buffer that
helps to resist
dramatic changes
in pH (pH bounce)		 80-150ppm -similar to symptoms
of high pH		 -pH bounce
-similar symptoms
of low pH		 -Lower than
80 add TA
Increaser

-Higher than
150 add pH
Decreaser		 -Do not lower TA
more than 10ppm
per day

-Do not raise TA
more than 50ppm
per day
CALCIUM amount of dissolved
calcium in water		 180-250ppm (vinyl)
200-275ppm (plaster)		 -calcium may come out
of solution causing
cloudy water
-scale may deposit on
pool surface, plumbing
or filter		 -soft, corrosive water
-foaming		 -Lower than
180 (vinyl) or
200 (plaster)
add Calcium
Increaser


-Higher than
250 (vinyl) or
275 (plaster)
drain 1/3-1/2
pool & add
fresh water		 -If increasing Calcium more than 50 ppm, add in 1/3 increments then wait 4-6 hours between further additions

-If calcium level is too high and dilution is required, check calcium level of source water as it may be too high to achieve desired results
TDS amount of total dissolved
solids in water which
naturally increases with
age through evaporation
and chemical addition		 Lower than
1500ppm		 -cloudy water
-sanitizer efficiency
-eye irritation
-taste problems		 None -Higher than
1500ppm,
drain 1/3-1/2
pool & add
fresh water		 -Spas tend to have more of a problem with this due to bather load vs. gallons of water
METALS amount of metals (iron
& copper are seen the
most)		 Zero -discolored water
-high sanitizer usage
-staining		 None -Use Baq Out
for Baquacilpools or a
metal chelator
for chlorine
pools		 -Use 1 bot Baq Out per 10,000 gal if reading is 2ppm or less.
-Use 2 bot Baq Out per 10,000 gal if reading is over 2ppm