Swimming Pool Chemistry

Step 1: Test for total and free chlorine.
Your free chlorine should be between 2.0 and 4.0 PPM. You'll test this using your water
test kit that I referenced above. Follow directions on the testing package. Add chlorine if
it's necessary.

Step 2: Test your total alkalinity
Measure the water's total alkalinity. This figure should be in the range of 80 to 150 ppm;
100 to 120 ppm is best. Adjust the total alkalinity by adding sodium bicarbonate (baking
soda) to raise it or sodium bisulfate (dry acid) to lower it.

Step 3: Test your calcium hardness. This should be between 200-400 PPM.
Following package directions add calcium carbonate dehydrate to raise calcium hardness; add
sodium hexametaphosphate to lower it. Carefully pour the chemical mixture into the pool at
various spots a foot or two (about half a meter) away from the sides of the pool.

Step 4: Test for pH. Your pH should be between 7.2 and 7.8.
Just remember, if it's lower that this you can cause equipment issues and also irritate your
skin. If it's higher than this you will those nasty "rings" around the water line of your
pool. To lower the pH, add sodium bisulfate or liquid muriatic acid. To raise it, add soda
ash (sodium carbonate).
Add more chemicals as needed until the water is in balance.
Treating Water With Chlorine…
Scoop chlorine granules into water in a nonmetal container, following package directions.
Always wear goggles and rubber gloves when handling chlorine, and always put the
chlorine into the water--don't pour the water over the chlorine.
Stir for about 30 seconds, and leave for 30 minutes to settle.
Turn on the filter. Reaching as far into the middle of the pool as possible (perhaps by
standing on a diving board), pour the chlorine into the pool. Discard any sediment left in
the container.
Add chlorine three to four times a week for a pool in heavy use. Always test your water
before adding chlorine!
If you can, try and use liquid chlorine. It will penetrate the water quicker and will have
an immediate impact!
Occasionally--no more than once a week--you may need to super chlorinate (also called
shock) the pool to burn any built-up bacteria, algae and ammonia. Following chlorine
package directions, make a solution for super chlorination (it will be three to five times as
strong as normal chlorine).
9
Add the chlorine solution to the pool after sundown, if possible, as the sun's ray's break
down chlorine.
Before allowing anyone to go in the pool, test the residual chlorine level to make sure it
has gone back down below 3.0 ppm. This will take at least several hours.

Visit us for more information
http://www.caymanpoolmanagement.com