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.
6Step 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.
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.
6Step 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.
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