FAQ & HANDY HINTS
HOW DO I CALCULATE HOW MUCH WATER IS IN MY POOL?
Learn how to calculate the volume of water in your swimming pool. All you need to know are the measurements and the depth of your pool. The tables below will help you to calculate how many litres your pool holds.
WHAT IS TOTAL ALKALINITY?
Total alkalinity is the total concentration of bases and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in water expressed as parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per litre (mg/L) of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). These bases are usually bicarbonates (HCO3) and carbonates (CO3), and they act as a buffer system that prevents drastic changes in pH. The desired range is 80ppm to 160ppm depending on the pool surface. Ask your Pool Pro Professional what the correct range is for your pool.
Low Alkalinity increases the sensitivity of pH. Water with a low Alkalinity level can quickly go from a high pH to a low pH and then back again. This is called pH bounce and it can be damaging to the pool and equipment. To adjust Total Alkalinity up use Pool Pro Buffer.
High Total Alkalinity decreases the sensitivity of pH. The result is usually high pH and lower chlorine efficiency. It can also result in scale formation and cloudy water. Use Pool Pro Hydrochloric Acid or Pool Pro Dry Acid to lower Total Alkalinity when it is too high. Your Pool Pro Professional can give you the correct dosages. If you are adjusting both pH and Total Alkalinity, adjust the Total Alkalinity first.
Your Test Kit Reagents should be less than one year old for reliable readings. Keep the test kit in a cool dry place, away from sunlight and preferably keep it refrigerated. If you are using Pool Check Test Strips they have a use-by date on the label.
AS WITH ALL CHEMICALS KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN AND STORE IN A COOL DRY PLACE. NEVER MIX CHEMICALS AND NEVER ADD WATER TO CHEMICALS, ALWAYS ADD CHEMICALS TO WATER.
Low Alkalinity increases the sensitivity of pH. Water with a low Alkalinity level can quickly go from a high pH to a low pH and then back again. This is called pH bounce and it can be damaging to the pool and equipment. To adjust Total Alkalinity up use Pool Pro Buffer.
High Total Alkalinity decreases the sensitivity of pH. The result is usually high pH and lower chlorine efficiency. It can also result in scale formation and cloudy water. Use Pool Pro Hydrochloric Acid or Pool Pro Dry Acid to lower Total Alkalinity when it is too high. Your Pool Pro Professional can give you the correct dosages. If you are adjusting both pH and Total Alkalinity, adjust the Total Alkalinity first.
Your Test Kit Reagents should be less than one year old for reliable readings. Keep the test kit in a cool dry place, away from sunlight and preferably keep it refrigerated. If you are using Pool Check Test Strips they have a use-by date on the label.
AS WITH ALL CHEMICALS KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN AND STORE IN A COOL DRY PLACE. NEVER MIX CHEMICALS AND NEVER ADD WATER TO CHEMICALS, ALWAYS ADD CHEMICALS TO WATER.
WHAT IS WATER HARDNESS?
Water hardness is the quantity of Calcium and Magnesium in the water. The natural hardness of water varies from source to source throughout Australia and naturally other countries. High levels cause cloudy water, scaling of equipment and calcium deposits on pool surfaces. Low levels can lead to etching in plaster pools and equipment corrosion.
The recommended range in plaster pools is 200 – 250ppm (Parts per million). In Vinyl Lined, Painted and Fibreglass pools the recommended range is 175 – 225 ppm.
Pool Pro Hardness Raiser will help to increase pool water to the correct level. Follow the instructions from your Pool Pro Professional and the instructions on the packaging. As a preventative to assist in helping to halt Calcium build up in your pool use Pool Pro Calcium Stopper which assists in keeping the Calcium in suspension. For pool water already high in hardness then the use of Pool Pro Calcium Reducer will assist in removing Calcium out of the water. Your Pool Pro Professional is able to test your water hardness level and advise you of the solution.
The recommended range in plaster pools is 200 – 250ppm (Parts per million). In Vinyl Lined, Painted and Fibreglass pools the recommended range is 175 – 225 ppm.
Pool Pro Hardness Raiser will help to increase pool water to the correct level. Follow the instructions from your Pool Pro Professional and the instructions on the packaging. As a preventative to assist in helping to halt Calcium build up in your pool use Pool Pro Calcium Stopper which assists in keeping the Calcium in suspension. For pool water already high in hardness then the use of Pool Pro Calcium Reducer will assist in removing Calcium out of the water. Your Pool Pro Professional is able to test your water hardness level and advise you of the solution.
HOW TO TELL IF YOUR SALT WATER CHLORINATOR IS WORKING PROPERLY
Your chlorinator is a miniature liquid chlorine manufacturing plant. Firstly we must understand the process of salt water chlorination. The action of brine (salty water) passing through the salt cell causes electrosis which in layman’s terms creates liquid chlorine (Sodium Hypochlorite) that is then returned to the pool via the eyeball.
There are other methods of checking which are more involved; however, we believe these two tests will give you a fairly good indication. If you believe your chlorinator is not working after performing these tests, either contact the manufacturer for help, or, call your Pool Pro Professional.
This information is given without prejudice and has been supplied to Pool Pro in good faith. As Pool Pro Products are unable to make site visits and cannot ascertain the actual problem visually, or by making their own assessments, or by calling in a specialist in this field, Pool Pro Products takes no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
- The easiest way to ascertain if the chlorinator is working is to make sure the cell is clean by checking the needle or production lights.
- Ensure there is enough salt in the pool.
- On the chlorinator box there should be a light or dial that indicates it is working.
- Take your test kit and place your thumb over the test tube. Then place it right into the eyeball and take the water.
- Test the water that water has just left the chlorinator - it should have a very high chlorine reading. (Remember that if it is extremely high it may bleach the test tablet so you may have to dilute the water you are testing). If there is no chlorine reading, the chlorinator will not be working.
- If you have been dosing with chlorine you won’t know. So, wait until you have a nil reading of chlorine and then perform the test.
There are other methods of checking which are more involved; however, we believe these two tests will give you a fairly good indication. If you believe your chlorinator is not working after performing these tests, either contact the manufacturer for help, or, call your Pool Pro Professional.
This information is given without prejudice and has been supplied to Pool Pro in good faith. As Pool Pro Products are unable to make site visits and cannot ascertain the actual problem visually, or by making their own assessments, or by calling in a specialist in this field, Pool Pro Products takes no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
WHAT IS SUPERCHLORINATION OR SHOCK TREATMENT?
Shock Treatment is an additional boost of Chlorine every two weeks which will help with maintaining the chlorine levels in chlorine or salt water pools, especially during very hot weather or following heavy bather loads. Shock Treatment is adding double the normal dose of chlorine. Always add chemicals in the evening. Superchlorination is usually four times the normal dose of chlorine.
Remember salt water pools also need shock treatment and superchlorination from time to time. Shock treatment is recommended weekly in the hot summer months.Pool Pro has a number of shock treatments available. Which one you use will depend on:
Remember salt water pools also need shock treatment and superchlorination from time to time. Shock treatment is recommended weekly in the hot summer months.Pool Pro has a number of shock treatments available. Which one you use will depend on:
- Whether your pool is a Salt Pool or a Chlorine Pool
- What the level of your Stabiliser is
- Your pool surface
WHAT IS WINTERISING?
It is maintaining your pool during winter. Don’t simply turn the filter off and forget the pool for 3 or 4 months. This is false economy because the time, effort and money needed to get the pool water correctly adjusted next season, will be far more than the little needed to maintain it during winter.
- Thoroughly backwash the filter. If it is a cartridge filter, clean it with Pool Pro Filter Cleaner. Ensure that the skimmer basket and the hair and lint pot are free of debris. Lubricate all O-rings with Inox Non Melt Rubber Grease available from your Pool Pro Professional. There should be a strong flow of water returning to the pool when the filter is turned on.
- Adjust the total alkalinity level with Pool Pro Buffer, if the level is below 80 – 120 ppm.
- Adjust the pH to 7.2 to 7.6 by adding Pool Pro Hydrochloric Acid if the level is too high, or Pool Pro pH Increaser if it’s too low. It is a good idea to mix the chemicals with a full bucket of water before adding it to the pool. Remember to always add the acid to the water and never in amounts of more than 500ml. With Pool Pro pH Increaser and Pool Pro Hydrochloric Acid or Pool Pro Dry Acid always add the minimum amount recommended and then check again to avoid pH bounce.
- Mix 500 grams of Pool Pro Granular Chlorine and thoroughly dissolve, and dispose of any residue left in the bottom of the bucket, or 750ml of Pool Pro Liquid Chlorine with a bucket of water and add it to the pool.
- Mix 750ml – 1L of Pool Pro Black Spot Remover (which is a long life algaecide that is specifically designed for winterising) and add it to the pool. Follow the instructions on the label carefully.
- Adjust the timer to allow the filter to operate for 4 hours each day. The total water in your pool should be turned over (filtered) twice per day or once each filtration cycle.
- If the pool is equipped with a salt chlorinator, clean the cell with a Pool Pro Cell Cleaner. Adjust the control to the ½ production setting. This is dependent on the setup of the chlorinator. Always check with your Pool Pro Professional.
- Having carried out these procedures, it should only be necessary to check the chlorine level every two weeks and empty the skimmer basket if it has a build up of leaves etc.
- Check occasionally to ensure the water level is half way up the skimmer box opening and that the Pool Pro Pressure Gauge on the filter is not indicating that a backwash is required.