Balanced water is held safely between two harmful extremes. If water falls out of balance on the low side, it becomes corrosive, attacking pool surfaces and equipment. If it should rise out of balance on the high side, scale buildup can occur leaving unsightly deposits. Out of blance water can also cause skin and eye irritation, staining, cloudy water and will interfere with the sanitizer's effectiveness.
Water Balance Factors
pH
pH is the most important factor in water balance. When the pool's pH is out of range, water balance problems may occur as mentioned above. The pH range is used to measure the relative acid or base of the water. The range is between 0 to 14, with a pH of 7 being neutral. Readings between 7.2 and 7.6 are considered acceptable for swimming pool water.
Total Alkalinity
Total Alkalinity (range 80-150 ppm) is a measure of the alkaline materials dissolved in the water. The water's ability to resist pH changes depends on the amount of this alkaline material in the water. If the total alkalinity is low, the result is "pH bounce", meaning that the pH will tend to "bounce" in and out of range. If total alkalinity is too high, it becomes very difficult to adjust the pH as needed.
Calcium Hardness
Calcium Hardness (range 175-275 ppm) refers to the amount of dissolved materials (mostly calcium carbonate) in water. A low Calcium Hardness can lead to corrosion of equipment or the etching of a plaster finish. A Calcium Hardness level that is too high causes cloudy water and scaling.
Why Stabilizer is Important
Without stabilizer, the sun's rays would quickly destroy the chlorine in your pool. Stabilizer acts as a "sun shield" to make the chlorine last longer... up to 3 1/2 times longer! Your dealer will tell you how much stabilizer to add to your newly opened pool. You should start by raising the minimum level to 40 parts per million (ppm). Afterwards, simply use stabilized chlorine to maintain the proper stabilizer levels.
pool chemical guide > sanitizing your pool
