watchdog

Can anyone tell me the correct method of testing & adjusting swimming pool water. It seems everytime I adjust one thing to be correct it puts another thing out.

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xnavyman

I used to have a pool test kit. Testing the ph levels and then adjusting according to the directions. Used to always work for me.

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niftyned

First thing to do is throw in some stabiliser this will make it easier to get it right but it is a never ending juggling act that you will be performing always.

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xnavyman

....especially when the ankle biters piss in it.

You should have a chart that tells you the right amount of and type of chemicals to add for every reading.

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viper5150

Get yourself a test kit and go from there. It wont tell you how much to add but at least it will tell you whats out. There are a lot of variables that affect the water like temperature, solar heating and obviously pools size so there is no exact amount to add. Better off going in smaller amounts and adding a few times rather that just throwing a lot in and going too far. Leave 24 hrs and retest before adding more.

Failing that your local pool shop should be able to steer you in the right direction, especially if you know the volume of the pool.

Be careful adding some chemicals though. When we were kids my parents threw something in and it turned my sisters and neighbors hair green.

viewer

Yes,use a test kit, but more importantly, ensure you have your filtration running the right amount of time,for the volume of water you have, and make sure you backwash regularly

RHCP

What parameters are you having trouble with? Most pool shops will give free water tests and give a breakdown of what you need to do.

If your pH is bouncing around, check your total alkalinity - or in particular bicarbonate/buffering alkalinity. If this is too low, small amounts of acid or base can have a large effect on pH and you may get stains and corrosion.
The other thing to remember is that addition of chlorine (depending on it's form and strength) can significantly raise pH.

An adequate level of cyanuric acid in the pool will greatly reduce the amount of chlorine and hence other chemicals needed (unless indoor - in which case it can't be used). On a bright sunny day, without CA, half of the total chlorine can disappear in only 30 minutes.

Be wary of pool shops trying to sell you this product, or that product especially for 'shocking' - dry chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) is the only thing you need when shocking.

Cheers.

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nomeat

I have been using saltwater chlorinators for 8 years and never had to worry about adjusting anything with chemicals, just adjusted the salt level after heavy rain.

Only once a year cyanuric acid in summer and a kilo or two of baking soda if needed after a long heavy rain season.
I check with the test strips from BigW.
After a pool shop "advised" me to use chemicals every day/week/whatever instead of a saltwater chlorinator I decided never to step into a pool shop again
... and I never needed too.

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