{"id":860,"date":"2022-08-04T17:39:15","date_gmt":"2022-08-04T21:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jfpiscines.com\/?p=860"},"modified":"2022-08-04T17:39:15","modified_gmt":"2022-08-04T21:39:15","slug":"the-ultimate-pool-chemical-cheat-sheet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jfpiscines.com\/en\/2022\/08\/the-ultimate-pool-chemical-cheat-sheet\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Pool Chemical Cheat Sheet"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re new to pool maintenance, having to deal with the plethora of pool chemicals that you need to keep in storage can be a bit overwhelming. But don\u2019t worry \u2014 the more maintenance you do, the easier it gets! Below is the most complete pool chemical cheat sheet to help you through your journey to having the cleanest and safest pool of the neighbourhood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Chlorine<\/b><\/h2>\n

Chlorine<\/a> is often perceived as the most important chemical when it comes to pool sanitation, because of its antiseptic properties. It lowers the risk of algae and bacteria growth, and makes the pool safe to swim in. Because chlorine tends to break down much faster in hot weather and regular pool use, consider checking your chlorine levels more often on bright sunny days.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Desired Range<\/h3>\n

Aim to keep your chlorine levels between the 1.0 to 4.0 ppm. Any lower, and the water will turn green, emanate a strong chlorine smell, cause rashes on the skin, and irritate the eyes. Any higher, and the water may bleach your liner\/bathing suits, and will cause skin irritation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Types of Chlorine\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Tablets: 1\u201d or 3\u201d tablets dispensed in floaters or in an in-line chlorine feeder .<\/p>\n

Salt: Added to water in conjunction with a Salt System.<\/p>\n

pH<\/b><\/h2>\n

Your pool\u2019s pH levels<\/a> determine whether or not your chlorine is functioning properly. Because of this, maintaining your pH levels is crucial for swimmers\u2019 health. If your pH levels aren\u2019t within the range of the human eye and mucous membrane, then your pool water might cause irritated eyes and skin to those swimming in it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Desired Range<\/h3>\n

Aim to keep your pH levels between 7.2 and 7.8. Any lower and you my have to deal with corrosion of metal pool equipment as well as irritation of eyes, nose, and throat. Any higher and you\u2019ll be dealing with a loss of effectiveness of the chlorine. In order to raise the pH, get pH Up products. Similarly, get pH Down products in order to lower it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alkaline<\/b><\/h2>\n

Alkaline is a great way of ensuring that your pH levels aren\u2019t bouncing all over the place. It\u2019s a chemical that will allow your chlorine and pH levels to remain stable, so you won\u2019t have to use as much. This is especially useful when we\u2019re going through a chlorine shortage!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Desired Range<\/h3>\n

For salt systems, aim to keep your alkalinity between 80-120 ppm. For chlorine tablet systems, aim to keep it between 100-150ppm. If you don\u2019t stay within these ranges, you risk having to deal with metal stain as well as water discolouration. Keep in mind that you should never add more than 5lbs of alkaline at a time or within 12 hours of a shock treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Shock<\/b><\/h2>\n

Pool shock is basically just extremely concentrated chlorine, but can also contain algaecide. It\u2019s used for maintenance and should be added to your pool once you notice that the water is getting cloudy or green. It can also improve the amount of free chlorine. It can be added directly into the water.<\/p>\n

Types of Shock\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

There are two different types of shock: liquid and granular. Liquid shock is added in front of return jets in the deep end of your pool. Granular shock, on the other hand, should be dissolved in water before being added. If you\u2019re feeling iffy about adding such high levels of chlorine, you can substitute your shock treatment for oxidizer. It\u2019s a non-chlorine shock and is a great option for those wanting to avoid chlorine. It also acts very quickly as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stabilizer<\/b><\/h2>\n

Stabilizer, also called chlorine stabilizer or cyanuric acid, stabilizes the chlorine in your pool and helps your sanitizer last longer. This means that you won\u2019t have to add chemicals to clean your pool as often. Your pool will be clean for a longer period of time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Desired Range<\/h3>\n

Ideally, your stabilizer should be within a range of 50-80ppm for a saltwater pool. As for chlorine pools, you should only add 1lb for every 4000 gallons. Should your stabilizer be lower than the recommended range, your chlorine won\u2019t be effective for as long. Too high, and you\u2019re going to have to go through the arduous process of fixing a chlorine lock.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Algaecide<\/b><\/h2>\n

Algaecide helps you remove or prevent algae from growing in your pool. Oftentimes, when your pool water starts to grow algae, it can be pretty difficult to get rid of it. Although algae itself isn\u2019t dangerous for swimmers\u2019 health, it does promote bacteria that can be harmful. Algaecide can be added to your pool on a weekly basis on order to avoid your water turning green. It can be directly added into the water.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Types of Algaecide\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

There are many different types of algaecide:<\/p>\n