Which Chemicals do you need to Balance your Pool?

The following is general advice only. Requirements for individual pools and pool systems may vary.

Pool and spa water requires the help of chemicals to ensure the water is balanced and safe to swim in.

Water that is not properly balanced can affect your pool’s surface or equipment, leading to premature decomposition or deterioration, aesthetic issues or equipment malfunction, for example.

Additionally, imbalanced or inadequately sanitised water can be a breeding ground for bacteria and algae and can cause discomfort for swimmers’ eyes or skin.

So, what do you need to do to ensure your pool’s water is properly balanced?

Sanitiser

Firstly, test the water’s sanitisation. Chlorine is the most common sanitiser for pools. Ensuring your chlorine levels are within the recommended range (between 2.5 - 3 parts per million) will ensure most bacteria and algae in the pool’s water is eliminated.

The other key indicators that affect the water’s sanitisation and can lead to imbalanced water are:

pH

The ideal range for pH, or potential hydrogen, is between 7.2 to 7.6 for pools and 7.6 to 7.8 for spas. Your sanitiser is most effective when your pH is within the recommended range.

Alkalinity or Buffer

Alkalinity or buffer helps control your pH. The ideal range for your pool’s alkalinity is between 80 and 120 parts per million. Keeping your pool’s alkalinity within this range will help stabilise your pool’s pH. If your total alkalinity is low, it may cause your pH to fluctuate, reduce the effectiveness of your sanitiser, and cause irritation for swimmers.

Hydrochloric Acid

Hydrochloric acid also controls the pool water’s pH levels. Hydrochloric acid is effective at reducing your pool’s pH level if it is too high.

Cyanuric Acid (or stabiliser)

Cyanuric acid acts like a sunscreen for your chlorine by preventing chlorine evaporation caused by the sun’s UV rays. For a pool without a pool cover, the idea range is between 30 and 60 parts per million. Low levels of cyanuric acid may cause reduced sanitation and high levels cyanuric acid may reduce the sanitiser’s effectiveness.

Calcium Chloride

Calcium chloride prevents calcium staining and corrosion and is added when the pool’s water is low in calcium hardness. The ideal range for calcium hardness is between 200 and 250 parts per million. If calcium hardness is too high, the water may need to be drained and diluted. High calcium hardness can lead to calcium buildup and equipment corrosion over time.

Phosphate Treatment

Phosphate treatment removes food for algae, thereby preventing algae growth. The ideal phosphate level is below 0.2 parts per millions. The appropriate phosphate treatment for your pool will depend on you phosphate level as different strength treatments are available depending.

Salt / Mineral

Salt / minerals allow the chlorinator to produce chlorine. The ideal level depends on the pool’s specific chlorinator.

We recommend adding Aquaguard CSM every six months or when adding five or more bags of salt /minerals to your pool for added protection of your pool’s equipment.