FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WATER CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICALS

Table of Contents

1. How do I raise my Total Alkalinity?

2. What do I do to decrease Total Alkalinity?

3. What are the best ranges for PH, Total Alkalinity and Chlorine?

4. How do I lower my PH?

5. How do I raise my calcium?

6. How do I raise my chlorine?

7. How much stabilizer do I need to add?

8. What do I do to super chlorinate my pool?

9. What about Green Algae?

10. What about Black Algae?

11. What about Mustard Algae?

12. What about Pink Slime?

13. Can I control Water Mold?

14. My animals swim in the pool.  How do I rid the insects from the water?

15. How do I control my Chlorine demand?

16. How do I treat cloudy water?

17. What causes discolored water and I do I treat it?

18. What is causing my filtration problems?

19. What do I do about pool odor and eye irritation?

20. What do I do about scale build up?

21. How do I stop the etching in the pool?

22. What causes Liners to wrinkle?

23. What causes bleaching?

24. What causes a Tar/Pool Goo problem?

25. How do I handle stains?

26. How do I handle testing problems?

27. What causes Foaming?

28. Why is hair turning green?

29. What problems does rain bring?

30. What causes Skin rashes?

31. What is causing water loss?

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How do I raise my Total Alkalinity?

Use Balance Pak 100, which is Bicarb.  Add 1 1/2 lbs per 10,000 gals to raise 10 ppm.

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What do I do to decrease my Total Alkalinity?

Add 1.60 pints of acid per 10,000 gals.

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What are the best ranges for PH, Chlorine and Total Alkalinity?

PH - 7.4-7.6
TA - 125-150
CH - Plaster pool, 200-275 and a Vinyl pool, 175-225

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How do I lower my PH ?

Use Lo'N Slo/Dry Acid
PH - 7.2-7.6 OK
PH - 7.7-8.0  Add 3/4 lbs
PH - 8.1-8.4  Add 1.25 lbs
PH - 8.4-above  Add 1 1/2 lbs

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How do I raise my calcium?

Use Balance Pak 300
1 lb per 10,000 gallons to raise 10 ppm

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How do I raise my chlorine?

Add tabs or sticks to skimmer or shock the pool.

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How much stabilizer do I add?

1 lb per 4,000 gals - increases to 30 ppm

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What do I do to super chlorinate my pool?

When super chlorinating to remove algae, use 65% Chlorine. 
Pool Shock/Burn Out 35 - 4 lbs per 10,000 gals in a White Plaster pool
Vinyl Pools use Burn Out.  Dilute well and pour the liquid, but not the granules into the Vinyl pool.
Use 4 lbs. per 10,000 gallons.

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What about Green Algae?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Green Algae		Murky green water, possibly some growth		Low sanitizer Poor maintenance Environmental Poor Circulation		Spot Kill or Burn Out and Back-Up Clean Filter Check System

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What about Black Algae?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Black Algae		Rough black spots on bottom that brush with effort		Low sanitizer Poor maintenance Environmental Poor Circulation		Spot Kill and brushing Clean Filter Check System

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What about Mustard Algae?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Mustard Algae		Yellowish-gold growth that easily brushes away. Yellowish green water.		Low sanitizer Poor maintenance Environmental Poor Circulation		Brush Mustard Buster (Use according to label's instructions)

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What about Pink Slime?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Pink Slime		Bright pink slimy bacterial growth that brushes easily		Low sanitizer, Pool maintenance, Environmental Poor Circulation		Spot Kill and brushing Clean the filter Check the System

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Can I control Water Mold?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Water Mold		White mucous or tissue paper-like substance.		Low sanitizer Poor maintenance Environmental Poor Circulation		Spot Kill or Burn Out and Back-Up Clean Filter Check System

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My animals swim in the pool.  How do I rid the insects from the pool?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Animals and insects		Water bugs, ducks, dogs, frogs, etc. taking a dip		Environmental		Burnout to eliminate organic contamination. Back-Up to discourage water bugs.

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How do I control my chlorine demand?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Chlorine Demand		Unable to maintain free chlorine level or cannot break high combined chlorine		Foreign or environmental contaminants/Poor maintenance		Burn Out Burn Out 35

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How do I treat cloudy water?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Cloudy Water		Hazy or extremely cloudy.  Difficulty seeing the bottom.		Poor filtration and circulation		Check pump and filter. Clean and run the pump continuously.
				Chloramines or low sanitizer		Add Burn Out or Burn Out 35
				Poor water balance		Balance the water.  Bring a sample in to the store.
				Particulate matter		Polysheen Blue and Sparkle-Up or Power Floc

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What causes colored water and how do I treat it?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Gray, clear green, or turquoise		Copper		Equipment corrosion, Outside contamination, Fill Water, Use of Copper Algaecide		Pool Magnet Plus and Sparkle-Up
Coffee Brown or Purple		Manganese		Outside contamination, Fill Water		Pool Magnet Plus and Sparkle-Up
Reddish-brown or rust		Iron		Outside contamination, Fill Water		Pool Magnet Plus and Sparkle-Up

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What is causing my filtration problems?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Filtration Problem		Clogging Filter or short filter runs		Dirty filter, media not cleaned, improper amount of filter media		Replace filter media.  Clean with Kleen-It or Strip Kwik

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What do I do about pool odor and eye irritation?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Odor and Eye Irritation		Pool has a sharp irritating odor		Chloramines, perspiration, oils, urine, lotions		Burn Out, Burn Out 35, Oxysheen

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What do I do about scale build up?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Scale Buildup		Sandpaper like buildup on surface grayish or tan and difficult to brush		Improper water balance High Total Alkalinity, pH or Chlorine		Scale Inhibitor Balance Water Acid Wash

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How do I stop etching in the pool?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Etching		Pitting of plaster surfaces		Improper water balance Low Total Alkalinity, pH or Chlorine		Balance Water Replace place surface

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What causes liners to wrinkle?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Liner Wrinkling		Wrinkles in vinyl liner		Improper water balance Low Total Alkalinity, pH or Chlorine		Balance Water Replace Liner

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What causes bleaching?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Bleaching		Pale to white and spotty discoloration on the surface		Improper chemical addition		Replace liner repaint surface Pre-dissolve dry substances before addition

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What causes a Tar/Pool Goo problem?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Tar/Pool Goo		Dark sticky substance on surface of walls and floor of vinyl pool		Water in reaction with new liner. Plasticizers coming from liner		Burn Out Burn Out 35 Frequent brushing

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How do I handle staining?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Staining		Black, green, turquoise, brown spots on bottom that do not brush up		Metal Stains		Pool Magnet Plus
				Fungus under liner		Pull up liner and clean from underneath
				Tannic Acid Stains (leaves and debris)		Burn out or Burn Out 35

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How do I handle testing problems?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Reagent Bleaching		Color of test fades to clear		High Chlorine or Bromine levels		Add up to 5 drops of Chlorine Neutralizer
Reagent Discoloration		Reagent color is different than it should be example:  pH Test turns purple, DPD turns brown		Interference from high sanitizer level Old test reagents		Add up to 5 drops of Chlorine Neutralizer Replace reagents

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What causes Foaming?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Foaming		Bubbles on pool surface		Excessive algaecide Foreign substance		Anti-Foam Determine source and drain if necessary

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Why is hair turning green?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Green Hair		Blonde hair turns green after swimming		Copper		Pool Magnet Plus in pool Lemon juice or vinegar in hair to remove color

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What effects does rain have on a pool?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Rain		Rain washes debris into pool and raises water level, increases sanitizer demand		Environmental		Rebalance water after circulating 24 hours Burn Out Burn Out 35

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What causes skin rashes?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Skin Rash		Rash- spots appear on torso approximately 24-36 hours after using spa or pool Irritation, mild discomfort		Bacterial contamination     Poor Water Balance		Spas - drain, refill, triple shock, circulate, drain and rebalance.  Consult physician for rash Balance water

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What causes water loss?

Problem Type		Description		Possible Causes		Solution
Water loss		Less than 1/2" daily		Evaporation		Solar cover
		1/2" to 1" daily		Active bather load, evaporation		Solar cover
		Over 1" daily		Possible leak		Professional assistance

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Copyright © 2002  Cardinal Aquatech Pools. All rights reserved.
Revised: 12/01/06.