Swimming Pool Troubleshooting

Basic Pool Vocabulary

Acid: A chemical which lowers pH when added to water. AQUA PH MINUS is 100% sodium bisulfate (dry acid).

Algae: Microscopic aquatic plant life which can grow on pool surfaces or float free in the water. AQUA WHAM-O is a highly concentrated algaecide recommended to kill algae.

Base: A cemical which raises pH when added to water. AQUA PH PLUS is 100% sodium carbonate (soda ash).

Bacteria: One celled organisms, some of which cause disease and/or infection. Without proper sanitation, pool water surfaces are perfect breeding grounds for bacteria.

Bromine: An alternative sanitizer to chlorine. Excellent for indoor pools and bathers sensitive to cholrine.

Calcium Hardness: The quantity of calcium dissolved in water (the correct level is 150-300ppm). High levels promote scale and cloudy water. Low levels result in a corrosive condition. Raise calcium hardness with AQUA CAL.

Chlorine: The sanitizer and oxidizer most commonly used in swimming pools. AQUA CHLORINE comes in both stabilized and unstabilized forms.

Chloramines: The compound formed when chlorine combines with nitrogenous waste such as urine and perspiration. Chloramines cause eye irritation and emit an unpleasant odour.

Organic Wastes: Nitrogen and ammonia-bearing compounds such as urine, saliva, perspiration, body oils, and suntan lotions that are continuously introduced into pool water by swimmers. Most organic wastes will not filter out and much be chemically removed (oxidized) with a periodic shock treatment.

pH: The measurement of water's relative acidity and basicity. The pH range is from 0 to 14; 7 is neutral. pH values below 7 are acidic and values higher then 7 are basic. The recommended pH for pool water is 7.2 to 7.8.

Residual: The amount of a compound existing in water, usually expressed as parts per million (ppm).

Sanitizer: A chemical compound, such as cholrine, which disinfects (kills bacteria), kills algae, and oxidizes organic matter.

Shock: The process of introducing significant quantities of oxidizer to water to bring about the chemical destruction of excess organic wastes.

Total Alkalinity (TA): The amount of bicarconate, carbonate, and hydroxides present in water. TA acts as pH buffer. Proper pool TA is 100-150ppm. Raise total alkalinity with AQUA TROL.

PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSES SOLUTIONS
Black Algae Spots Mustard Algae Insufficient cholrine or bromine Add 5 to 10 times the normal amount of AQUA SHOCK. Then add AQUA WHAM-O to kill and prevent any further occurrences. For severe cases use AQUA ELIMINATOR.
Cloudy Water High pH
Early Algae Formation
Poor Filtration		 Test and adjust the pH so that it is within 7.2 - 7.8. Add AQUA SHOCK, AQUA EASY SHOCK or AQUA BRITE PLUS as per instructions. Check that filter is clean and operating properly. Add AQUA SUPER CLARIFIER, AQUA KLEAR TABS, or AQUA SPARKLING CLEAR.
Chlorine Odour
Skin Irritation		 pH imbalance
Chloramines		 Adjust pH with AQUA pH PLUS or AQUA pH MINUS. Add AQUA SHOCK, AQUA EASY SHOCK or AQUA BRITE PLUS.
Coloured Water
Corrosion of Metal Parts		 Low Total Alkalinity
Low pH		 Add AQUA COP-OUT to prevent stanning. Add AQUA TROL until Total Alkalinity is within in the ideal range. Add AQUA pH PLUS until the pH is within the ideal range.
Eye Irritation Low Total Alkalinity
Low pH
Higher Chloramines		 Raise Alkalinity using AQUA TROL. Adjust pH with AQUA pH PLUS or AQUA pH MINUS. Add AQUA SHOCK, AQUA EASY SHOCK or AQUA BRITE PLUS.
Green or Brown Algae Insufficient cholrine or bromine. Add 3 to 5 times the normal addition of AQUA SHOCK. Then add AQUA WHAM-O to kill and prevent any further occurrence. For severe cases, use AQUA ELIMINATOR.
High Chorine or Bromin Consumption

High bathing load
High temperature
Heavy rainfall
Low Alkalinity

 Add AQUA SHOCK, AQUA EASY SHOCK or AQUA BRITE PLUS to ensure safe sanitizer levels. Adjust Alkalinity.
Scale Formation

High Mineral content
High pH

 Test and balance the water. To prevent further scale formation, add AQUA COP-OUT.
Staining Low pH
Low Total Alkalinity
High metal content in fill water
High pH		 Test and balance the water. Perform a metal test and add AQUA COP-OUT as needed. Use AQUA COP-OUT on a regular basis.

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