As a new swimming pool owner you probably feel there is so much to learn and familiarise yourself with – this is true, but if you start out on the right foot, pool maintenance and water treatment will become easy to maintain in the long term.

The biggest learning curve with pool ownership tends to be the water chemistry, so we have put together a brief guide we hope you find helpful.

Guide to the chemicals in a new pool

A simple system to help pool owners learn about proper water balance is the Blue Horizons ‘BOAST’ system. This system will help you remember the key points in achieving safe, clear and clean water:

B  =  Balance your pool water for bather comfort and maximum chemical efficiency. This includes adjusting the pH level up or down as required, raising Total Alkalinity and Calcium Hardness when necessary. All the products you need to adjust your swimming pool water balance can be found here.

O = Oxidise to establish a sanitiser level then weekly to destroy waste compounds. Chlorine is the most common sanitiser used in swimming pools, which kills bacteria and keeps the water safe and clean. Shock Chlorine is used to raise the sanitiser level quickly (and to kill algae off if present). TIP: if the pool is heated, Quick Dissolve Shock does not need to be pre-dissolved, so will save you time and energy!

A = Algae prevention, stop algae establishing itself in your pool water. Using a long-life algaecide such as Kleen Pool or Lo Chlor Pool Algaecide will help keep the pool free from algae for up to 6 months. Or use All Swim Algicide for weekly dosing. To view our complete range of swimming pool algicides, clarifiers and cleaners click here.

S =  Sanitise, maintain a constant sanitiser level to prevent and kill bacteria. Stabilised chlorine (Cyanachlor) in the form of either granules to be pre-dissolved in water or tablets with a floating dispenser are used for regular dosing. To view our complete range of chlorine water treatment chemicals click here.

T  = Test your water frequently, you really don’t know what the levels are without testing! Test strips are extremely easy to use and provide an accurate reading of your water chemistry and there are also various test kits available to keep track of your water balance. To view our complete range of pool and hot tub water testing kits click here.

We also provide a FREE water sample testing service in our showroom, simply bring or send in a sample in a 500ml empty still mineral water bottle with your pool details and we’ll use a photometer to analyse the current water balance and we will then give you a free report detailing any recommended remedial action required.

If you are unsure of any element of swimming pool chemicals or water treatment please do not hesitate to contact us for further help and advice by calling 029 2070 5059.

Have you been looking for suitable alternatives to chlorine or bromine sanitisers for your swimming pool? Perhaps you suffer with sensitive skin and need a milder disinfectant for your water? Finding a suitable alternative to traditional sanitisers has never been easier with our Bayrol Soft & Easy range!

What is Bayrol Soft & Easy?

Bayrol Soft & Easy is a combination of granules based on active oxygen and algaecide that helps provide your pool with reliable pool water disinfection whilst helping prevent algae growth. In addition, Soft & Easy also contains a clarifier for enhanced sparkling water. Soft & Easy features handy sachets that you can use directly in your pool’s water once a week - an even simpler way to enjoy safe, swimming water without the need for Chlorine or Bromine!

How to use Bayrol Soft & Easy

Before you start using Bayrol Soft & Easy you will need to ensure the pH value of your water is between 7.0-7.4. Once the pH value is in range add a double dose of Soft & Easy to get started.

For regular maintenance add the required number of sachets on a weekly basis to your pool. After dosing, wait for a maximum of 1-2 hours before testing the water with an 02 pool tester and DPD No4 tablet. The desired level of Bayrol should be at least 8 mg/L. If this level is not achieved, repeat the dose of Bayrol, again, waiting to test between the 1-2 hour time limit.

How to shock with chlorine when using Bayrol Soft & Easy

Even though Bayrol Soft & Easy is totally chlorine free, it is recommended that a periodic shock dose of chlorine, especially for use as a problem solver, is used with this system. All Swim Shock is an ideal maintenance shock treatment for use with Bayrol Soft & Easy.

Please note: household cleaning products must not be used in your swimming pool or surrounding area, always use specially formulated, swimming pool friendly cleaning chemicals.

One of the most common issues pool owners are facing at the moment is the pool turning green and having to then spend time and money rectifying the problem. But what causes the problem and how can you prevent it?

Algae loves the sun!

The green colour in your swimming pool is caused by the presence of algae in the water. When conditions are right, algae blooms and the pool turns green; having out of balance water, warm temperatures, sunlight and the presence of phosphates all contribute to algae growth but so does the lack of good circulation, filtration and sanitisation.

If it’s all starting to sound like a lot of hard work, fear not, it is possible to keep your pool clear and free of algae with a little commitment to the cause. It is really important to regularly monitor and test the chlorine level and to then dose the water with the appropriate amount based on the volume of water your pool holds. Another essential step during this weather is to ensure your pump is turned on and the water is circulating – not turning the pump on will stop the chemicals from circulating and allow the algae to thrive! Chlorine does a great job of sanitising the water, keeping it free from bacteria and harmful organisms. But when the weather is hot and sunny and the pool is being used a lot, the demand for chlorine increases, so you will find that your usual dose is not as effective and your water balance is suffering.

How do I clear my green pool?

There is a handy guide to looking after your pool available on our website as well as step by step instructions for How To Clear A Green Pool.

By maintaining your chlorine at a level of 1 – 1.5mg or ppm (parts per million) consistently you will dramatically reduce the chance of algae taking hold, and save yourself the headache of battling it!

In addition to chlorine you can also utilise other chemicals to make algae control a breeze!

Lo-Chlor Algae Knock-Out is highly recommended for stubborn algae blooms it is a heavy duty, copper free, dual action formulation, guaranteed to kill even the most stubborn forms of algae!

Phosphates are a major food source for algae, high levels of which often result in a recurrence of stubborn algae in swimming pools. By removing the phosphates from the water, the algae cannot survive. Lo-Chlor Starver X is an effective superior strength liquid phosphate remover for use in swimming pools.

Kleen Pool Long-life Algicide will maintain your pool free of most algae for periods up to 6 months. One simple application will free you from the problems caused by algae blooms; discolouration and hazes which can affect the appearance of your pool. When your pool is not being used for swimming, such as holiday times and throughout winter, Kleen Pool will keep your pool clear and free of most algae without the use of other pool chemicals.

Further advice on water treatment and calculating the volume of your pool can all be found in our Water Treatment Guide as well.

Chlorine

When chlorine is added to pool or spa water a portion is consumed in the process when it destroys bacteria, algae and other contaminants introduced to the swimming pool or hot tub water. The amount of chlorine consumed is known as chlorine demand. Sunlight, bacteria, perspiration, urine, algae, make up, fake tan and many other forms of debris all create this chlorine demand.

Once this initial demand has been met, the chlorine that remains in the water is referred to as the total residual chlorine, which is a combination of free available chlorine and combined chlorine. The free available chlorine is the active chlorine that’s left to kill any new contaminants entering the pool or spa. Combined chlorine is tied up in nitrogen and ammonia compounds referred to as chloramines, which remain in the water from organic waste from swimmers and bathers. Chloramines are responsible for eye irritation and the chlorine odour that some people find offensive. When chlorine is tied up in chloramines it loses most of it’s effectiveness as a sanitiser.

To keep a swimming pool or hot tub sanitary with chlorine it is necessary to maintain the following free chlorine residuals:

• Residential Pools between 1.0 and 3.0ppm
• Commercial Pools between 1.5 and 2.0ppm using Calcium Hypochlorite or Liquid Chlorine, sometimes a little lower if using UV
• Residential & Commercial Hot tubs and Spas between 3.0 and 5.0ppm

When levels are kept within this range chlorine is able to control organisms as well as destroying any new contaminants entering the pool or hot tub.

Super Chlorination

Super chlorination is recommended as a weekly treatment if temperatures exceed 90 degrees, when your swimming pool or spa is receiving a heavy bather or swimmer load, is subject to long periods of rain or when high winds carry debris and pollen into your pool. Super chlorination is the addition of an extra dose of chlorine to pool or spa water, which brings the free available chlorine levels to 3.0 to 5.0ppm (Generally a super chlorination boosts the free chlorine level up to between 5 – 10ppm). This helps restore the chlorine’s ability to control algae and bacteria. Some algae spores can also become immune to small doses of sanitisers so super chlorination can help combat this.

Shock Treatment

Shock treatment is a larger dose of chlorine to bring the free available chlorine level up to 10ppm. This is intended to control visible algae, burn out organic swimmer and bather waste and destroy excess chloramines. When swimmers complain of burning eyes and a strong chlorine smell, it is due to excess chloramines and not enough free available chlorine residual in the water - not too much! The odour can also be even stronger if the pH is also low. The use of a periodic shock treatment along with a normal chlorination routine will aid in the prevention of undesirable side effects of using your swimming pool or hot tub. After shock treatment do not resume swimming or bathing until the chlorine residual drops to below 3ppm.

Please note, if your chlorine reading is very high, typically 10ppm, you may obtain a false result when testing for pH with a testing kit. In these cases lower the chlorine levels first before testing for pH and total alkalinity.

Bromine

Bromine is another type of pool and hot tub sanitiser, although it is quite different to chlorine. If you using Bromine you won’t require a conditioner (an additive that helps prevent chemicals dissipating under the action of the ultraviolet rays of the sun). Like chlorine, bromine combines with nitrogen and ammonia compounds to form bromamines (as opposed to chloramines). Unlike chloramines, bromamines do not irritate eyes or have an offensive odour, and bromamines are effective sanitisers. Bromine is a more effective sanitiser at higher temperatures and therefore is a popular choice for hot tubs and with pool and spa users that dislike the unpleasant odour associated with chloramines.

A molecule of bromine is 2.25 times as heavy as chlorine, a 1.0ppm chlorine residual is therefore equivalent to a 2.25ppm bromine residual. Therefore, it is important to maintain the following bromine levels:

• Residential & Commercial Pools between 2.0 and 4.0ppm
• Residential Hot tubs and Spas between 3.0 and 5.0ppm
• Commercial Hot tubs and Spas between 4.0 and 6.0ppm

When levels are kept within this range bromine is able to control organisms as well as destroying any new contaminants entering the pool and hot tub.

PH & Total Alkalinity

The two most important factors in controlling your sanitisers ability to kill bacteria are pH and total alkalinity levels.

pH is a value expressing the relative acidity or alkalinity of swimming pool or hot tub water. It is expressed as a number from 0 to 14 with 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the most alkaline. A value of 7.0 is neutral. Low pH values cause corrosion of equipment and pool or spa surfaces. High pH values cause scale to form on equipment and on pool or hot tub surfaces. The ideal range for pools is 7.2 - 7.6 and the ideal range for hot tubs is 7.0 - 7.6. For swimming pools, to raise pH you will need to use Sodium Carbonate or PAK 2 and to lower pH you will need to use Sodium Bisulphate or Pool Acid. For hot tubs, to raise pH you will need to use Aquasparkle pH Plus and to lower pH you will need to use Aquasparkle pH Minus.  

Total Alkalinity is the ability of water to resist a change in pH. It is also commonly known as the buffering capacity of water. High alkalinity makes it hard to change the pH and may cause scale. Low alkalinity causes dramatic changes in pH, often referred to as pH bounce, and causes corrosion of equipment and pool or hot tub surfaces. The ideal total alkalinity varies depending on the type of sanitiser you are using. For swimming pools, to adjust your Total Alkalinity you will need to use Bicarbonate of Soda or PAK 1. For hot tubs you will need to use Aquasparkle TA Plus.

Always remember, total alkalinity is the key to water balance. Always adjust total alkalinity first and then adjust the pH.

pH and Total Alkalinity are related. It is not possible to change one without affecting the other.

Conditioner or Stabiliser

Whatever type of chlorine chemical you use in your swimming pool or hot tub as a disinfectant is a very active chemical that is easily dissipated by the ultraviolet rays of the sun. To prolong the useful life of free, available chlorine the addition of cyanuric acid (conditioner) is recommended when filling a new pool or at the start of each swimming season if required. Conditioner acts as a type of chemical umbrella, protecting the chlorine sanitiser against loss against the sun’s UV rays. The ideal range for pool stabiliser is 30 - 50ppm. All Swim Conditioner is ideal for adjusting the levels of stabiliser in your swimming pool.

Calcium Hardness

Calcium hardness refers to the portion of the swimming pool or hot tub water’s total hardness due to calcium salts. Calcium hardness will vary with your local water source, the chemicals you add to the water and the rate of evaporation. If you’re based in Wales you can check your local authority’s source water quality at the Welsh Water website.

High calcium hardness can cause cloudy water and also cause the formation of scale on pool and spa equipment. If hardness reaches a level of 400ppm, approximately 25% of the pool or spa water it should be drained and refilled. Soft water without hardness is undesirable because it can cause equipment corrosion and adversely affect the grout on concrete tiled pools. Recommended hardness levels are 200-400ppm for tiled pools and 175-250ppm for vinyl, fibreglass or other types of pool and spa surfaces. Increasing water hardness can be achieved with the use of All Swim’s Pak 3, Calcium Chloride.