How to Adjust Swimming Pool Chemicals
- 1). Use a test-tube kit to test the water in the swimming pool. Remove the cap from the test tube, which has four or five different tubes. Place the unit in the water about 3 inches down. Collect the water as you are bringing the unit up out of the water. Replace the cap on the tube kit. Place the correct amount of solution drops in each tube to test for pH, total alkalinity, chlorine and calcium hardness. Gently shake up the test tube to mix the drops in the water. Place the color chart up to the back of the test tube to check the levels.
- 2). Reduce or increase the pH if the levels are out of range. The pH should be between 7.2 and 7.8. If the pH is low, you must raise the level by adding soda ash to the water. If the pH is under 7.0, you need to add 1 1/4 ounces of soda ash per 1,000 gallons of water. If the pH is high, you need to use muriatic acid to reduce the pH. If the pH is 7.8 to 8.0, add 1 1/2 ounces of muriatic acid per 1,000 gallons of water.
- 3). Increase or reduce the amount of free chlorine. The ideal range is between 1.0 and 3.0 parts per million (ppm). To raise the chlorine level by 1 ppm, use 2 ounces of calcium hypochlorite per 10,000 gallons of water. To neutralize the chlorine level by 1 ppm, use 2.4 ounces of sodium sulfite per 10,000 gallons of water.
- 4). Check the total alkalinity, which should be between 60 and 180 parts per million (ppm). To raise the total alkalinity, you can add baking soda or sodium bicarbonate. To raise the total alkalinity by 10 parts per million (ppm), add 0.14 pounds of soda bicarbonate to 1,000 gallons of water. To lower the total alkalinity 10 parts per million (ppm), you can add 2.56 ounces of muriatic acid per 1,000 gallons of water.
- 5). Read the chart to see what the calcium hardness reads. The ideal range for the calcium hardness is between 150 and 1,000 parts per million (ppm). To raise the calcium hardness 10 ppm, use 2 ounces of calcium chloride per 1,000 gallons of water.
- 6). Retest the water after 12 hours to make sure that the chemicals are in range after adding the recommended dosage.
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