Pool maintenance...

Water Preparation

Test pool water and bring to ideal levels:

pH:	7.0 - 7.4
Alkalinity:	100 - 120 ppm for Marblelite pools 120 - 140 ppm for Fibre glass/Vinyl pools
Chlorine:	1.2 - 1.4 ppm
Cyanuric:	40 ppm - 60 ppm

Use the tables below to assist you in applying and establishing what chemical to use for correcting the levels required above.

Chemical Tables for Stabilizing your pool water.

WARNING: Do not mix chemicals whatsoever. Mixing chemicals can cause serious risk to health and can also explode.

The chemical quantities that are shown below are approximate. Use them as a guide until you have established the correct amount for your pool.

To establish the size of your pool

Apply the following calculation. This will give you a reasonably accurate indication (measure in metres).

Length x Width x 1.5 x 1000 = Volume litres i.e.:- 10m x 5m x 1.5 x 1000 = 75000 litres.
To convert to Gals divide by 4.465 = 16797 Gal.

Use the following Tables to determine how much Sodium Bisulphate to use depending on the pH reading of the water.

pH Correction

Correct Reading 7.0 to 7.4.

High Reading:

Use Dry Acid (Sodium Bisulphate) to reduce pH. Measurements shown below.

	pH reading
Pool size (lt)	7.6	7.8	8.0	8.2
50,000	300g	600g	900g	1.2kg
75,000	600g	900g	1.2kg	1.5kg
100,000	900g	1.2kg	1.5kg	1.8kg
125,000	1.2kg	1.5kg	1.8kg	2.1kg

Application Method: Set Pump on FILTER. Mix dry acid in bucket of water, pour contents around the deep end of the pool. Extreme care should be taken when handling acid.

Low Reading:

Use Sodium Bi-Carbonate (Bi-carb of Soda) to increase pH. Measurements shown below.

Pool size (lt)	pH Reading 6.8
50,000	500g
75,000	750g
100,000	1.0kg
125,000	1.25kg

Application Method: Set pump on Bypass/Circulate, pour Bi-carb slowly down the Leaftrap/Skimmer. Do not administer Bi-carb with the pump set on Filter.

Alkalinity Correction

Correct reading 90 to 140 ppm.

High Reading:

Use Dry Acid (Sodium Bisulphate) to decrease. Measurements shown below.

	alkalinity reading
Pool size (lt)	250	220	200	180
50,000	5kg	6kg	7kg	8kg
75,000	3kg	4kg	5kg	6kg
100,000	1kg	2kg	3kg	4kg
125,000	500g	750g	1kg	2kg

Application Method: Mix small amounts in a bucket of water and pour around the deep end of the pool with the pump set on Filter. Do not mix more than 1kg at a time in an average size bucket. Care is needed as the acid is very corrosive and any spillage should be diluted with water without delay.

Low Reading:

Use Bicarbonate of Soda to decrease. Measurements shown below.

	alkalinity reading
Pool size (lt)	80	60	40	30
50,000	2kg	3kg	4kg	5kg
75,000	3kg	4kg	5kg	6kg
100,000	4kg	5kg	6kg	7kg
125,000	5kg	6kg	7kg	8kg

Application Method: Set Pump on BYPASS, pour slowly and directly into the leaf trap/skimmer. Leave pump on BYPASS until all traces of the chemical have entered the pool.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PUT BI-CARB INTO THE SKIMMER WITH THE PUMP ON FILTER.

When correcting the stabilization of the pool using the above chemicals, test after 24 hours and readjust as necessary.

Flocculates and Algaecides.

Neither of these substances are needed with aligator. aligator will kill all known algae and through its own unique magnetic field, remove most unwanted solids from the water.

IMPORTANT: When adding large amounts of acid to decrease the Alkalinity, the pH will be reduced to a very low level. The pH will slowly increase over the next ten days as the Alkalinity is reducing. This is normal and will not harm your pool, it is however not recommended to swim in water below 6.5.

Chlorine and Cyanuric/Cyanurates

There are Four (4) main donors of Chlorine.

Two are Hypo-chlorites, Liquid and Granular, commonly called Chlorine.

Two are known as Stabilized Chlorine, (Granular or Tablet) these are Cyanuric and Cyanurate. Their Chemical names are very long so our description will suffice here.

Stabilized Chlorine is used to minimise the loss of Chlorine in sunlight and therefore is to be recommended in outdoor pools.

Chlorine (Non Stabilized) is used in indoor pools with artificial lighting.

Stabilized Chlorine in Tablet form. We recommend the slow dissolving (200gr)tablet (dissolves in 5 to 10 days) in outdoor pools and also indoor pools where sunlight penetrates the water.

IMPORTANT: Whenever Stabilized chlorine is used, the Cyanuric Acid level must be monitored and kept below 80ppm.

Chlorine Levels

Chlorine level should be maintained at 1.2 to 1.4 for the first six weeks. If the pool is lightly used then this period can be reduced to four weeks. After this period it can be reduced further and maintained at 0.8ppm in summer and 0.6ppm in winter.

Do not pour chlorine directly into the pool. This may cause black staining to appear on the floor of the pool. Instead, pour slowly through the weir/skimmer making sure the granules dissolve quickly.

Beware of fumes rising into your face.

If you chose to use the chlorine pill, these can be placed in the skimmer/weir basket. Do not use fast dissolving tablets. A good quality slow dissolving pill should last approx. 5 to 10 days. (200gr)

IMPORTANT: Do not assume that because the pill has dissolved you need to put a new one in. Test first to see what level exists in the water before applying further chlorine.

Chlorine Dosing

The dosage of chlorine, and the frequency at which it must be administered can only be determined by trial and error, as each pool is different in size, usage, etc. Once you have established the dosage for your pool it becomes a simple matter to maintain the levels required.

A point to remember is; both Aquasprite and chlorine work together to sanitize your pool and protect you from bacteria. Neither will work efficiently if the balance of the water is out. There is no point in administering chlorine if the pH and Alkalinity are out of range. Make sure you have a regular testing program.

Shock Treatment

The only times when a pool needs to be shock treated are:

The swimming pool has been neglected and the water has turned green.
When a high content of cyanuric acid is present.

In any other circumstances such as the water being cloudy, we recommend that testing and readjustment of the balance of the water normally will bring a pool back to clarity.

In the case of (1) above, the following program is advisable in the order stated:

Backwash and vacuum thoroughly making sure there is no debris left in the pool
Test the balance and correct as required. It is advisable to bring the pH down to 7.0.
Apply 200gr/.200ml of unstabalized granulated/liquid chlorine for every 2000 gal of water. Test the next day and readjust the balance.
Vacuum and backwash over the next two days periodically checking and correcting the balance. The water should clear after two days.

In the case of (2) above, the same procedure can be carried out, and the water may clear. This will however be a temporary situation, as the water will almost certainly cloud up again until the cyanuric level has been reduced to the correct amount by simple dilution of the water.

Stabilized Chlorine /Cyanuric/Cyanurate

All stabilized chlorine forms cyanuric acid in the water. This substance is the stabilizer.

The level at which it is at it's most efficient is between 40 and 60 ppm. Over this level it starts to become a problem reducing the power of the chlorine and the effect of the Aquasprite. We therefore strongly recommend you purchase a test kit, and periodically test your pool. If you find that you are approaching the danger level, simply revert to using Non Stabilized chlorine for a period, and allow the normal backwashing to reduce the level.

If the level exceeds 80ppm you must take more positive action and dilute the water.\

The only effective way to dilute the level is to dump water. A guide to the amount of water to be dumped is:

at a level of 80ppm, 20% of the entire pool volume
at a level of 100ppm, 50% of the entire pool volume
above this level 75% of the water should be replaced.

Important: All chemicals are dangerous and should be handled carefully. Do not mix chemicals. The oxidising effect can cause an explosion, fire, and toxic fumes.