How to Balance Pool Chemistry?

Beau Rixon
It can seem like there’s always something out of balance in your pool. By the end of this, you’ll have the knowledge to keep your pool in tip-top shape all year round.

Aquafirst's tips for balancing your pool:

  • Visit Aquafirst fortnightly in summer or monthly during the cooler months for your free water test. Our comprehensive computer water analysis will tell you what you need to do to get your pool to 100%.
  • Always add chemicals to water, not water to chemicals For most chemicals, dissolve in water prior to adding them to your pool
  • Adjust your pH first Not having the correct pH can render other chemicals ineffective
    1. If you are reducing your pH Depending on how you add your pH reducer, you may reduce your alkalinity or pH. Sprinkling pH reducer all over the pool, covering as much surface as you can will reduce your pH. To achieve optimal results, use a watering can to disperse water. Avoid dumping pH reducer into one area of the pool
    2. If you are increasing your pH As a general rule, add 10 grams of pH increaser per 1000 litres at a time. After each dose, run your filter for around 4-5 hours, retest your pH and add more pH reducer if required
  • Adjust your alkalinity next
    1. If you are reducing your alkalinity Use your pH reducer to reduce your alkalinity. Instead of sprinkling all over the pool, dump it in one area of the pool without moving.
    2. If you are increasing your alkalinity Never add more than 4kg in a 12 hour period. Add the pH increaser in 1kg batches. Run the filter for 4-5 hours after each dose, retest and add more if required.
  • Take care of your sanitiser levels When your pH and alkalinity levels are balanced, your sanitiser will be able to work more effectively. For salt chlorinated pool, as a general guide, run your system at 80% output for 8 hours a day in summer. Gradually decrease this over autumn down to 40% output for 4 hours in winter. Please note some systems may not produce enough chlorine to follow these guidelines. If your chlorine levels are too high, you have three options:
    1. Partially drain and refill your pool
    2. Leave your cover off on a hot sunny day to allow some chlorine to burn off (if your stabiliser levels aren’t too high)
    3. Add a chlorine remover
  • Look after your secondary levels Secondary levels such as stabiliser and calcium hardness do not need to be added or monitored as often as pH, alkalinity and chlorine, but still need to be within the recommended ranges to prevent residual side effects. We test these secondary levels at Aquafirst:
    • Salt
    • Stabiliser
    • Calcium Hardness
    • Phosphates
    • Copper
    • Iron
If you have any concerns or queries, drop by in store or give us a call on 9580 9488 for more information.