I have an above ground pool and need to know details about what chemicals to use?!?
Question:I just got an above ground pool that is 18 x 48...we added water to it 2 days ago and i got the start up kit...It gave me chlorine tablets and some 'Shock Plus' i put about a cup of the shock into the pool and it said to add two 1" chlorine tablets per 1,000 gallons of water, my pool holds a little over 6,000 so i put 12 tablets into the floating chlorine dispenser thing that i have. I left the dispenser in the pool over night with the 12 tablets and when i went to check it this morning, the tablets were still in there, should they have dissolved? or should i take the dispenser out?
i need to adjust the PH, what do i need to do to get the PH even?
Then i heard about Cyanuric Acid, at the store, is the bottled labeled as Cyanuric Acid, or as a different name? How do i use it?
And for the Alkalinity, what do i need to adjust that??
if anyone has a pool and experience with all of this, please explain to me what chemicals i should use per week and how much to add, ect...
Thanks!!
Answers:
The normal things you would need to adjust in a pool (inground or above ground) are: total alkalininty, pH, calcium hardness and cyanuric acid (also known as stabilizer or conditioner). The last two are generally a once-a-year thing. The alkalinity and pH will need to be adjusted from time to time (mainly additon of new water causes this: rain, etc.)
There are two different chemicals for adjusting your total alkalinty and pH, but they have similar chemical names. Sodium bicarbonate is used for raising total alkalinity, and Sodium Carbonate is used for raising pH. Both are readily available, sometimes under names such as pH up, alakalinity up, etc. Just double check the active ingredient to be sure you are using the correct one. Can't really give you an answer on how much you may need to use weekly, because it depends on your situation: how much rain, any other new water (due to splashing, etc.) Once you get them right when opeing, they should be fairly easy to maintain.
The pH should be from 7.2 -7.8, with the ideal range being from 7.4 - 7.6. The total alkalinity in that pool should be from 100-140 ppm (parts per million).
Cyanuric acid (a.k.a. Conditioner, stabilizer) would be added through the skimmer with the pump running. If the level in the pool is zero (as with new pool water) 2 lbs. should do it. This prevents the sun from burning off your chlorine as qucikly as it would without it.
The chlorine tablets are slow-dissolving. They may take a week (or sometime more) to dissolve in that floater) They're designed to maintain a chlorine level over a longer period of time, so you don't have to put chlorine in every day. Leave the dispenser in the pool, and adjust the amount in the floater to give you the chlorine level you need (1-3 ppm). This will be trial and error, to find what works for you.
If you have the specific readings for all these in your pool (any pool supply store will do this for you if you don't have a good test kit), I can tell you exactly how much of each to add (and when). Feel free to contact me through the group (see below...)
It takes a while for the tables to dissolve, leave the dispenser in the pool. Follow the directions that came with the pool. Most pool stores will test the water for free, but buy your chemicals at Wal-Mart ( normally cheaper) Once you figure it out it's not hard. Enjoy your pool.
Take some good advise. Take a sample of water to the nearest pool supply store. Most pool supply stores have plastic bottles just for this purpose. They will test the water and help you with the chemicals you need and how to use them.
The chlorine tablets are designed to dissolve slowly, sometimes taking weeks. Use test strips once a week along with having your water tested a couple times a year to help you understand what chlorine adjustments need to be made.
Taking care of a pool is rather simple once you understand water treatment. Year two will be even easier.
You will fine that more chlorine is needed during the hot parts of summer. You will almost always need to shock the water after a good rain.
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