Pool Water Start Up Guide
Unless you’re a graduate of chemistry you’ll probably be struggling with balancing the pH., alkalinity and calcium hardness of your pool. Sol to make everything easier we’ve created this pool water start up guide.
The following recommended levels are based on a typical pool capacity of 50,000 litres.
pH: 7.2 to 7.6
Total Alkalinity: mg / L. 80 to 120
Calcium Hardness: mg / L 150 for first 12 months of pool operation; 100 to 250 after 12 months of pool operation
Free Chlorine: 1.5 to 3.0
Stabilised Pools (Cyanuric Acid): 25 to 50
Pool Water ‘Start-Up’ Guide
Fill pool to the recommended water capacity level.
Turn on the pool pump and engage ‘backwash mode to wash and rinse the filter system. Check that all pumping and filtration system is functioning in the proper manner in accordance with the manufacturers’ specifications and operating instructions.
After the pump and filtration systems have been checked you need to add the following chemicals:
7 litres of liquid chlorine
1 litre of hydrochloric acid
2 kilograms of stabilizer
Run the pool filtration system for 24-hours.
After the initial 24-hours of operation you need to add 2 kilograms of ‘buffer’.
Thoroughly broom the interior of the pool and wait 4 to 8 hours to allow any sediments to settle before vacuuming the pool’s interior.
Conduct a chemical test and match it against the above chart
Wait 5 days and broom and vacuum the interior of the pool again
Salt Water Pool Water ‘Start-Up’ Guide
If you’re using a ‘salt-chlorinator cell’ you should wait at least 4 weeks after the initial ‘start-up’ before adding ‘salt’ to the pool water. Check the manufacturer recommendations to get an exact idea of when salt should be added.
Once salt is added you need to be careful not to let the salt settle on the interior of the pool. To avoid this, you need to broom the salt until it is completely dissolved.
Wait 8 hours after the initial salt addition before turning on the ‘salt-chlorinator cell’ according to manufacturer instructions.
Pool chemistry levels should be checked and adjusted weekly to ensure the pool remains hygienic and in perfect condition for your use.
Important Preventative Maintenance to Prevent Calcium and Mineral Scale-Stain & Salt-Cell
Certain local water conditions and pool water chemistry imbalances increase the likelihood of white calcium build-up and other mineral deposits on pool interior surfaces and within pool maintenance equipment and most commonly salt-cell chlorinated pools.
Designer Pool Coatings recommend the use of ‘Startup-Tec®’ to protect against calcium / mineral build-up. This dose needs to be repeated every six months or in accordance with advice from your pool maintenance professional.
For more information, visit www.easycarewater.com.