Pool Kings

What’s the difference between Pools & Spas? Can’t you just fill them, test them, and treat them the same?

No! Pool water and spa water must be cared for in different ways.

Spas or hot tubs operate at a higher temperature, and are much smaller than pools. These two facts change everything. That is why NSPI (the National Spa and Pool Institute in the U.S.) has established separate standards for spas and pools.

The two big differences — higher temperature and smaller volume — cause a number of other differences that need to be taken into consideration when doing maintenance.

The higher temperature of a spa will cause…

1. Faster chemical reactions
2. Faster evaporation rate
3. Increased scale formation
4. More organic waste in the water
5. Accelerated bacteria growth

The smaller water volume of a spa will cause…

1. Heavier bather load
2. More precise chemical dosages needed
3. Higher filtration (turnover) rate
4. Faster depletion of sanitizer residual
5. More abrupt changes in pH 

Sanitizers are used to keep water clear of bacteria and inhibit/control the growth of viruses, algae and organic contaminants. The two most common pool water sanitizers are Chlorine and Bromine.

pH level is the acid/base content of water. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 with 7 being neutral. Proper pH levels must be maintained between 7.2 and 7.6 in order to prevent eye/skin irritation, pool surface and equipment damage.

Total Alkalinity is the measure of certain minerals in the water. These minerals act as buffering agents and allow you to readily control your pH. In plaster pools, under normal conditions, a measurement of 80 to 120 ppm is ideal. In painted, vinyl or fiberglass pools, a reading between 125 to 175 ppm should be maintained. If the total alkalinity is too low, use a chemical such as Alkalinity Up to reach the proper level. To bring alkalinity levels down use pH Minus or muriatic acid.

Calcium Hardness measures the level of calcium and magnesium minerals in the water. These minerals exist naturally in all water, but levels vary greatly across the country. An acceptable hardness level is from 225 to 500 ppm hardness for plaster pools and 175 to 250 ppm for vinyl, painted and fiberglass pools.

Low levels of calcium create corrosive water which can damage equipment. Raise hardness levels by using Calcium Plus.

High levels of calcium could result in several problems which include:

• Scaling pool water
• Rough pool and spa surfaces
• Clogged swimming pool filters
• Cloudy water
• Clogged pool heater elements
• Reduction in your pool water circulation
• Possible skin and eye irritations
• Very hard to keep proper balance of other chemicals
• White ring around your tile

When calcium hardness levels get too high, lowering your swimming pool's total alkalinity is very difficult. This process often requires you to drain your pool and refill it.

It’s a hot, sunny day. The sun is so bright that stepping outside is a reminder to put on sunscreen. Only seconds tick away before the first bead of sweat runs down your forehead. It’s the kind of day that lures people into the nearest pool. It is days like this when cyanuric acid is a superhero, protector of the weak.

How Cyanuric Acid Works

Sunlight and its UV radiation can destroy sanitizer in a very short time. Sanitizers act as the pool police, killing unwanted invaders like bacteria and algae in the water, yet they too have weaknesses. The more intense the sun and UV, the quicker the sanitizer degrades, the pool police can’t work well. Chlorine is the most commonly used sanitizer. On a bright sunny day, nearly all of an ideal level of chlorine in an unstabilized (unprotected) pool can be lost in less than two hours. However, chlorine has an advantage, it can be protected from the sun. Cyanuric acid is used as a “stabilizer” for chlorine so that it is more enduring when exposed to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. It is like sunscreen for your chlorine. Cyanuric acid combines with chlorine to protect it from the UV rays of the sun, but releases it on demand when it is needed to sanitize the water. Cyanuric acid, Triazine-2,4,6-Triol in scientific terms, is an acid with a pH of approximately 4.0. Therefore, cyanuric acid may also shift the pH of the water downward when added directly to a pool.

Why is it important to monitor cyanuric acid levels?

If cyanuric acid is present in the water in sufficient levels, less chlorine degradation occurs. Keeping chlorine in the water longer will help to protect the swimmers in the pool. An ideal level of cyanuric acid, 30 to 80 ppm (parts per million), should be maintained to prevent rapid chlorine loss. Some chlorine compounds have been developed that already contain an amount of cyanuric acid. If you are using “dichlor” or “trichlor” as the primary sanitizer, cyanuric acid is being introduced along with the chlorine. Usually, no additional cyanuric acid is needed when using a stabilized chlorine compound. However, cyanuric acid levels may build up with the continued use of one of these sanitizers. When cyanuric acid levels are high, it will reduce chlorine efficiency, and contribute to high total dissolved solids. Under these conditions it may take chlorine longer to kill bacteria and other microorganisms introduced to the water. If cyanuric acid is high, it is necessary to drain and refill with fresh water in order to lower the level. Local health authorities often require swimming pools to be maintained under 100 ppm. Cyanuric acid levels in pools should not exceed 150 ppm. On the other hand, low cyanuric acid levels (less than 30 ppm) indicate that chlorine will dissipate very quickly when exposed to sunlight.