For a new pool owner, filling up your new pool for the first time, there is nothing more critical than pool chemical start up instructions. It is never just about filling up the pool with water as there are steps to ensure that your pool is clean and that the water is safe and ready for use. It is only by following instructions that you can have the perfect pH, alkalinity, and a pool that does not attract algae or scaling here is the list of pool chemicals you need.
Pool Chemical Start Up Instructions
Some pool chemical start up instructions to abide by include anti-scaling or adding any anti stain treatments, adjusting the pH level of the water and more.
Startup Chemicals for First Time Opening
The first thing to do once you open the pool is to collect information by testing the water. By testing the water you can then determine what types of chemicals would be suitable depending on aspects such as PH, alkalinity among several other attributes of the water. To get a representative sample get water from several spots around the pool and ensure you take it from a few feet below the water surface. This will ensure that any variations in the data are averaged out.
How much chemicals will be needed will depend on the water attributes that you derive from the tests and the size of the pool. Startup chemicals that you will most likely need are those for preventing algae, sanitizing the water, and adjusting hardness and pH.
Anti-Scaling or Anti Stain Treatment (Optional)
If you will be filling the pool with fresh water, get anti-scaling or anti-stain treatments -- especially if you didn’t cover your pool over the winter. These are typically non-phosphoric sequestering agents that keep metals and minerals locked up in solution. It is important to treat the pool with anti-scaling or anti-staining as it will protect the pool from limescale and stains on pool tiles and all throughout your pool.
Once you have added in the water and treatment, let it sit for 4-8 hours to allow for chemical connections. This will keep the pool clean and reduce the need for constant maintenance.
Adjust the pH
Since pool chemicals are made to work effectively at set pH levels, you will need to adjust the pH as the first step in the treatment. If you do not do it right, the pH will be out of sync and the chemical treatments you add will not be as effective.
The appropriate pH is usually between 7.4 and 7.6 and you need to get the pH in that range before you proceed with any other treatment. Use granular acid or muriatic acid treatment if the pH is too high and granular soda ash or other alkaline product if the pH is too low.
Note that every time you add in chemical treatments you have to retest the water’s pH.
Adjust Total Alkalinity
You do not want the pool to be too alkaline. The appropriate alkalinity is between 80 and 120 ppm. Anything outside the range and it becomes almost impossible to control the pH, which will throw the entire pool out of whack. To reduce alkalinity add in granular or muriatic acid and to raise it use sodium bicarbonate.
Shock the Pool
Now that you got your pH right, you need to sanitize the water usually referred to as shocking the pool. The pool is sanitized by adding in chlorine that usually comes as calcium hypochlorite powder that you will dissolve in water and pour into the pool. The appropriate level of chlorine is 3.0 ppm and once this is achieved you should leave the pool overnight and collect samples to test the following day.
The amount of shock required typically depends on the attributes of the water. If you added in sanitizer and the pool is still green the following day, add in more. You should also add in more shock if the chlorine levels drop to zero 8 hours after you added pool shocking.
Use a pool brush to distribute and dissolve the sanitizer across the surface of the pool. If you have a vinyl pool, dissolve your chlorine in a bucket full of water before pouring or use non-chlorine sanitizers.
Adjust Hardness
Hardness is simply how much calcium is in the water. If your pool has a lot of calcium, it can result in scaling over time. While anti-scaling treatment can help to soften the water, testing for hardness and adjusting when the water is too soft or too hard is necessary. You can use muriatic acid and sodium bisulfate to reduce hardness and to increase hardness add in calcium chloride.
Add Algaecide
This is the last step of the process but still a crucial one. To prevent algae from growing in the pool in case there are issues with filtration or chlorine levels drop add in an algaecide. Find a low foaming algaecide, which will be perfect for ensuring that the chlorine remains at optimum levels.
Maintaining the Pool
Pool chemical start up instructions are critical if you are to have a safe and well-maintained pool. The instructions in this article should be sufficient as a guide on how to start the process of treating your pool and keeping it clean and free of scaling or algae. With regular treating and testing of the water, you should be able to enjoy a clean and sparkling pool all-season.
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