pH
pH Plays a critical part in pool care.  It is the factor around which the rest of the pool chemistry revolves.  Keep your pool’s pH in balance in order to maximize the power of your POOLIFE^TM primary chlorinator and minimize the amount of chlorine needed to keep your pool sparkling clean. 

Ideal range for pH
The pH scale runs from 0 - 14, with 7.0 as "neutral"
The ideal range is between 7.2 and 7.8

pH is high (above 7.8)
This will lead to cloudy water or scale deposits and reduce chlorine efficiency.

• High pH is easy to adjust using POOLIFE™ pH Minus. Broadcast the appropriate amount of POOLIFE™ pH minus across the pools surface with the pump and filter running.  Retest your pH after 2 to 4 hours.  Additional POOLIFE™ pH Minus may be added until the pH reaches the 7.2 – 7.8 range.  If the pH is resisting change, test and adjust your Total Alkalinity before further adjusting the pH. 
• When adding chemicals to lower pH, do not add more than 2 pounds of POOLIFE™ pH Minus per 24 hours.

pH is low (below 7.2)
This could lead to corrosive water, which could damage the pool lining, surface or any metal fixtures, and could introduce  iron into the water.  Rapid loss of chlorine residual and eye irritations may also occur.

• Low pH is easy to adjust using POOLIFE™ pH Plus.  Broadcast the appropriate amount of POOLIFE™ pH Plus across the pools surface with the pump and filter running.  Retest your pH after 2 to 4 hours.  Additional POOLIFE™ pH Plus may be added until the pH reaches the 7.2 – 7.8 range.  If pH is resisting change, test and adjust your total alkalinity before further adjusting the pH.  If the pool’s pH has been low for a period of time, corrosion of equipment may have occurred, resulting in metal in solution in the water.  To reduce the risk of staining, add POOLIFE Sequestering Agent™ (Metal Control) before adjusting a low pH.

Alkalinity (TA)
For a trouble free pool, check and adjust total alkalinity levels (TA) at the beginning of the season and thereafter, about once a month or as needed.

• Ideal range for Total Alkalinity:
  Between 80 ppm and 120 ppm

TA is high (above 120 ppm)
The pH will resist change.  The water will become cloudy, and may lead to scale deposits and reduce chlorine efficiency.
Solution: Add POOLIFE™ pH Minus as directed to the deep end of the pool.  Never add more than  2 pounds at a time.

TA is low (below 80 ppm)
This will lead to the pH bouncing from one extreme to the other.  Low total alkalinity, below 60 ppm can cause corrosion of equipment, eye irritation and discolored water.
Solution: Add POOLIFE™ Alkalinity Plus to the pool.  Follow label directions carefully for appropriate dosage.

TA Adjustment:
When adding chemicals to lower TA, add POOLIFE™ pH Minus in one spot at the deep end of the pool.

NOTE: Do not attempt to increase or decrease alkalinity in one step.  It may take time.

Calcium Hardness (CH)
‘Hardness’ is a term used to indicate the mineral content of water and is due mainly to the solids and rocks over which the water moves under ground dissolving into the water.  The term hard water is usually associated with high calcium content in water and sometimes has a negative association.  Pool water however, must contain a concentration of calcium hardness (CH) to prevent corrosion of the pool shell and equipment.

• Ideal range for calcium hardness:
  200 ppm to 1,000 ppm

CH is low (below 200 ppm)
Low CH could lead to corrosive water.  It can also damage the pool lining, and lead to etching of the  plaster and corrosion of equipment.
Solution: Add POOLIFE™ Calcium Plus.  Make sure that the pH is between 7.2 and 7.4 before adding  POOLIFE Calcium Plus.  Scatter the chemical over the pool water with the pump and motor operating.

CH is high (above 1000 ppm)
Sometimes calcium may precipitate from the water, causing cloudy water and scale deposits.
Solution: Unfortunately, there is only one practical remedy for lowering the calcium hardness level – partially drain your pool and fill it with fresh water of a lower hardness.