The following is provided to help you understand the workings of your filter, to enable you to calculate the volume of your pool, how to trace a suspected leak and some tips on making pool care a lot easier for you. We hope that you find the following information useful.
For normal filtration and vacuuming. Dirty water enters through the top distributor and dirt is deposited throughout the sand bed. Clean water returns to the pool through the under drain.
For lowering the level or emptying the pool.
Shuts off water flow to the filter enabling maintenance on the filter.
Reverses the water flow through the filter. Dirty water enters through the top under drain, lifts and washes the sand bed. Dirty water is discharged through the top distributor to Waste.
For bypassing or circulating the water.
Changes the flow back to the filter direction and cleans final dust collection from pipes and sand bed to waste. It also resettles the sand bed.
The following is a basic routine to make your investment a simple pleasure.
Have the water tested at a professional pool shop and add the required chemicals.
Ideal level is 7.4 - 7.6
This indicates whether the water is either too acidic or too alkaline or in a state of balance.
pH can change due to:
Low pH (below 7.2) | High pH (above 7.6) |
---|---|
Faster chlorine loss | Eye and skin irritation |
Chloramines | Poor chlorine efficiency |
Skin and eye irritation | Cloudy water |
Rough, etched plaster | Algae growth |
Metal equipment corrodes | Scale formation |
Vinyl liners wrinkle | |
Protects the pool surface and equipment | |
Solution: pH raiser | Solution: pH reducer |
As a safety precaution, we recommend a dry form of acid over liquid acid
Acts as a buffer to prevent rapid pH fluctuations
Ideal level:
Alkalinity can change due to:
Low Total Alkalinity | High Total Alkalinity |
---|---|
pH Bounce | High acid demand |
Staining | Biocarbonate scale |
Corrosion | Soft scale which brushes off easily |
Solution: Alkalinity raiser | Solution: Alkalinity reducer |
Ideal level:
Low Calcium Hardness (0 - 200ppm) | High Calcium Hardness (275ppm +) |
---|---|
Etched, rough plaster | Scale forming |
Hard to clean | Discolouration (brown) |
Shorter plaster life | Reduced circulation & heater efficiency |
Solution: Calcium increaser | Solution: Scale inhibiting chemical or drain and refill with water with a lower calcium content. |
Ideal chlorine level: 1 - 3ppm (FAC - Free Available Chlorine)
To determine Free Chlorine level, DPD #1 tabs must be used. Chlorine attached to swimmer wastes (hairspray, perspiration) is called Chloramines or combined Chlorine and is ineffective as a sanitizer.
Presence of Chloramines is indicated by:
To overcome Chloramines, the pool needs to be Oxidised (Shock Treated) regularly.
KEY POINT - IF YOU CAN SMELL THE CHLORINE YOU HAVE CHLORAMINES!
A salt chlorinator comprises of a power pack (power supply) and electrode (Cell). Salt is added to the pool water to create a saline solution. This solution then passes through the electrode and through a process of electrolyses, chlorine is produced.
Due to the nature of Salt Chlorination, the pH of pool water will rise, thereby requiring regular additions of acid to lower the pH.
The electrodes should be cleaned at least once a week. This can be done in the following ways:
Ways of making it easier to clean the cell:
Salt calculation - 4 / 5 / 7 Kg salt per 10 000 litres of water (This will depend on the make and model of the salt chlorinator).
Chlorine: | 1.0 - 3.0 ppm (Parts per million) |
pH: | 7.4 - 7.6 |
Total Alkalinity: | 80 - 120 ppm |
Calcium Hardness: | 175 - 225 ppm |
Stabilizer: | 40 - 60 ppm |
Salt: | 4000 - 7000 ppm (consult manufacturers recommendation) |
All measurements need to be in meters.
Length X Width X Average Water Depth (add 3 depths together and divide by 3) X 1000 = Pool Volume in Liters.
Diameter X Diameter X Average Water Depth (add 3 depths together and divide by 3) X 785 = Volume in Liters.
Long Diameter (Meters) X Short Diameter (Meters) X Average Water Depth (Meters) X 785 = Volume in Liters
If possible check with the builder or dealer.
You may have to calculate the volume based on two separate areas, if the pool is an "L" or "T" shape.
For a hexagon or Octagon shape, calculate as a circular pool or spa.
Otherwise, use the calculations for either an oval or rectangular pools or spas and substitute an average diameter, width or length.
Step 1: | Top up the swimming pool to the normal level (usually 1/2 way up the mouth of the skimmer box) and mark the inside of skimmer box with a red marker pen. Run the pump continuously for 24 hours and record the water level with a marker pen. |
Step 2: | Switch the pump off for 24 hours and mark the level of the water in the skimmer box with a marker pen. Record the extended loss in mm. |
Step 3: | At this stage please refer to the water evaporation table at the bottom of this page. |
If you find that the water loss is greater than the limits set out in the evaporation table, carry out the following procedures:
Month | Daily Average Evaporation | Daily Maximum Evaporation |
---|---|---|
January | 6.00 mm | 13.00 mm |
February | 7.00 mm | 12.00 mm |
March | 4.50 mm | 12.00 mm |
April | 2.80 mm | 8.00 mm |
May | 1.80 mm | 7.00 mm |
June | 1.50 mm | 5.00 mm |
July | 1.50 mm | 5.00 mm |
August | 2.00 mm | 7.00 mm |
September | 2.20 mm | 8.00 mm |
October | 3.50 mm | 8.00 mm |
November | 4.50 mm | 11.00 mm |
December | 6.00 mm | 12.00 mm |
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