Comprehensive Water Care Guide

Regular Pool Maintenance:

Weekly:

Monthly:

Quarterly:

Proper maintenance of pool water involves a delicate balance between various factors, such as pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, sanitation, filtration, and testing.

Total Alkalinity: Total alkalinity is measured in parts per million (ppm) and represents the concentration of carbonates and bicarbonate salts in pool water. It acts as a stabilizer for pH. Low alkalinity causes pH to fluctuate significantly with minor chemical adjustments, while high alkalinity increases acid demand and contributes to scaling issues when pH is high. Most pools require alkalinity levels of 80 to 120 ppm, but this can be adjusted up to 150 ppm to suit specific sanitation processes or surface types. Adjustments to Alkalinity: To raise alkalinity, add alkalinity increaser at a rate of 900 grams per 50,000 liters of pool water for every 10 ppm increase required. To lower alkalinity, add 1.2 kg of dry acid or 1 liter of hydrochloric acid per 50,000 liters of pool water for every 10 ppm reduction required. Alternatively, diluting with low alkalinity tap water can achieve a similar result. Always pre-dissolve acid in a bucket of water before evenly distributing it over the pool surface. Filter the water thoroughly after making the adjustment. Recommended: Concrete pools - 80 - 130 ppm; Fibreglass pools 80 - 120 ppm
pH Levels: pH is a measure of acidity or alkalinity in pool water and can be influenced by various factors such as temperature, chemical additions, rain, and bather contamination. Maintaining proper pH control is crucial for chlorine's effectiveness and preventing damage to pool surfaces and equipment. High pH reduces chlorine efficiency and contributes to scaling. Low pH causes corrosion and can irritate eyes and skin. Adjustments to pH: To raise pH, add a maximum of 1 kg of pH increaser per 50,000 liters of pool water at a time. Distribute the increaser evenly over the pool surface and filter the water well after adding it. To lower pH, add a maximum of 1 kg of dry acid or 1 liter of liquid acid per 50,000 liters of pool water at a time. Pre-dissolve the acid in a bucket of water before evenly distributing it over the pool surface. Filter the water thoroughly after making the adjustment. Recommended: Concrete pools - 7.4 -7.6; Fibreglass pools 7.0 - 7.2
Calcium Hardness: Calcium hardness measures the concentration of calcium carbonate in pool water. Proper levels of calcium prevent the water from becoming corrosive (when low) or causing scale formation (when high). Recommended calcium hardness levels are 200 to 225 ppm for pebble, tiled, concrete, painted, or marble pools, and 150 to 190 ppm for vinyl or fiberglass pools. Adjusting Calcium Hardness: To raise calcium hardness, add hardness increaser at a rate of 500 grams per 50,000 liters of pool water for every 10 ppm increase required. Broadcast the increaser evenly over the pool surface and circulate the water well. To lower calcium hardness, dilute the water with tap water that has a lower hardness value or use a suitable sequestering agent for effective chemical reduction.
Sanitation: Sanitation refers to the process of killing bacteria and organisms in water to ensure its safety. Chlorine is the most widely used sanitizer due to its effectiveness. Other options include ozone gas and hydrogen peroxide, but they are less commonly used due to cost and availability. Maintaining a free chlorine level between 1.5 and 3.0 ppm is necessary for safe recreational use.
Stabilizer: Chlorine is susceptible to degradation when exposed to sunlight. Adding stabilizer (cyanuric acid) to pool water protects chlorine from UV degradation while maintaining its effectiveness during daylight hours. Recommended stabilizer levels range between 35 and 50 ppm, depending on the type of chlorine used.
Filtration: Effective filtration, in conjunction with proper water balance and sanitation, ensures clean and healthy water. All water contains microscopic algae spores and organisms that can proliferate rapidly without treatment and removal. The three common filter processes for swimming pools are sand, cartridge, and diatomaceous earth (DE). Filters should be run for a minimum of two passes of the total pool volume per day (eight to twelve hours) to effectively remove solids and maintain water clarity.

FAQs

Please review our frequently asked questions. If there is something more specific that you are looking for, then please contact us directly.

How do I winterise my pool?

BEFORE ENTERING WINTER/BLANKET MODE, YOU MUST BE IN THE DDS SCREEN.

[WINTER/BLANKET] button automatically turns your VAPURE VP-Series Salt Chlorinator setting (Chlor Setting) down by 50% when the unit is either in AUTO or ON mode. The unit defaults to a 50% setting and will stay on this until [WINTER/BLANKET] is pressed again.

Pressing [+] or [-] increases or decreases this 50% setting by increments of 10% from 0% to 90%.

Once your desired setting is entered, pressing [OK] will return to the DDS screen and the output will display at the lowered setting (50% or different if you set it to that).

Pressing [WINTER/BLANKET] whilst ON automatically turns this LED off and the unit returns to a setting of 100%.

If you need to adjust running times during winter, pressing [CLOCK/TIMER] will allow you to adjust operating times of the unit if necessary. See 6.5 CLOCK/TIMER for more detail or contact your local pool Professional for further assistance.

WINTER/BLANKET MODE can also be entered by pressing the [OK] button in MAIN MENU and scrolling to WINTER/BLANKET MODE.

Why should I brush my pool?

Brushing the surface of your pool is an essential part of pool maintenance, especially for owners of pebble or concrete pools. Make sure you do this on a frequent basis to ensure good circulation and prevent staining or scale build up.