2. BALANCING
➤ For basic balancing, adjustments to balance parameters are generally made in the following
order of operations:
➤ Total alkalinity
➤ pH
➤ Stabilizer (cyanuric acid)
➤ Calcium hardness
➤ While not all of these components are considered part of traditional water balance or the
Saturation Index, these are the four over which customers have the most control and ability to
adjust.
➤ Adjustments to TDS are not covered here. However, most of these parameters will
recommend fresh water to reduce high readings, which will also (usually) result in a
reduction in TDS.
➤ Knowing when to add fresh water rather than chemicals—potentially to resolve multiple
high readings—takes careful consideration and examination of the pool as a whole.
➤ Always make sure you know what the source water looks like parameter-wise before
recommending fresh water.
3. TOTAL ALKALINITY
➤ The first parameter we balance is total alkalinity, which is a
measure of buffering agents in the pool water.
➤ Alkalinity, in this case, does not refer to an alkaline pH (pH
above 7). It is possible to have a pH below 7 and still have
“alkalinity” in the pool.
➤ Increasing alkalinity is easier than decreasing it; adjusting
alkalinity in either direction will also have an effect on pH,
which is why we balance alkalinity before pH.
➤ Adjustments to alkalinity can require large amounts of product;
this is normal if the alkalinity is low. In these cases, divide
the total dose into smaller doses and separate by 4-6 hours.
4. WHAT DOES ALKALINITY DO?
➤ As mentioned before, alkalinity
is a measure of buffering agents.
➤ In a pool with low total
alkalinity, pH will move
relatively easily. When the pH is
out of range, sanitizers will not
work well, making it more likely
for waterborne illnesses to
spread.
➤ What affects pH? Everything.
➤ Alkalinity will “take the hit” for
pH, causing the pH to move
less.
Rain
Plant matter
Pets
Waste
Algae
PH
PH
ALKALINITY
Body oils
Rain
Plant matter
Pets
Waste
Algae
Body oils
PH
5. ADJUSTING ALKALINITY
➤ The ideal range for total alkalinity is 125-150ppm.
➤ Ideal range for salt is 80-125ppm.
➤ When alkalinity is low, add Balance Pak® 100 to increase alkalinity.
➤ The amount of product needed is frequently large; be sure to recommend dividing
the dose, predissolving each dose, and applying every 4-6 hours. This will help
reduce the chance of clouding; it will also reduce the chance of staining if metals are
present in the water.
➤ In very rare situations, alkalinity may be 0 or negative; much smaller doses and more
frequent testing will be required to ensure the proper amount of Balance Pak® 100 is
applied.
➤ When alkalinity is high, two methods are available:
➤ Add fresh water to reduce alkalinity. Be sure to test source water before
recommending this method.
➤ Add Lo ’n’ Slo® on a daily basis, testing as you go. When using this method, stop
additions of Lo ’n’ Slo® when the pH drops below 7.2.
6. ➤ When testing with ALEX, you may notice two alkalinity
readings: total alkalinity and adjusted total alkalinity. ALEX
will balance based on the adjusted total alkalinity reading.
➤ The adjusted total alkalinity reading is a “true” reading of total
alkalinity that removes one other buffering agent present in
pools: stabilizer, or cyanuric acid (CYA). We will cover
stabilizer later in this activity.
➤ At-home testers can skip making this adjustment, but for those
who want to calculate their adjusted total alkalinity, they can
make this adjustment:
➤ For every 10ppm cyanuric acid, subtract 3 from the TA. This
estimates the adjusted total alkalinity.
7. PH
➤ pH is the second parameter we balance; pH is a measure of how acidic
(corrosive) or basic (scale-forming) the water is.
➤ The pH scale runs from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral; anything below 7 is
considered acidic, while anything above 7 is considered basic or alkaline.
➤ Remember that this alkaline is different from alkalinity!
➤ For pool and spa chemistry, the ideal pH range is 7.4 to 7.6, with the acceptable
range extending from 7.2 to 7.8. This is the range at which sanitizers like
chlorine and bromine are at their most effective.
7 140
Corrosive Scale-forming
7.4 7.6
8. PH
➤ pH adjustments are typically small, requiring very little
product to produce an effect.
➤ Always be sure to balance alkalinity first, as the products
used to adjust alkalinity will have a noticeable effect on pH!
The only exception to this rule is if pH is below 5; in these
situations, balance pH to 5 and then balance alkalinity. This
particular situation will be covered in a later course.
➤ When pH is low, add Balance Pak® 200 to increase pH.
➤ When pH is high, add Lo ’n’ Slo® to reduce pH.
➤ Lo ’n’ Slo® will also decrease alkalinity, but not as much as
pH.
9. STABILIZER
➤ Stabilizer, or cyanuric acid (CYA), is a buffering agent that is designed to slow the degradation
of chlorine due to sunlight (UV exposure) and is the third parameter we balance.
➤ Stabilizer is only needed in outdoor, chlorine pools; there is no need for stabilizer in bromine
or SoftSwim pools, or in indoor pools.
➤ Much like alkalinity, increasing CYA is much easier than decreasing it.
➤ The ideal target number for CYA is 30ppm in traditional chlorine pools and 60ppm in salt
pools. CYA levels up to 100ppm are acceptable.
➤ Note that current testing methods make testing CYA above 100 difficult without dilution.
➤ When CYA is low, add Stabilizer 100 to the pool.
➤ Wait times for this product are much longer than for other balancers; swimmers must
wait 12 hours to re-enter the pool. It’s recommended to do this adjustment in the evening
and circulate overnight.
➤ Stabilized chlorine products like tablets, sticks, and dichlor shock contain some CYA.
➤ When CYA is high, add fresh water to reduce CYA levels.
10. TOTAL HARDNESS
➤ Total hardness, also known as calcium hardness, is the last major balancing parameter.
➤ Much like the pH scale, the amount of calcium in the water can determine if the water is
corrosive or scale-forming.
➤ Low total hardness levels in the water will make the water “calcium-hungry;” the water will
leach calcium out of surfaces and equipment, leading to etching of surfaces and the
breakdown of equipment.
➤ Low calcium levels are also a main cause of foaming in hot tubs.
➤ High total hardness levels in the water can make the water “calcium-averse;” the water will
not be able to hold calcium in solution, causing the calcium and other compounds to
precipitate as a chalky, white solid. When this solid forms on pool surfaces and inside
equipment, we call this buildup scale.
➤ The most common type of scale is chemically known as calcium carbonate, but there are
two other types that can be found in pools, particularly in salt pools.
➤ Fun fact: calcium carbonate is the same material found in TUMS®!
➤ Certain products—usually cheap shock—will contribute to total hardness levels. These products
are OK in moderation, but keep a close eye on calcium levels if used for long periods of time.
11. TOTAL HARDNESS
➤ When total hardness levels are low, apply Balance Pak® 300 to the
pool.
➤ Never predissolve Balance Pak® 300. When this product comes
into contact with water, it produces a dangerous amount of heat. If
applying more than 6lbs per 10,000gal of pool water, split the
dosage into thirds.
➤ When balancing calcium hardness, not all doses need to be
completed before applying sanitizer or shock; however, remind
customers to go back and finish Balance Pak® 300 applications.
➤ Pool/spa use can begin before all doses of Balance Pak® 300 are
completed; this is contrast to alkalinity and pH, which should be
balanced before bathers enter the pool/spa.
➤ When total hardness levels are high, add fresh water to the pool.
12. SPA EQUIVALENTS
➤ The SpaGuard® line of products does not follow the same naming convention
as the BioGuard® line of products; rather than using Balance Pak®
100/200/300, the product name directly correlates to what the product does.
➤ Balance Pak® 100 = Total Alkalinity Increaser
➤ Balance Pak® 200 = pH Increaser
➤ Balance Pak® 300 = Calcium Hardness Increaser
➤ Lo ’n’ Slo® = pH Decreaser
➤ Stabilizer 100 = not necessary in spas; no equivalent
➤ Pool and spa chemicals are generally interchangeable, but the advantage to
customers of buying only SpaGuard® products for their spa is the dosing chart
available on the product package.
➤ Note that this interchangeability only applies to balancers; pool sanitizers,
shocks, and algicides should not be used in spas!
