This document provides guidelines for ideal, acceptable, and problematic ranges for various water chemistry parameters for swimming pool maintenance. It lists the parameters to test, such as pH, chlorine levels, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, cyanuric acid, metals, nitrates, phosphates, and salt or biguanide levels. For each parameter, it gives the ideal range, acceptable range, potential problems if outside the ranges, and corrective actions to take. The goal is to keep all water chemistry parameters within the ideal or acceptable ranges for safe and clear swimming pool water.

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Pool Maintenance /Water Chemistry
Test
Ideal
Range
Acceptable
Range
Problem
Range
Corrective
Action
pH (Chlorine) 7.2 - 7.6 7.2 - 7.6
too high or too
low
Add acid or sodium
bisulfate to lower.
Add soda ash to
raise.
pH (Bromine) 7.2 - 7.8 7.2 - 7.8
too high or too
low
Add acid or sodium
bisulfate to lower.
Add soda ash to
raise.
Free Chlorine, PPM
(Active Germicidal
Form)
1 - 3 PPM 1 - 3 PPM over 5.0 PPM
Too low add
chlorine.
Too high cut back on
chlorine additions.
Combined Chlorine,
PPM
(Total minus Free
Chlorine)
0 - 0.3 PPM 0 - 1.0 PPM over 1.0 PPM
Too high
superchlorinate.
Total Chlorine, PPM
(Free plus Combined
Chlorine)
1 - 3 PPM 1 - 3 PPM over 3.0 PPM
Too high cut back on
chlorine additions.
Superchlorination 10 PPM 10 PPM n/a
How much will be
required depends on
product used and
pool condition.
Bromine, PPM 3 - 5 PPM 3 - 5 PPM over 10 PPM
Too low add bromine
or shock
Too high cut back on
bromine additions.

2. Total Alkalinity, PPM 80 - 120 PPM 80 - 180 PPM over 180 PPM
Too low add sodium
bicarbonate.
Too high consider
adding acid.
Calcium Hardness,
PPM, (Vinyl)
80 - 120 PPM 80 - 400 PPM over 400 PPM
Too low add Calcium
chloride.
Too high add
sequestering agent.
Calcium Hardness,
PPM, (Gunite)
150-200 PPM 150-400 PPM over 400 PPM
Too low add Calcium
chloride.
Too high add
sequestering agent.
Cyanuric Acid, PPM,
(Frost belt)
20 - 40 PPM 20 - 150 PPM over 150 PPM
Too low add
Cyanuric Acid.
Too high replace
some water.
Cyanuric Acid, PPM,
(Sun belt)
40 - 60 PPM * 40 - 150 PPM** over 150 PPM
Too low add
Cyanuric Acid.
Too high replace
some water.
Iron, PPM 0.0 PPM 0.0 PPM
any measurable
amount
Add metal
treatment. At least
one dose per 0.5
PPM.
Copper, PPM
(Mineral Sanitizer or
Ionizer)
0.1 - 0.3 PPM
0.1 - 0.3 PPM
(with pH
favoring 7.2)
over 0.3 PPM
Follow man.
instructions
Copper, (unplanned
additions, natural
sources or corrosion)
0.0 PPM
0.1 - 0.3 PPM
(with pH
favoring 7.2)
over 0.3 PPM
Add metal
treatment. At least
one dose per 0.5
PPM.
Manganese, PPM 0.0 PPM 0.0 PPM
any measurable
amount
Add metal
treatment. At least
one dose per 0.5
PPM
Nitrates, PPM 0 - 10.0 PPM 0 - 40 PPM over 40 PPM
No practical solution.
Removing
phosphates
mitigates their
presence.

3. Phosphates, PPB 0 - 100 PPB 0 - 250 PPB over 250 PPB Phosphate removers
are available. If
untreated, higher
chlorine usage
results.
Total Dissolved
Solids, PPM
no salt chlorine gen
300 - 2000 PPM 300 - 3000 PPM over 3000 PPM
Replace some of the
water.
Total Dissolve Solids,
PPM
w/salt chlorine gen
3000-4000 PPM 3000-5000 PPM over 5000 PPM
Test salt level and
consider replacing
some water
Salt, PPM
with salt chlorine
generator
Manufacturer's
Recommendation
Manufacturer's
Recommendation
Too high or too
low.
Add salt, if too low.
Replace some
water, if too high.
Biguanide, PPM 30 - 50 PPM 30 - 50 PPM
Too high or too
low.
Add Biguanide, if too
low.
Too high, reduce
additions.
Biguanide Shock,
PPM
Suggested application is 1-quart
per 7500 gallons. Enough has to be
added to register a 5-10 PPM level
and produce clear water.
Varies with spa use.
Too high or too
low.
Add Biguanide
Shock, if too low.
Too high, reduce
additions.