Swim University Chemical Calculator (2024)

FAQs

How do I calculate how much chemical I need for my pool? ›

For chlorine granules, you'll need 3 to 4 ounces or about half a cup for every 10,000 gallons of water. For 3-inch chlorine tablets, add 2 tablets for every 10,000 gallons of pool water. If your pool holds 10,000 gallons of water or more, 3-inch tablets work great.

When we add Cl2 (chlorine) + H2O (water), we get a reaction which leaves us with HOCl (hypochlorous acid) + HCl (hydrochloric acid). How much of each is created is dependent on water temperature, cyanuric acid level and especially the water pH level. Hypochlorous acid is the active, killing form of chlorine.

How much chlorine to add depends on the type you're using. But since tablets are the most common, we can say that the rule of thumb for how much chlorine to add is two 3-inch tablets per 10,000 gallons, or one 3-inch tablet per 5,000 gallons. The goal is to have a chlorine level at 1 to 3 parts per million (ppm).

1) What is the difference between chlorine and shock? Do I need to use both? Chlorine is a sanitizer, and (unless you use Baquacil products) is necessary for maintaining a clear and healthy pool. Shock is chlorine, in a high dose, meant to shock your pool and raise the chlorine level quickly.

Although you're adding chlorine to your water, bacteria or algae are overpowering the chemicals causing it not to show up on tests strips or in water kits. Keep in mind, organic materials like algae, leaves, sunscreen, lotions, pee, poop, etc., consume chlorine. As chlorine does its job, it is depleted in the process.

Exposure to high levels of chlorine can cause lung irritation, skin and eye damage, and provoke asthma. Not only is it bad for your health, but it can be bad for your pool due to the increase in chlorine. High chlorine levels decrease the pH of your pool's water, making it more acidic.

The simplest strategy is to follow them, remembering the two golden rules of adding chemicals: only add chemicals to a pool that is running, and only add chemicals to water, not water to chemicals.

What is the first chemical you put in a pool? ›

Adding Chemicals for a Newly Filled Pool

Alkalinity Adjustments: It's recommended to start with any adjustments to Total Alkalinity (TA) first, because of its effect on pH levels. If your TA is below 80 ppm, add Alkalinity Increaser.

Chlorine remains the cornerstone of effective pool service and sanitization. It eliminates bacteria and keeps your water crystal clear. Regularly adding chlorine ensures that harmful microorganisms stay at bay.

Start with pH. Inexperienced pool owners often think that all you have to do is shock your swimming pool with chlorine, but the truth is that pH is the key. If your pH is not balanced, any other chemicals that you add will be ineffective. The ideal pH is between 7.4 and 7.6.

While shocking and adding algaecide is effective in getting rid of algae, it should not be done together. This is because when you mix chlorine and algaecide together, it renders both of them useless. Hence, you should first shock the pool and wait for the chlorine levels to fall below 5 PPM.

With the exception of salt, you should never mix any types of chemicals and put them together, not even close to each other. Never want to mix acid with chemicals like stabilisers, chlorine and buffers. Salt can be added with acid.

The two most popular ways of testing pool chemicals are pool test strips and pool testing kits. Whether you use a kit or a strip, it should measure chlorine and pH levels. These measurements show two of your pool's most important chemical readings.

Once you know how much water fits in your pool, you'll need to know how much chlorine would be enough for each gallon. The rule of thumb here is to use one 3 inches tablet for every 5000 gallons.

A pool that is "balanced" has proper levels of pH, Total Alkalinity, and Calcium Hardness. These are: pH: 7.2-7.8, Total Alkalinity: 80-120 ppm, Calcium Hardness, 180-220 ppm and Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer): 30-50 ppm. Chlorine levels should remain constant in the 1-3 ppm range.