- Total Dissolved Solids including Salt
- Chlorine level
- pH
- Stabiliser
- Total alkalinity
- Calcium hardness
- Phosphates
The recommended salt level for your pool will depend on the chlorinator you have as different models require different “ideal salt” levels. You should never just add salt without first having your water tested, even if the chlorinator displays a “low salt” error. First bring your water in for testing to be sure because if you add too much salt it can damage your chlorinator and can only be removed by removing water from your pool.
Chlorine sanitises your pool, killing harmful bacteria to make your pool safe to swim in. It is important to maintain a safe level of sanitation throughout the year.
The pH measures the acidity or alkalinity levels of the pool water. If the pH is not within range, it may cause discomfort to swimmers including skin and eye irritations, scaling, cloudy water and will affect the efficiency of chlorine.
Stabiliser acts like a sunscreen for your pool, preventing the loss of chlorine via direct sunlight.
The Total Alkalinity is the measurement of the alkaline materials in the pool. When the correct level it prevents the pH from changing rapidly, also known as pH bounce. When the total alkalinity is too low the water will be corrosive to the pool equipment and surfaces whereas when it is too high it will be scale forming.
Calcium is required to protect the surface of your pool, especially in concrete pools. If the level is too high, you may notice a discolouration of the pool surface, scale build up or cloudy water. If too low, the pool water will be corrosive, affecting the surface of the pool as well as any metal fittings on your equipment.
Phosphates may enter your pool in several ways such as fertilizer run off from your garden bed, pollen blow into the pool or organic debris such as leaves decaying in the pool. A pool with phosphates may have a dull appearance to the water. Phosphates increase chlorine demand as the chlorine is less effective with phophates present