Calculate exact chemical dosages for balanced pool water
Calculate the exact amounts of chemicals needed to balance your pool water. Enter your pool volume and current test results to get dosing recommendations for chlorine, pH, alkalinity, and stabilizer.
Balanced pool water requires maintaining several chemical parameters within specific ranges. Free chlorine should be 1-3 ppm (parts per million). pH should be 7.2-7.6. Total alkalinity should be 80-120 ppm. Cyanuric acid (stabilizer) should be 30-50 ppm. Calcium hardness should be 200-400 ppm. All these values work together — adjusting one affects others.
pH measures how acidic or basic your pool water is on a scale of 0-14. At 7.2-7.6, chlorine is most effective, the water is comfortable for swimmers, and pool surfaces are protected. Low pH (acidic) corrodes equipment, etches plaster, and irritates eyes. High pH reduces chlorine effectiveness and causes cloudy water and scale buildup.
Chlorine kills bacteria, viruses, and algae. Free chlorine is the active sanitizer; combined chlorine (chloramines) is used-up chlorine that causes the strong chlorine smell and eye irritation. If combined chlorine exceeds 0.5 ppm, shock the pool (super-chlorinate) to break down chloramines. Maintain 1-3 ppm free chlorine at all times.
Test water chemistry 2-3 times per week during swimming season. Run the pump 8-12 hours daily for proper circulation. Clean the filter monthly. Skim debris and vacuum weekly. Shock the pool weekly or after heavy use, rain, or algae appearance. Proper winter closing prevents damage and makes spring opening easier.
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