Expert's Guide to Swimming Pool Cleaning & Maintenance

Swimming Pool Cleaning Routine

THE ROUTINE - Adding the sanitizer.

CHLORINE

The process entails adding sufficient CB-ClorBase to raise the level as required which should be 2-4ppm according to climate and bather load and adding sufficient CB-ClorTabs to maintain that level.

THE BEST ROUTINE -

1. Check the Total Chlorine level with your test-kit and note the result.

2. If the level has fallen since the last reading then build it up again with CB-ClorBase and add an extra tablet.
   If the level has risen then add one tablet less and don't add CB-ClorBase

If it increases add less CB-ClorTabs.
Shock on a regular basis (monthly or weekly - according to climate and bather load). If you have a test-kit which measures the combined and free chlorine you only need to shock when combined is detected.

BROMINE

Add CB-BromoBase to the required level in the Spring and again just before the summer.
Use CB-ClorTabs and CB-ShockBase in exactly the same way as described for the Chlorine Routine (on the left).

The Chlorine then works to release the sanitizer  from the Bromine Bank and is consumed i.e. no actual Chlorine remains in the water!

PLEASE NOTE: When CB-BromoBase is first added the Chlorine Demand tends to be high for a few days - just continue adding Chlorine until a stable Bromine reading occurs!

You cannot measure Bromine with a DPD test kit it has to be OTO. If your OTO test kit only shows Chlorine values then multiply by 2.2 for Bromine e.g.

2 ppm Chlorine is equal to 4.4 ppm Bromine.

You cannot measure the Combined Bromine as you can Combine Chlorine (with the DPD kit). Nevertheless regular shocking is necessary to maintain water quality.

You should do this monthly or weekly (according to climate and bather load) or whenever the water starts to lose its sparkle and clarity.

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Shocking Swimming Pool Water

  SHOCKING - Applies to Chlorine and Bromine

If you hardly ever shock your pool then just try it once - you will be convinced the next day when you see that crystal-clear, sparkling water!

With CB-ClorShock: Always shock in the evening after sunset. Backwash the filter and sweep if necessary. Add sufficient product to raise the level to 10 ppm. If your test-kit measures combined chlorine this should be increased to 10-12 times the combined.

Backwash again in the morning. No swimming until the Chlorine level has dropped.

With CB-OxoShock: As above but at any time of the day. Swimming may commence after just 20 minutes.

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Clarifying Swimming Pool Water with Flocculants

THE CLARIFIER - Finishes the job!

Why use clarifiers (flocculants)? A lot of the debris in pool water is too fine to be trapped by the filter sand. Flocculants attract these fine particles and they are trapped on the top of the filter. Floc-ing regularly ensures crystal-clear water and saves electricity by cutting down on filtration time.

After shocking or if the water is not as clear and sparkling as you would like, add a handful of CB-DryFloc to the skimmer and leave the filter running all night. Backwash the following morning.

Really serious problems - another use for flocculants! When you have really green water or so much fine dust on the bottom that you cannot see to sweep. Spray 1 litre of CB-LiquidFloc carefully over the whole surface with a garden spray and with the motor off. Leave overnight. The following day all of the debris will have settled to a film on the bottom which you can vacuum-sweep to waste.

Finish off with a handful of CB-DryFloc as above.

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Swimming Pool Water Balancing

BALANCING THE WATER - Ph and Total Alkalinity!

Balancing the pH

If you are using Chlorine Products it is important to maintain the pH between 7.4 and 7.6. With Bromine the pH is not so critical but, nevertheless, important for a pleasant bather experience.

To adjust the pH:

To lower add approx 1/2 litre of pH-MinusLiquid or 200gr. of pH-MinusDryAcid
- for each 0.1 to reduce.

To increase add approx. 1 Kg. of pH-Plus (Soda Ash) or pH-Plus (Bicarb)
- for each 0.1 to increase.
NB: These quantities are approximate and for pools of 50 - 60,000 litres. All pools are different. You should observe the result the following day and you will soon get a feel for your own pool.

Balancing the Total Alkalinity

Balancing the Total Alkalinity is quite important but only needs to be done 3 - 4 times a year unless you have problems with water quality or a lot of topping up has been done. The TA is the balance between acid and alkaline compounds in the water and the ideal is 120 ppm.

This is "slightly scale-forming". Less than this would tend to give corrosive water (which would corrode metal parts and damage the tile grouting and more would cause heavy scaling (furring-up) everywhere.
Additionally, with properly balanced water the pH is easier to control and tends to remain more stable.

The process is slightly complicated and cannot be done without a Taylor DPD test-kit.

Alternatively, bring us a water sample and we will test it and recommend the chemicals to add to balance the water. This is a FREE service for regular clients. Click here for details.

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Algaecide for Swimming Pools

ALGAECIDE

Chlorine or Bromine will only control the algae but CB-Algaecide is a killer. Adding algaecide is vital because it helps cut down on Chlorine. CB-Algaecide is copper-based and chelated to prevent staining.

You only need to use it twice a year - in the Spring and at the start of the Summer. You would need 1 litre each time for a 50-60,000 litre pool.

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Please Note Beforehand - If the health check is required to resolve a problem then you must first carry out 2 consecutive super-chlorination (shocking) processes, otherwise you are wasting your time and ours. Shocking eliminates all combined chlorine - the main cause of turbidity, algae growth and odours!
Nevertheless, it is good practice to have a FREE health check at least twice a year - even if everything seems fine.

Prepare the Sample - At least 1 litre is required in a clean, stopper-ed container. Fill and rinse the container 3 times with pool water and take the sample from a depth of 50 cms. Keep the sample is a cool, shady place and deliver it to your CB-Swim supplier within one hour.

The Test Comprises - Chlorine (Free and Combined), Total Alkalinity, TDS (Totally Dissolved Solids) and Cyanuric Acid (the stabiliser produced by all chlorine products except Shock Liquid).
Precise instructions will be provided to recover the water.
In the case of an Alkalinity Imbalance (the most common fault) you will simply have to add certain quantities of the CB-Swim pH Balancing Products.
In the case of excessive TDS or Cyanuric Acid (both quite rare), the remedy is to empty some of the water and refill. Before you do this you should consider if total drainage, de-scaleing and re-grouting is required.

The Cost - 10 Euros + IVA (Free to regular clients).

PLEASE NOTE: Every pool technician's bible states that regular shocking and water balancing prevents 99% of all water problems. You may find that, after the health check and the recovery process, your problem is not resolved.
This process costs virtually nothing and should be carried out regularly anyway.
You will at least have eliminated water imperfections and can proceed with the (more costly) equipment diagnosis and repair or replacement.