Tips For Chlorinated Or Brominated Pools

This section will give you the pool care products to use when encountering some common problems. Of course the best thing you can do is practice prevention through regular maintenance.

NOTE: A severe infestation of green floating algae will cloud the water, making it difficult to see other bathers or the bottom of the pool thus creating a potentially hazardous situation.

PROBLEM: Green floating algae begins growing on the walls and floor of the pool, spreads rapidly, especially in the presence of sunlight.
SOLUTION: Adjust the pH to 7.4. Depending on pool’s surface type, use Hydrotech Nok-Out or Algae Terminator. Carefully follow use directions, especially dosage levels.

PROBLEM: Black or spot algae first appears as small specks on the pool’s surface then rapidly grows to larger areas. Strongly clings to walls and floor. Highly resistant, can “pit” plaster surface and cause roughness.
SOLUTION: Adjust pH to 7.4. Depending on pool’s surface, vigorously brush spots with appropriate brush and treat with Hydrotech Nok-Out Extra® or Algae Terminator as soon as algae is detected. Re-treatment may be necessary.

PROBLEM: Mustard algae, named for its yellowish-tan color. Easily brushed off surfaces but quickly returns. It prefers shady areas with poor circulation. Resists normal chlorinating treatments.
SOLUTION: Take water sample to your Hydrotech Preferred Dealer. Correction will include brushing and the use of Hydrotech Algae Terminator. Follow dealer’s and label directions carefully.

PROBLEM: Sometimes called pink or red algae, this is an unsightly but harmless bacteria which is easily brushed away but tends to return. Pink Slime collects in and around ladders, skimmers, lights, steps, any plastic surfaces (such as automatic pool cleaners) and pool walls at the water line.
SOLUTION: Adjust pH to the acceptable range of 7.2 to 7.6 (or ideally to 7.4 to 7.6) and thoroughly brush affected areas. Apply Hydrotech Nok-Out or Fast Shock.

The inability to maintain a free chlorine residual in the pool water.

PROBLEM: Continuous addition of free chlorine fails to raise sanitizer level in pool water. Test kit reading shows low-to-no sanitizer level.
SOLUTION: Make sure filter runs for a minimum of 10 hours per day, longer in hot weather and heavy bather loads. Make certain test reagents are fresh and unspoiled. Check for inadequate product levels in skimmer, floater or chlorinator. Make sure chlorinator tubing is free from obstructions.

PROBLEM: Algae presence.
SOLUTION: Algae growth will cause a drastic increase in chlorine consumption. If algae is present, refer to the Algae portion of this guide and use products such as Hydrotech Nok-Out Extra® or Algae Terminator.

PROBLEM: Improper chemical balance.
SOLUTION: Take a sample of your pool water to your Hydrotech Preferred Dealer for complete analysis. Follow recommendations.

PROBLEM: Other problems: undetectable organic contamination, i.e., improperly applied fertilizers, pollens, migrating birds.
SOLUTION: Hydrotech Preferred Dealers have a Chlorine Demand Test Station. This test will tell you exactly how much free chlorine is required to overcome the pool’s demand.

NOTE: Clear water is essential to the safety and health of the bathers. Cloudy water can impair visibility of the pool’s safety equipment and other bathers in the water. This creates a potentially hazardous situation.

PROBLEM: Unable to see the bottom of the pool. Water lacks sparkle, appear dull and flat.
SOLUTION: Most cloudy water problems are related to poor filtration. Operate filter at least 10 hours per day continuously until water clears. To speed the process, use Hydrotech Super See Clear™. Follow label directions.

PROBLEM: Weak flow from return inlets, poor-to-no surface activity, frequent backwash cycles, inadequate filtration due to dirty filter media (sand, DE, cartridge).
SOLUTION: Filter should be cleaned twice each season. Dirt and oil buildup can be removed with Hydrotech Filter & Cartridge Cleaner.

PROBLEM: High pH (over 7.6) and high level of total alkalinity (over 200 ppm).
SOLUTION: Ideally, adjust pH to 7.4 to 7.6 with Hydrotech pHD. (A range of 7.2 to 7.6 is acceptable.) See your Hydrotech Preferred Dealer to reduce total alkalinity.

PROBLEM: Buildup of organic contamination that causes dull-looking water.
SOLUTION: Oxidize contaminants with Hydrotech Nok-Out Extra® or Hydrotech Fast Shock. Follow label directions.

PROBLEM: Sanitizer (chlorine) level is below 1.0 ppm.
SOLUTION: Add Hydrotech Skimmer Sticks, Mini or King Size Tabs, or granular chlorinating sanitizer.

PROBLEM: Difficulty in maintaining 1.0 - 3.0 free chlorine residual.
SOLUTION: Increase amount of Hydrotech Skimmer Sticks, tablets or granular chlorinating products. Increase flow rate through your chlorinator and/or circulation time on pump.

PROBLEM: Early stages of algae infestation, slick or slimy walls, black spots on walls or floor, mustard-colored dust in areas of poor circulation.
SOLUTION: Refer to Algae portion of troubleshooting guide.

PROBLEM: High levels of calcium hardness and total dissolved solids.
SOLUTION: Take a sample of pool water to your Hydrotech Preferred Dealer. Follow recommendations.

PROBLEM: Water is clear, but has a greenish, reddish brown or dark brown tint.
SOLUTION: Trace metals are the most likely reason the pool water has discolored. Refer to the Metals and Stains section below. Take a water sample to your Hydrotech Preferred Dealer for analysis and follow dealer’s instructions.

PROBLEM: Water has greenish tint, but is cloudy.
SOLUTION: This is green floating algae. Refer to the Algae portion of this troubleshooting guide.

PROBLEM: Staining appears as discoloration on pool surfaces. These stains may be green, blue, purple, gray, reddish-brown or beige to brown.
SOLUTION: All “permanent” stains (ones not easily brushed off) are the result of some chemical imbalance or metals present in the water.

PROBLEM: Gray, green to bluish purple stains.
SOLUTION: Most likely copper, possibly iron.

PROBLEM: Reddish to yellow-brown stains.
SOLUTION: Iron is the most likely cause.

PROBLEM: Medium to dark brown stains.
SOLUTION: Uncommon, but most probably the reason is manganese.

PROBLEM: Beige to tan stains on plastered or marcite finishes.
SOLUTION: This is a calcium or silicate scale build-up. Although scale is white, dirt is trapped in the crystals as they form.

PROBLEM: All of the above.
SOLUTION: All these conditions should be treated by your Hydrotech Preferred Dealer. The sooner you react to any stain, the greater the chance it can be eliminated. Hydrotech Tile and Vinyl Cleanse and Hydrotech Cop-Out are two effective means for combating stains.

PROBLEM: Rough, sandpaper-like deposits on the pool’s surfaces. Scale may also build up inside the circulatory plumbing, especially the heater. This condition leads to reduced circulation, loss of heater efficiency, impaired equipment operation and clogging.
SOLUTION: Adjust and maintain pH to the acceptable range of 7.2 to 7.6 (ideal range is 7.4 to 7.6). Take water sample to your Hydrotech Preferred Dealer for possible adjustment of total alkalinity and calcium hardness.

If you reside within an area that has “hard” water, or must draw water from a well, ask your dealer about using Hydrotech Cop-Out as part of your regular chemical maintenance program.

PROBLEM: A prolonged foam build-up which accumulates in the corners of the pool or bubbles which remain on the water’s surface for more than a few seconds.
SOLUTION: Apply algaecides according to use directions. Carefully measure and accurately calculate your pool’s volume. Wash and rinse deck areas carefully so cleaning compounds do not get into the pool. Use only prescribed surface cleaners on your tiles and pool’s interior surfaces. Hydrotech Nok-Out Extra® or Hydrotech Fast Shock will destroy organic contaminants, a possible source of foaming. Use Hydrotech Wham-O in pools with attached spas or fountains.