Frequently Asked Questions - Index
Please select from one of the following
FAQ Above ground poolsFAQ In ground pools
FAQ Above ground pools
Green Water/Algae
Q: Why did my pool go green?
A: At some stage, chlorine levels have fallen, or chlorine has become ineffective, allowing algae to become established in the water.
Q: How do you get rid of algae?
A: Follow these easy steps.
- If you cannot see the bottom of your pool it is suggested that you empty the pool and start again.
- However if you can see the bottom the first step is to shock dose the pool with an unstabilized Chlorine such as ‘Fi-Chlor Superfast’ available on our website. Shock dosing kills the algae and usually produces the fastest results. The dose for our 'Fi-Chlor Superfast' product is 1kg per (11,000 gals) of pool water.
- Brush off any algae that may remain on pool surfaces using a soft nylon brush.
- Clean the Filter and run the filter for 24 hours, cleaning the filter once again after filtration is complete.
- Remove any sediment from the pool using a garden hose compatible vacuum also available on our website.
- Finally, dose with an Algaecide.
Cloudy Water
Q: How do you get rid of the cloudiness?
A: Clean filter, check and if necessary adjust chemical levels accordingly.
Can't Maintain Chlorine Levels
Q: Can’t maintain chlorine levels?
A: Shock dose the pool and retest after 24 hours, repeating the process if levels are still low.
Eye & Skin Irritation
Q: What causes eye/skin irritation?
A: there are two possible causes – use your test kit to see which is the most probable.
- It could well be a pH problem – the water could be too acidic or too alkaline. The pH of the human eye is around 7.4 -7.5, anything substantially higher or lower will irritate.
- It could be due to high combined chlorine (chloramines). Chloramines are known to be an irritant. Note carefully the results you get on your DPD no3 test. Also, if you get an unpleasant chlorine smell, its odds on that the problem is due to high chloramines.
- Depending on results, adjust the chemical balance accordingly.
Scale Formation
Q: What causes scale?
A: Can happen in hard water areas due to high levels of calcium precipitating out of the water.
Q: How do I remove scale from the pool?
A: Ensure the correct pH level is being maintained and use a spa scale inhibitor to prevent calcium build up.
Stains
Q: What causes stains?
A: Stains can be caused by debris that has fallen to the bottom of the pool or by dissolved metals. When pool water pH, calcium hardness or total alkalinity levels are consistently low, dissolved metals may leave deposits on the pool surface.
Q: What should I do if I see a stain?
A: Treat the stain immediately to effectively remove using one of our 'stain and scale removers'. Brush with a soft nylon brush to disperse the stain.
Too Much Chlorine
Q: Reason for high levels?
A: Too much chlorine added to the pool.
Q: How to reduce the chlorine level?
A: The chlorine level will naturally dissipate in time or can be reduced by a chlorine reducer.
FAQ In ground pools
Green Water/Algae
Q: Why did my pool go green?
A: At some stage, chlorine levels have fallen, or chlorine has become ineffective, allowing algae to become established in the water.
Q: How do you get rid of algae?
A: Follow these easy steps.
- Adjust the pH to as near 7.2 as possible.
- Shock dose with an unstabilized chlorine such as 'Fi-Chlor Superfast' available on our website. Shock dosing kills the algae and usually produces the fastest results. The dose for our 'Fi-Chlor Superfast' product is 1kg per (11,000 gals) of pool water.
- Brush off any algae that may remain on pool surfaces. Look for colonies behind step ladders and around underwater lighting. If you have a concrete pool, use a stainless steel brush. If you have a liner pool or Fibre-glass pool, use a soft nylon brush.
- Run the filter for 24 hours then backwash to remove dead algae from the top of the filter media.
- Vacuum the pool (if sediment on the bottom of the pool, then vacuum to waist).
- Any remaining haziness in the water should be removed by the use of a Flocculent.
- Finally, dose with an Algaecide.
Stains
Q: What causes stains?
A: Stains can be caused by debris that has fallen to the bottom of the pool or by dissolved metals. When pool water pH, calcium hardness or total alkalinity levels are consistently low, dissolved metals may leave deposits on the pool surface.
Q: What should I do if I see a stain?
A: Treat the stain immediately to effectively remove using one of our 'stain and scale removers'. Brush with a soft nylon brush to disperse the stain.
Scale
Q: What is scale?
A: Scale is white, grey or brownish deposits most commonly found on metal surfaces and pool walls.
Q: What causes Scale?
A: Scale can be caused by a combination of the following pool water conditions:
- Total Alkalinity too high (above 200 parts per million (ppm))
- pH above 7.6
- Calcium hardness above 1,000ppm
Q: How can I prevent scale?
A: Maintain total alkalinity, pH and calcium hardness at the follwing levels to keep your water balanced:
- pH: 7.2 – 7.6.
- Total alkalinity: 100 -200ppm
- Calcium hardness: 175 – 1000ppm
Eye & Skin Irritation
Q: What causes eye/skin irritation?
A: there are two possible causes – use your test kit to see which is the most probable.
- It could well be a pH problem – the water could be too acidic or too alkaline. The pH of the human eye is around 7.4 -7.5, anything substantially higher or lower will irritate.
- It could be due to high combined chlorine (chloramines). Chloramines are known to be an irritant. Note carefully the results you get on your DPD no3 test. Also, if you get an unpleasant chlorine smell, its odds on that the problem is due to high chloramines.
- Depending on results, adjust the chemical balance accordingly.
Cloudy Water
Q: How do you get rid of the cloudiness?
A: Check and if necessary adjust chemical levels accordingly, if cloudiness still occurs then a clarifying product such as ‘Sparkle Tablets’ available on our website can be used.
Can't Maintain Chlorine Levels
Q: Can't maintain chlorine levels?
A: Shock dose the pool and retest after 24 hours, repeating the process if levels are still low.
Too Much Chlorine
Q: Reason for high levels?
A: Too much chlorine added to the pool.
Q: How to reduce the chlorine level?
A: The chlorine level will naturally dissipate in time or can be reduced by a chlorine reducer.
