Rockingham Swimming Pools Ltd

Water Treatment Advice

CIRCULATION
Good circulation will ensure the proper distribution of water throughout your pool. Watch out for dead spots, areas of poor circulation (i.e. corners or behind pool steps) and take care of these when brushing or vacuuming.

Run your filter pump for a minimum of 12hrs every day. The longer you run your pump the better the water quality you will achieve.
Ensure return inlets point down towards the pool floor at a 30-45 degree angle. Pointing this way will aid circulation.
Keep your pump and skimmer strainer baskets free of debris by regular checks.
Backwash your filter once a week! As debris is collected by the filter the pressure within the tank builds up and flow diminishes. Backwashing will remove the debris collected in the sand and improve flow rates.

FILTRATION
The pool filter will remove large & small suspended matter from the water and without an efficient filtration system no amount of chemicals will make the water sparkle. Typically your pump and filter combination will be matched with your pool to get a water turnover period of 6-8hrs. Keep that pump running at least 12hrs every day!

Specially graded silica sand is the media used to fill your filter and this should be changed every 3-4 years.
Backwash your filter once a week!
Chemically clean the filter sand every season to remove grease and calcium deposits.

CLEANING
Brushing the walls and floor, vacuuming the floor and removing debris from the water surface are all necessary parts of regular pool maintenance. Cleaning around the pool’s waterline should also be completed regularly as this area is where grease deposits can accumulate, allowing debris to stick easily to it. This debris provides a source of food for bacteria and algae to grow.

Brush and vacuum your pool regularly.
Clean the pool’s waterline to prevent bacteria and algae. Chemical cleaners are available to make this job easier.
Don’t forget to regularly clean your pool surround. Any debris near the pool will be washed into the water by rain or walked in by bathers making their way in for a swim.
Empty and clean your pump and skimmer strainer baskets regularly.
Never use household cleaners to clean within your pool, they are probably not compatible with your pool water chemistry.
Clean solar and winter debris covers before storing them away with BioGuard Stowaway.

TESTING
Regularly testing your pool water is vital to ensure that the water is safe for bathers to use. As a guide testing disinfectant and pH levels twice a week when the pool is being use is an absolute minimum requirement for domestic pools.

Your pool water should always be sparkling, clear and comfortable to bathe in.
Rockingham can offer a full water analysis service if required. Please contact the office for more details.
Test your pool water at least twice a week, react to the results and adjust chemical levels as necessary.
Prevention of problems is far better than having to repeatedly solve them. Ensure to keep checking your pool chemical levels.

CHEMISTRY
Pool water treatment should be easy and not consume a lot of your leisure time. Rockingham have been extensively trained to help you in your quest for the perfect pool conditions with just a few minutes work each week.

Balance: Set up your pool at the start of each season or after heavy dilution by BALANCING the pH and Total Alkalinity correctly.
Sanitise: Keep that bacteria controlled using a Chemical Sanitiser. Chlorine, Bromine, Active Oxygen or Baquacil ranges are available from Rockingham.
Oxidise: Non-filterable wastes like perspiration, cosmetics and sun tan lotion can build up in your pool. This can lead to unpleasant bathing conditions, cloudy water and provide food for algae growth. Add an oxidizer to your pool to remove these wastes, purify the water and restore clarity and water sparkle.
Algaecide: Algae are microscopic plant life that can multiply very rapidly in pool water. They can be the bane of pool owners lives as they could turn a clear pool green and unusable. It costs far more in time and money to cure a algae problem than prevent it. Use a Algae Inhibitor to stop algae gaining a foothold.

IDEAL POOL READINGS

Test	Pool Finish	Ideal Reading
Chlorine / Bromine	All	Free Chlorine: 1 - 3 mg/l Total Chlorine: 1 - 3 mg/l Bromine: 2 - 4 mg/l
pH	All	7.4 Did you know? the pH of tear-drops is 7.42. Keep your pH around this level to help avoid stinging eyes!
Total Alkalinity	Liner Fibreglass Mosaic / Tiled Marbline	125 - 150 mg/l 125 - 150 mg/l 80 - 125 mg/l 80 - 125 mg/l
Calcium Hardness	Liner Fibreglass Mosaic / Tiled Marbline	175 - 225 mg/l 175 - 225 mg/l 200 - 275 mg/l 200 - 275 mg/l

Please Note: The Readings and Remedies detailed above are guidelines only. Always check Chemical Labels for Instructions.