Cara's Pool School

Orthophosphate (commonly referred to as Phosphate) is a degraded form of phosphorous; which is one of the most abundant minerals found in the earth's composition. This means that it can be found in many natural resources (such as leaves, lawn clippings, pet dander, etc.) and also in products commonly used around your home (some detergents, fertilizers, etc.). Although not directly problematic when maintaining proper water chemistry, excessive levels of Phosphates can potentially act as a nutrient for algae to thrive when routine removal or shock treatments are not employed. Consult with your local and trusted pool professional for further information...

Unfortunately, algae spores are present in practically all forms of non-purified water -- including tap and source water. It takes literally millions of algae spores per fluid ounce before visible growth can be detected; so, it's entirely likely that even the most appealing swimming pool has non-visible levels of algae present at any given time. When chlorine levels are consistently maintained at proper levels, most algae strains cannot thrive and bloom. However, there are some strains that can be chlorine-resistant and still find their way into your pool (blown in like pollen, as an example). Since all forms of algae...

Although only slightly different than Calcium Hardness, a Total Hardness test also includes magnesium as part of its reading and should be ideally maintained between 250 - 500 ppm. If Calcium Hardness levels are too low for any real period of time, water can become aggressive toward the pool surface, tile grout, and equipment components exposed to the water; which will result in permanent corrosion and damage that will require repair or replacement. When Calcium or Total Hardness levels get too high, the water can turn cloudy (referred to as precipitation) or deposits (referred to as scale) can form in/on...

Cyanuric Acid (also called Stabilizer or Conditioner) is added to outdoor pools to assist in prolonging chlorine's ability to withstand direct UV light from the sun. Often referred to as "sunscreen for your pool's chlorine", stabilizer prevents chlorine from quickly degrading to next-to-nothing in just a few hours. Keep in mind that high levels of cyanuric acid will require testing adjustments when checking Total Alkalinity levels (due to interference), and excessive levels may be a call to drain (full or partial) in order to dilute the concentration in the water. If in doubt, visit your local and trusted pool professional...

Total alkalinity is the measurement of the amount of alkaline substances in your water (primarily bicarbonates and carbonates). Alkaline substances are what buffers your water against sudden changes in pH so you can more easily control your water chemistry.