This question, as simple as it is, is capable of creating a lot of confusion.
Surfing the internet you can find very different dosages and advice, and reading them all you won’t know which one to follow and you’ll end up with a lot of confusion in your mind.
Owning a pool means spending a lot of time keeping the water free of unwanted intruders.
Whether you’re trying to keep leaves, bugs, or algae out, you should know that keeping unwanted things or critters out is the most immediate and simple way to keep the water clear and clean at all times.
However, it’s really something you add to your water that will make the biggest difference.
Disinfectant is one of the cornerstones of basic pool chemistry, and adding chlorine tablets is an easy way to introduce this essential chemical to your above-ground pool.
In fact, your pool water may be crystal clear, but that doesn’t actually mean it’s also healthy and balanced.
Table of Contents
What Should The Chlorine Level Be In a Swimming Pool?
Water balance is an essential parameter because it allows you to ensure effective disinfection of the pool. It is expressed by the pH value, the scale of which ranges from 0 to 14.
Water with a low pH is called acidic and causes eye and skin irritation, as well as corrosion of metal equipment. When the ph is high, the water is called basic or alkaline.
The consequences can be skin and eye irritation, limescale precipitation, and altered disinfection effectiveness.
The ideal pH value of the water of a swimming pool, above ground or underground, must be between 7.2 and 7.6 to ensure effective disinfection and not have any problem for bathers while a good chlorine level is between 1.0 and 4.0 parts per million (ppm).
Together, they keep bad bacteria at bay: If pH goes up too high, chlorine’s germ-killing power deflates
But what to do when the water has a high or low pH? In these cases it is possible to resort to the use of chemical products:
- you can raise the pH value using ph+ correctors and considering that high temperature and chlorination tend to increase it naturally;
- you can lower the pH with ph- correctors.
Always check the pH value before proceeding with any type of treatment.
Read: What Happens If Chlorine Is Not Added To Pool
Importance and Use of Chlorine Tablets for Ground Pool
Chemical balance is a key issue that every pool owner will need to study and incorporate into their pool maintenance program.
But let’s focus now on the importance and use of chlorine tablets for above-ground pools, and find out the correct dosage.
Let’s say you have already purchased an above-ground pool, or you are looking to purchase one. What you absolutely must know is that water is an element that evolves continuously and that you cannot and must not underestimate.
Therefore, it is necessary to take care of it and treat it in the right way, to guarantee its balance and quality in order to ensure the comfort of the swimmers and also the preservation of the equipment.
In fact, water quality is naturally influenced by several factors:
- the climate, especially by the high temperature;
- the meteorological phenomena;
- the geographical area;
- the frequentation of the pool;
- the filtration system;
- the proximity of vegetation.
Having said that, to facilitate the maintenance of your beloved in-ground pool, it is essential to understand the basics of water treatment. The values and parameters to be considered must be monitored constantly, through even an indispensable tool that is the pool tester.
How To Measure the PH Value in the Pool
There are several systems on the market to check the pH or chlorine value of the pool, below we list some of them:
Indicator maps (more commonly called litmus paper).
These cards, which can detect both the amount of free chlorine and alkalinity of the pool (pH), are strips of paper that are immersed in water for a few moments after which, once extracted, react chemically with the value (pH or chlorine depending on the strip used) indicate approximately the level of chlorine or pH.
Combined Analysis Kits
These kits are small containers, usually plastic, that you need to fill with pool water. The kits are usually prepared with 2 containers, one for pH and one for chlorine.
Along with the kit, you will also find 2 vials (normally differentiated by 2 colors, yellow and red), otho and phenol, which are 2 reagents that you need to pour separately into the 2 containers.
Normally there are 5 drops for both, but we advise you to read the information if they have different concentrations and therefore different doses are needed.
Once the drops have been inserted, the liquids must be mixed, and based on the color obtained you will know what the pH values and the concentration of chlorine in the pool will be.
Even this system is approximate as a reading but in the context of above ground pools are the most commonly used.
Digital testers
They are certainly the most accurate means of control but are also the most expensive, in fact, are usually used in the case of in-ground pools.
The latest generation is the analyzers for pool Blue Connect. It allows you to communicate directly through your smartphone (with a special APP) and will keep you updated on the values of the pool, such as temperature, pH value, chlorine value.
In this way, you can intervene ad hoc allowing you to significantly save on the consumption of products.
Final Thoughts
Once the water is balanced, purification can take place under the best conditions. There are several solutions for disinfection, but the most widespread and effective remains chlorine and its derivatives (other equivalent products such as active oxygen, bromine, and automatic treatment systems).
Chlorine, whose value is expressed in mg or ppm, is present in various forms. The most important one to measure is free chlorine, whose concentration must be between 1 and 2 ppm.
To ensure that the pool water has these chlorine values, it is necessary to act consistently. All sorts of microorganisms are introduced into garden pool water every day: algae spores, bacteria, dust, soot, and dirt.
Knowing the basics of proper cleaning of this water, along with a proper cover, is essential to protect the health of the swimmers.
Every week, therefore, a check should be made of the various values and whether the chlorine concentration is too high in the pool or low.
