Swimming Pool Water Testing

Keeping total alkalinity in check

Ideal: 70 to 140 ppm

(Ideal range varies based on pool surface type)

To lower total alkalinity, add muriatic acid or Suncoast pH Minus to the deep end of the pool. To raise it, add Suncoast Total Alkalinity Increaser. Be sure to check your pH levels before and after raising or lowering the total alkalinity. You may need to adjust your pH levels again within two to three days of correcting a high or low total alkalinity.

Are pH readings a little wacky?

Ideal: 7.4 to 7.6

To raise your pH level, add Suncoast pH Plus to your pool. To lower pH, you can use either muriatic acid or Suncoast pH Minus. Remember to never adjust pH unless your total alkalinity is already in its ideal range. Most of the time, a wacky pH reading is due to wacky total alkalinity. When the alkalinity is adjusted to its proper range, the pH usually fixes itself within two to three days.

Be a softy for calcium hardness

Ideal: 200 to 400 ppm

(Ideal range varies based on pool surface type)

To increase calcium content, add Suncoast Calcium Hardness. To decrease it, drain some water and then add fresh water to your pool. If you maintain a high calcium hardness level, you may need to add a weekly dose of Suncoast Metal Control to help reduce the chances of getting stains and scale.

Be a stabilizing influence

Ideal: 40 to 100 ppm

Keep in mind that stabilizer helps your chlorine work more effectively, which saves you money in the long run. Low stabilizer readings can be elevated by adding Suncoast Stabilizer. High stabilizer readings can be lowered by adding fresh water to your pool. Also, if you use a chlorine alternative to sanitize your pool, you may not need stabilizer at all.

Diluting a problem with total dissolved solids

Ideal: Under 3,000 ppm

This one's easy. Just add fresh water to your pool should your total dissolved solids readings exceed 3,000 ppm. Be sure to consult your Pinch A Penny expert first, because some pools operate just fine with high total dissolved solids.