Swimming Pool Chemicals

ARE DANGEROUS - THEY ARE CORROSIVE - FLAMMABLE AND ALL TOGETHER NASTY IF NOT TREATED WITH RESPECT.

When using chemicals, wear gloves & goggles and pay attention to any other safety equipment or directions that the product recommends.

Never mix pool chemicals outside of the swimming pool (unless specifically directed to)

Always be "upwind" of chemicals so the dust or vapours don´t blow onto you.

Right, now we have got the safety out of the way (it is important), we can have a look at what chemicals are available and what they are used for. These are chemicals that are used in traditional chlorine based systems, chlorine replacement chemicals are dealt with else where.

	pH Minus, pH -, pH reducer Used to lower the pH level in swimming pools. It is a dry powder that is added directly to the swimming pool water. If you touch it with wet hands, it will turn to acid and burn. In hard water areas, you should have this in your stock at all times.
	pH plus, is, as the name suggests, there to raise the pH level. Not normally needed in hard water areas. This is an alkali that nuetralises acid. Only add small amounts at a time, if you add too much in one go, the water will go milky. Keep off the skin.
	pH Minus in liquid form, also known as "acid", hydrochloric acid. This is used the same as pH minus, but it is very dangerous, spills onto concrete will result in the acid bubbling up and burning the surface. It will also burn stainless steel. It is also used to clean limescale deposits, tide marks and surrounds.

	One of the most commonly used chemicals. It is a stabilised granular chlorine. Acts at a medium speed and is stabilised to prevent UV break down.
	Rapid chlorine. This is also known as a shock. It is used when there is a water quality in a swimming pool where Free Chlorine has dropped and is a problem that needs chlorine adding and working quickly.
	The multi action tablet (or 3 in 1). The mainstay of most private swimming pools. Comes in tablet form so that it releases chlorine at a steady rate. It is stabilised. The "multi action" refers to the added algaecide and floculant. 200 means 200grms, the size of each tablet.
	Algaecide is a chemical that is either used as a preventitive treatment against algea or added in larger doses for pools with algea problems. There are special ones available for Black and Pink algea. The product is a liquid, often based on a copper sulphate compound.
	Floculants are added to the water to assist the filter, they bind the microscopic particles in the water together and make them easier for the filter to catch. Floculant is also used for clearing very dirty pools once the other chemicals are balanced. Comes in sachets for maintenance purposes or liquid for bigger jobs.