Maintaining the Balance of Calcium Hardness Level in Your Pool
Maintaining the balance of the calcium hardness in your pool is essential for it to function properly. Too much or too little of the calcium can affect its performance and also cause scaling, staining and corrosion of the pool’s interior surface and equipment. Whether you are a pool owner or someone responsible for pool maintenance, understanding properly how to maintain the calcium hardness is important. In this article, we will look at what calcium hardness is, how to measure it, when and how to adjust the level and other things to consider.
What is Calcium Hardness in Your Pool?
Calcium hardness, or simply hardness, is a measure of the amount of calcium found in your pool’s water, which is the main contributor to overall water balance. It is simply a measure of the degree to which particles of calcium salts are suspended in your swimming pool water. A high level of calcium hardness is desirable as it helps prevent corrosion, staining and scale, but a low level may cause them. So it’s important to maintain an appropriate balance of calcium hardness in your pool.
How to Measure Calcium Level?
Testing Calcium Level with a Digital Water Test Kit
The best way to measure and adjust the level of calcium in your pool’s water is by using a digital water test kit. This testing kit usually consists of a digital testing surface that comes with a reagent mixture and a dropper. At your end, you just have to add a few reagents to the pool or spa water in the test sample and drop it on the digital surface. The digital reading will be presented with a range of values in ppm (parts per million) as the measure of total dissolved solids (TDS).
Test Strips and Chemical Test Kits
In addition to the digital testing kit, pool owners can use regular chemical test kits that come with test strips. These strips are dipped in a sample of your pool water for about 20 seconds and then the colors of the strip are matched with a color chart. Chemical test strips are a budget-friendly way to check the calcium hardness level but it may not be as accurate as the digital test kits.
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Understanding What Level of Calcium Needs to be Maintained
For swimming pools, it is desirable to maintain a level of between 200 – 400 ppm. For high-density or plaster pools, a higher level of 2000 – 400 ppm is advised. For hot tubs and other spas, a reasonable level is around 200 – 250 ppm.
Adding Calcium Hardness Increaser
If the tested range is lower than the desired range, then adding a calcium hardness increaser is necessary. To determine the amount to be added to the pool, use the following formula:
Amount to be added = (Desired calcium level – Tested calcium level) * 10 * Volume of pool water
Once the amount is determined, use this formula to find the number of bags to add:
Number of bags = Amount / 35.
Adding Calcium Hardness Decreaser
If the tested level is higher than the desired range, in this case, adding a calcium hardness decreaser is necessary. To determine the amount to be added to the pool, use the following formula:
Amount to be added = (Tested calcium level – Desired calcium level) * 10 * Volume of pool water
Once the amount is determined, use this formula to find the number of bags to add:
Number of bags = Amount / 25.
Neutralizing Acidic Water
Calcium hardness of your pool can also be affected by pH of the water. If the pH level is too low, i.e. the water is too acidic, then the chloride in the pool water can dissolve the calcium, causing it to become too low. To neutralize the pool’s acidic water, you can use baking soda and pH increaser to raise the pH levels, thus allowing the calcium to remain suspended in the water.
Other Considerations
Consulting a Professional Pool Service Person
If you are facing any difficulty in understanding how to measure or adjust the calcium level in your pool, it is best to consult a professional pool service person. They can help you get and maintain the calcium level in your pool.
Keep the Filter Clean
It is very important to keep the pump and filter of your pool free of dirt, debris and scale. Clogged or undersized filters can keep the pool from adequately circulating the water, which makes it more susceptible to calcium deposits.
People Also Ask
What Happens if Calcium Hardness is Too High?
If the calcium hardness is too high, it can cause scaling on your pool walls, as well as on the equipment. This leads to clogging of the filter and reduced efficiency.
What Happens if Calcium Hardness is Too Low?
If the calcium hardness is too low, it can increase the likelihood of corrosion and staining of your pool. It also makes the water more susceptible to pH shifts.
Is pH Affected by Calcium Hardness?
Yes, pH levels can be affected by calcium hardness. If the calcium hardness is too low, the pool’s pH may rise. On the other hand, if the calcium hardness is too high, pH levels may drop.
What is the Ideal Calcium Level for A Pool?
The ideal calcium level for a pool is between 200-400 ppm. Higher levels may cause scaling, staining and corrosion of the pool’s interior surface and equipment.
How Long Does it Take to Balance Calcium Level?
It depends on the severity of the imbalance and the volume of water in the pool. Depending on these factors, it can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours to balance the calcium level.
Final Words
Maintaining the proper balance of calcium hardness in your pool is a critical aspect of keeping it clean and healthy. Too little or too much of it can lead to corrosion, scaling or staining of your pool. Understanding what calcium hardness is, how to measure it and when and how to adjust its level by adding the necessary reagents is important. It is also good to remember to keep the filter of your pool clean to ensure proper circulation of the water. Consulting a professional pool service person is also recommended to get help in measuring and adjusting the calcium level.