Which Pool Chemicals Do I Need?

“What chemicals should I add to my pool?” you may ask.

There are many different types of chemicals and chemical systems you could add to your pool. When choosing a chemical system, it is important that all of the chemicals are keeping your pool clean, balanced, and comfortable for summer!
Regardless of the types of chemicals, you are using or the different chemical systems, you should always be adding some type of sanitizer, a shock or clarifier, and algae preventative.

Sanitizer
One of the most important chemicals you should be adding to your pool is sanitizer. For most, that sanitizer is chlorine. It can be added by using chlorine tabs or sticks into your chlorine floater or skimmer basket. Chlorine can also be added directly to the pool through chlorine granules. The ideal chlorine level in your pool is 3 parts per million (ppm). Anything less than that, and your pool water isn’t really clean. Another type of sanitizer that you could add to your pool on a non-chlorinated system is called Softswim B. This type of liquid sanitizer will be added directly to your pool every two weeks or as needed.

For Chlorine and SoftSwim basic 3 step chemical maintenance and descriptions click here.

Algaecide
In addition to adding a sanitizer, adding an algaecide is also an important product in maintaining a clean and clear pool for the summer. An algae preventative will keep your pool clear of algae. This product is added every week or every two weeks, depending on the chemical system you choose to be on.

Shock
While keeping your pool clear of algae, the use of shock in a chlorine pool will kill and oxidize all of the unwanted contaminants in the water.  When using the Softswim non-chlorinated system, a water clarifier will be added to remove contaminants and keep your water clear.

Balancers

As for other chemicals, better known as balancers, this will all depend on the chemistry of your water in the pool. These chemicals will help to keep your water balance:

• pH
• alkalinity
• calcium hardness