| Bromine |
A
chemical that works as a sanitizer or disinfectant to kill
bacteria and algae in pool and spa water. This chemical does
not eliminate swimmer waste unless it is combined with an
oxidizer. It is very susceptible to direct sunlight,
therefore is not efficient in outdoor pools. The ideal range
is from 2.0 to 4.0 ppm for pools and 3.0 - 5.0 ppm in spas. |
| Calcium
hardness |
The
amount of calcium and magnesium in pool and spa water. The
ideal range is from 200 to 400 ppm in both pools and spas. |
| Calcium
hypochlorite |
A
common type of chlorine used in pools and spas. A granular
or tablet substance typically dissolved in water prior to
adding it to the pool and spa water. |
| Chloramines |
An
inefficient disinfectant formed when chlorine has combined
with ammonia and nitrogen in pool and spa water. It exudes a
foul, "chlorine" odor and causes skin and eye
irritation. |
| Chlorine |
A
chemical that works as a sanitizer or disinfectant in pool
and spa water to kill bacteria and algae, and oxidizes
ammonia and nitrogen compounds such as swimmer waste. The
ideal range is from 1.0 to 3.0 ppm in pools and 1.5 - 3.0
ppm in spas. |
| Chlorine
gas |
This
is the most pure form of chlorine and can only be applied to
pools by a trained professional. It is not an appropriate
sanitizer for spas. |
| Colorimetric
tests |
A
test for chlorine, bromine and pH where the reagent causes a
change in color when reacting with the specified chemical. |
| Cyanuric
acid |
A
stabilizer that works to keep a reserve of "free
available" chlorine in pool and spa water, protecting
it from direct sunlight. Because their exposure to sunlight
is limited, it is not frequently used in spas. It is,
however, present in some sanitizers such as trichlor and
dichlor. The ideal level is from 30 to 100 ppm in both pools
and spas. |
| DPD |
A
common chlorine or bromine test using color change as an
indicator. It allows for separate free available and
combined chlorine testing. |
| End-point
reaction |
The
resulting color change in a test sample created when you add
drops of a given reagent. The number of drops correlates
with a measurement. |
| Free
available chlorine |
The
killing, active form of chlorine. |
| Lithium
hypochlorite |
A
granular form of chlorine used in pools and spas. It is
known for its tendency to dissolve quickly. |
| Muriatic
acid |
A
liquid acid that is most commonly used to reduce pH and
total alkalinity levels. It tends to be very strong, and is
not recommended for use in spas. |
| OTO |
A
common chlorine or bromine test using color change as an
indicator. This test will not separate free available
chlorine from combined chlorine. |
| Ozone |
A
powerful gas that acts as a sanitizer and oxidizer, but is
highly unstable and cannot be used to create a sanitizer
residual. |
| Parts
per million (ppm) |
A
unit of measurement used for chlorine, bromine, total
alkalinity, calcium hardness and total dissolved solids. |
| pH |
A
level determining the acidic or basic quality of pool and
spa water. The ideal range is from 7.4 to 7.6 in pools and
7.2 to 7.8 in spas. |
| Phenol
red |
A
common pH test that uses color change as a indicator. |
| Scale
formation |
This
usually occurs on the walls of the pool or spa when there
are high levels of calcium hardness, total dissolved solids,
pH and total alkalinity. |
| Shocking |
Adding
a large dose of chlorine or other chemical's to quickly
increase the amount of free available sanitizers compared
with the less effective, "combined" form of the
sanitizer. |
| Soda
ash |
A
substance used to raise pH and total alkalinity. It is not
recommended for use in spas. |
| Sodium
bicarbonate |
Otherwise
known as household baking soda, this substance is used to
raise pH and total alkalinity levels in pools and spas. |
| Sodium
hypochlorite |
Otherwise
known as common household bleach, this is the most common
form of liquid chlorine used in pools and spas. |
| Test
strips |
Chemically
treated strips that have the appropriate amounts of reagents
on them. Simply dip them into the water and read the
reactions. These strips can test free available and total
chlorine, bromine, pH, calcium hardness, total alkalinity
and cyanuric acid. |
| Titration
test |
A
test used for acid and base demands, total alkalinity and
calcium hardness. It creates an end-point reaction by adding
drops of the reagent to elicit a change in the sample's
color. The number of drops required correlates with the
measurement. |
| Total
alkalinity |
Works
in a buffering capacity, protecting the water from dramatic
pH changes. The ideal range is from 80 to 140 ppm in pools
and 80 to 120 ppm in spas. |
| Total
dissolved solids |
The
total amount of dissolved materials in pool or spa water.
The ideal range is from 1,000 to 2,000 ppm in pools and
1,500 ppm above the start-up TDS in spas. |
| Turbidity
tests |
Used
to test the amount of cyanuric acid in the water. The
reagent causes a cloudiness of the test water. Measurement
is obtained by comparing the test water's visibility (the
degree of clarity of a dot in the test vial) to the test kit
manufacturer's chart. |
| Water
balance |
This
balance is reached when all elements (pH, total alkalinity,
calcium hardness and total dissolved solids) are within
their proper ranges. |
