calcium hardness treatment how long to run the filter in an inground pool

by Mr. Daron Erdman Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

Wait at about six hours for the calcium chloride to dissolve into the water, then retest the calcium hardness level. Tips on raising your swimming pool calcium hardness

After Adding Calcium Chloride to Raise Calcium Hardness

You should wait 2-4 hours (or one full cycle through the filter) to swim from the moment you use calcium chloride in your pool.

Full Answer

How do I raise the calcium hardness of my swimming pool?

Oct 04, 2021 · These treatments do reduce the effects of high calcium in the short term. However, after 4-6 weeks, these products are completely broken down. Remember, when this happens, the calcium is simply released from the chemical bond and then returns to the water. Finally, your calcium level is back to where you started! Lowering Pool Calcium Hardness

How often should I test the calcium hardness of my Pool?

May 08, 2017 · I mix it in a bucket and pour into the skimmer with the pump on. I leave the pump on for about an hour but I guess just long enough the get it through the system and out into the pool would work. Mixing in a bucket is exothermic, the water calcium / chloride mix gets warm. The pool chemical page doesn't give a TFP preferred method of adding ...

What is the difference between hardness and calcium in pool water?

Calcium hardness must be actively managed—along with pH and total alkalinity—to keep water in proper chemical balance. Current industry standards call for maintaining calcium hardness in the ideal range of 200–400 ppm in pools and 150–250 ppm in spas.

What is the best calcium level for a swimming pool?

Jan 02, 2022 · How Do You Add Calcium To An Inground Pool. Add calcium in four easy steps. 1 Check the hardness of the pool water and fill it with water. 2 Submerge the bucket in the pool until it is about 3/4 full with water. 3 Stir until the calcium chloride is completely dissolved. 4 Slowly pour the completely dissolved calcium chloride into a container.

How long does it take to raise hardness in pool?

The ideal reading for calcium hardness in pool water is about 200 to 400 parts per million. Fortunately, calcium hardness changes rather slowly, so a once-a-month testing and adjustment should be all you need.

How long does calcium chloride take to dissolve in pool?

How to Use Calcium Chloride in Pools. The proper way to perform the addition of calcium chloride is to add a little at a time. Wait for it to dissolve, (about four hours) and then test the water.Mar 30, 2010

How long do you run the filter after you shock it?

Running your filter after shocking your pool is a must and is just as important to your pool as shocking it is. Be sure to run your filter for at least 6 hours, but shoot for 24 hours to several days, if your pool is particularly dirty or has algae, to properly circulate the chlorine and clean the water.

When and how long should I run my pool pump?

Every pool must turn over at least once a day, so most pool pumps should run approximately 8 hours a day. But here's the thing: you don't have to run your pool pump consecutively. You can choose to run it for three hours in the morning before you leave for work and another 5 hours in the evening.

How long do you have to wait to swim after adding calcium hardness?

Most balancing chemicals, such as pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness, will become incorporated into the water within an hour of adding them, at which time swimming is safe. Shock takes longer to adjust with the pool water, so waiting overnight after shocking before you swim is recommended.

Can you swim in pool after adding calcium hardness?

After Adding Calcium Chloride to Raise Calcium Hardness

You should wait 2-4 hours (or one full cycle through the filter) to swim from the moment you use calcium chloride in your pool.

Do you shock pool with filter running?

It's best to shock your pool once the sun goes down and when the pool filter is running. If you put the shock in while it's sunny out, it will not work as well. Never shock your pool when people are swimming in it.

Should I run my filter when I shock my pool?

Run the filtration system

While shocking your pool will help kill any germs any algae, it won't actually get rid of them; for that, you need your filter. So be sure to run your pool filter for at least 24 hours.

Should pump run when shocking pool?

Apply the shock at night time, as sunlight burns up chlorine and greatly reduces its effectiveness. Run your pump (at night) for at least 8 hours to ensure good distribution.

How many hours should I run my pool pump in the winter?

Depending on the size of your pool, we still recommend you run your pump run at least 4-6 hours a day during the fall and winter months. The daily cycle can be divided into multiple cycles, but each cycle should be no shorter than 4 hours, for all the water to pass through the filter at least once.

Is it better to run pool pump at night?

It's best to run your pool pump during the day

Not only does sunlight give fuel for algae to grow, it also destroys your pool chlorine and this is why you should always run your pool during the day!Dec 11, 2020

How many hours should I run my variable speed pool pump?

However, it is important to note that a variable speed pool pump should ideally be running 24 hours a day to ensure proper and optimal water circulation.

Does calcium build up in pool water?

Calcium will also build up in pipes, tubing, and important pool machinery. Everything in your pool will work less efficiently. Not to mention, they'll have to work harder, too. In short, your pool appliances will suffer from a decreased lifespan. You have two good options to lower the pool water hardness.

What happens if you don't keep your pool water hard?

Calcium hardness details how much calcium is present in your pool water. It may come as a surprise, but calcium plays an important balancing role. Failure to keep water hardness in check can cause permanent damage to your pool. You could be looking at repairs worth hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Is it hard to maintain a pool?

If you own a pool, you know it can be difficult to keep it clean and balanced. Among the different pool levels you need to maintain, you can't ignore calcium hardness. Calcium hardness details how much calcium is present in your pool water. It may come as a surprise, but calcium plays an important balancing role.

Is pool water corrosive?

In fact, it's corrosive. The pool water will leach calcium from your pool's tiles, concrete, plaster, or anything else it comes in contact with. This can cause severe and devastating damage to the health of your pool. For example, etching will take place, leaving splotches and scars on your pool's masonry.

Why is pool water murky?

Above 400 ppm, pool water becomes murky, milky, and cloudy. That's because the water is saturated, so additional calcium precipitates out of the mix. Calcium precipitation leads to a process known as scaling. The calcium won't linger in the water forever.

How many public pools violate health codes?

80% of public pools violate at least one health or safety code. Imagine then how many private pools are not kept in good condition. If you own a pool, you know it can be difficult to keep it clean and balanced.

How much calcium hardness is in pool water?

Urban water systems often have calcium hardness of about 40-80 ppm of calcium. As you add water to replace water from evaporation, backwashing, and water lost from swimmers, the fresh water added can bring the calcium hardness level down slowly.

Why is it important to have a balanced calcium hardness level in a pool?

Maintaining a balanced calcium hardness level in your pool is important, as water that lacks enough calcium can dissolve, pit, corrode, and etch the surfaces of your pool containing minerals the pool water is seeking. Testing the pool water and adjusting the calcium hardness so that the level is balanced can help prevent costly repairs ...

Does rain affect calcium in pool?

Rain or melted snow that finds its way into your pool can reduce the calcium hardness, as water from rain and snow is naturally soft water, and lacks calcium or magnesium dissolved in it. If you live in an area where excessive rain or melting snow enter your pool, you could experience a reduction in calcium hardness.

Can you add calcium to a pool?

If you know your local water source tends to be hard water, it would be best to stay to the low end of the calcium hardness ideal range, as any new water you add will increase the calcium hardness level over time. After several years of maintaining a pool and watching your test results, you will know if this needs to be done.

How much calcium is in water?

How to maintain calcium hardness in pool?

Maintaining calcium hardness in your pool is similar to maintaining other chemical and water balance levels in your pool; namely testing the water, adjusting the level with appropriate substances, and retesting to verify the adjustment.

What do you need to test calcium hardness?

To test, you need a test kit or test strips that can perform the calcium hardness test and produce an accurate reading so that you can read the results and determine when to lower calcium hardness or raise the hardness level.

Does alkalinity affect calcium hardness?

The reason you balance alkalinity, pH, then calcium hardness is that adjusting alkalinity often affects pH. Adjusting both alkalinity and pH often affects your calcium hardness, as adding sodium bicarbonate ( baking soda) and sodium carbonate ( soda ash) can increase the hardness of your swimming pool water.

What happens if your pool water is too hard?

If the pool water becomes too hard (calcium hardness greater than 400 ppm) Cloudy pool water. Your pool can only hold so much calcium in your pool, dissolved as a calcium salt, before it reaches its saturation point. Any additional calcium forms in the water as calcium carbonate, and is visible and suspended in the water.

What causes cloudy water in a pool?

Cloudy pool water. Your pool can only hold so much calcium in your pool, dissolved as a calcium salt, before it reaches its saturation point. Any additional calcium forms in the water as calcium carbonate, and is visible and suspended in the water. The out-of-solution calcium can make the water appear cloudy, murky, milky, and even form precipitate flakes of calcium carbonate.

What is aggressive water?

Concrete and masonry corrosion. Aggressive water is the term used where pool water lacking adequate dissolved minerals begins to search for calcium, and your pool will find it any way it can. The water becomes corrosive, as plaster, concrete, or grout, stone tiling, or any surface that contains masonry can experience etching, pitting, or delaminating; essentially dissolving the surface layer of the material.

How much calcium hardness is needed for a pool?

Current industry standards call for maintaining calcium hardness in the ideal range of 200–400 ppm in pools and 150–250 ppm in spas.

How to increase calcium hardness of water?

You can raise water's calcium hardness easily by adding calcium chloride (CaCl2). Two forms are sold: hydrated (77% strength) and anhydrous (100% strength). Each will generate heat when contact with water is made. Therefore, generally you are instructed NOT to pre-dissolve the calcium chloride in a bucket, but to broadcast it over the water's surface with the pump running. Adding calcium chloride in the hours before or after treating with soda ash (sodium carbonate) or baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) will result in cloudy water.

Can you add calcium chloride to water?

Adding calcium chloride in the hours before or after treating with soda ash (sodium carbonate) or baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) will result in cloudy water. To decrease calcium hardness, you must partially drain the vessel and refill it with lower-hardness water.

Why is water cloudy?

Specifically, water with high calcium hardness gets cloudy unless the alkalinity and/or pH are low enough to compensate. As mentioned, the excess calcium carbonate will precipitate as crusty, grayish white scale on surfaces, piping, and equipment.

How to lower calcium hardness in pool?

Lowering Calcium Hardness Level: 1 Drain a portion of your pool water and replace it with softer water 2 If your source water has high calcium check your local business directory for pool water delivery 3 If replacing the water isn’t an option, you can use a flocculant to attract the excess calcium and cause it to clump. After you use the flocculant, clean the walls and floors of your pool to remove the excess calcium and then backwash and clean your pump filter.

How to lower calcium in pool water?

Lowering Calcium Hardness Level: Drain a portion of your pool water and replace it with softer water. If your source water has high calcium check your local business directory for pool water delivery. If replacing the water isn’t an option, you can use a flocculant to attract the excess calcium and cause it to clump.

Why is my pool water so soft?

When the calcium levels in your pool are too low your water is soft which can cause some issues with your pool. Water that is too soft becomes corrosive and can damage the metal components of your pool and also dissolve any concrete surrounding your swimming pool.

What is calcium plus?

Calcium Plus is used to raise calcium hardness in swimming pool water. Low calcium hardness may cause pool water to become corrosive which can result in etched plaster, corrosion of equipment and fixtures or may cause metallic stains. The ideal range is 200 to 400 parts per million (ppm).

Why is my pool cloudy?

Calcium Levels Are Too High. When your calcium levels are too high the water in your pool is hard and can become cloudy. This cloudiness will not clear up even after a shock treatment. High calcium levels can also cause a buildup of sediment around your pool or inside your filter system.

Why is calcium hardness important in pool?

Good calcium hardness levels can make managing pool chemistry so much easier and cost effective. Calcium provides stability. It is remarkably consistent when left alone, and when coupled with good LSI management, calcium hardness helps water chemistry behave in a more predictable way.

Can you put calcium chloride in a pool?

Adding calcium is not as simple as it sounds...you don't just throw it in the pool. Calcium chloride doesn't dissolve the same way as dry acid, sodium bicarb or a non-chlorine shock; calcium chloride gives off a lot of heat. Like any other dry chemical, however, calcium chloride should be pre-dissolved in a bucket prior to adding to the pool.

How cold does water get in the winter?

In much of the country, pools freeze...and even in warm places like Southern California, Arizona and Florida, water temperatures can dip below 50 degrees for several weeks at a time.