Calculator

Round Pool

Oval Pool

Inground Pool

If you do not know the volume of your inground pool, contact the contractor who installed it.

Salt System

For pools employing a saltwater system, salinity values between 2700 and 3400 ppm are defined as appropriate operating conditions. To utilize this calculator: input your pool volume (calculated above), current pool salinity (enter zero if such is the case) and desired pool salinity (this is your salinity “set-point” and should take on a value between 2700 and 3400 ppm). If your salinity is not zero, but you do not know its value, then have your water tested at your local pool chemical supplier for best results. This calculator provides you with a weight (in pounds) of salt necessary to establish a defined salinity set-point.

Water Hardness (Calcium Ion)

Formally defined as the concentration of free/available calcium and magnesium ions (among others), noncarbonate water hardness equilibria dictate a multitude of pertinent phenomena in water treatment chemistry. Be that as it may, controlling this balance as a spa or pool owner is often a tricky procedure. This water hardness calculator is intended to alleviate some of this trickery by removing guess work with a simple yet accurate formula. As before, enter in your pool volume, present hardness and a desired set-point to unveil your pool’s water hardness demand. The water hardness set-point for vinyl or fiberglass pools should fall within the range of 150 to 250 ppm. For concrete or plastered pools, the hardness value is ideal between 250 and 350 ppm.

Chlorine Stabilizer (Cyanuric Acid)

Often retailed as a stabilizing agent against ultraviolet (UV) radiation delivered from the sun, cyanuric acid is a useful compound for binding free/available chlorine (a.k.a. chloride ions) and its associated chlorine oxides within pools and spas. In example, upon addition of strong chlorinating agents (Calcium Hypochlorite, Muriatic Acid, Chlorine Gas, etc.) to a volume of water, a dominating equilibrium develops between hypochlorite ions and their existence as hypochlorous acid. The hypochlorite ion’s characteristic photoinstability gives rise to a need for stabilization to accomplish a managably balanced pool chemistry. Indeed it has been reported that, in a volume of water chlorinated in such a fashion, UV radiation from sunlight can decompose 90% of available hypochlorite ion in a matter of 3 hours (Wojtowicz 2001). It is further reported that addition of cyanuric acid to as little as 25 ppm reduces available chlorine UV decomposition to only 30% over an equivalent 3 hour time frame (Nelson 1967). In general, cyanuric acid addition gives rise to chloroisocyanurate formation which absorb UV radiation making pool chlorine level stabilization possible. The suggested range within which you should maintain your cyanuric acid concentration is frequently stated as 30 to 50 ppm. (Note: Stabilizer will be abbrevated CA meaning Cyanuric Acid, also Concentration is abbreviated as Conc.)

Chlorine Sanitizer (“Trichlor”)

Offered as a form of “stabilized” chlorine sanitizer, Trichlor is frequently marketed as chlorine tabs but is also available as granules.(1-3 ppm)

Mustard Algae (Sodium Bromide)

Sold as Sodium Bromide salt (90-100% by mass), mustard algae treatment is necessary if your pool begins to accumulate a yellowish hue to your liner or yellow precipitant on the pool bottom. Recommended dosing of this salt is typically to 3 ppm (~3mg/L, or 4oz/10,000gallons).