Q: How do I adjust the pH level in my pool?

When pH is too low: Use HTH® Soda Ash on marbelite pools or HTH® Alkalinity Up on marbelite or fiberglass lined pools. Follow pack directions, dilute in a bucket of water and pour around the sides of the pool with the pump running When pH is too high: Use HTH® Easy Acid or HTH® Dry Acid Don’t add more than 500 mL Easy Acid or 2 cups of Dry Acid at a time, carefully pour around the sides of the pool with the pump running. Wait 4 hours before repeating.

Q: How do I adjust the Total Alkalinity (TA) level in my pool?

When TA is too low: Use HTH® Alkalinity Up. Follow pack directions. With the pump off, add to one spot in the deep end. You can switch the pump on after 20 minutes. Re-test after 12 hours When TA is too high: Use HTH® Easy Acid of HTH® Dry Acid Follow pack directions. With the pump off, add to one spot in the deep end. You can switch the pump on after 20 minutes. Re-test after 12 hours

Question 1

How do I adjust the pH level in my pool?

Accepted Answer

When pH is too low:
- Use HTH® Soda Ash on marbelite pools or HTH® Alkalinity Up on marbelite or fiberglass lined pools.
- Follow pack directions, dilute in a bucket of water and pour around the sides of the pool with the pump running

When pH is too high:
- Use HTH® Easy Acid or HTH® Dry Acid
- Don’t add more than 500 mL Easy Acid or 2 cups of Dry Acid at a time, carefully pour around the sides of the pool with the pump running.
- Wait 4 hours before repeating.

Question 2

How do I adjust the Total Alkalinity (TA) level in my pool?

Accepted Answer

When TA is too low:
- Use HTH® Alkalinity Up.
- Follow pack directions.
- With the pump off, add to one spot in the deep end.
- You can switch the pump on after 20 minutes.
- Re-test after 12 hours

When TA is too high:
- Use HTH® Easy Acid of HTH® Dry Acid
- Follow pack directions.
- With the pump off, add to one spot in the deep end.
- You can switch the pump on after 20 minutes.
- Re-test after 12 hours

Question 3

Do I need to correct my pH or TA first?

Accepted Answer

Alkalinity (TA) acts as a buffer in the water to prevent excessive pH fluctuations. You should therefore adjust the TA first to a level of 80 – 120 ppm before adjusting the pH.

Question 4

How do I use HTH® Shock Treatment?

Accepted Answer

Use HTH® Shock® It or HTH® Super Shock It® or 3 cups of HTH® Granular+ Mineralsoft Pool Chlorine.
Remember to adjust your pH before shock treatment.
Do not enter the pool until the free chlorine value is lower than 3 ppm.

Question 5

Is stabilising my pool necessary?

Accepted Answer

Stabiliser can be added to the pool to help prevent chlorine from being broken down by sunlight.
Add HTH® Pool Stabiliser to the pool according to label instructions.
Keep in mind that high stabilizer (CYA) levels can cause “chlorine lock” – prevent chlorine lock by maintaining CYA levels around 50 ppm.
Both HTH® PACE™ floater and HTH® Floater+ contain built-in stabilizer.

Question 6

How do I check stabiliser levels in my pool?

Accepted Answer

Use HTH® Early Warning pool test strips
The CYA section indicates the stabilizer levels in the pool.
Always maintain the CYA level around 50 ppm to prevent “chlorine lock”

Question 7

How do I get rid of/reduce the stabiliser if my reading is too high?

Accepted Answer

There is no product that you can add to remove stabiliser.
Stabiliser levels can only be reduced by draining some of the water from the pool and refilling with fresh water.

Question 8

Can HTH® products be used with a salt chlorinator?

Accepted Answer

Yes, all our products are compatible with a salt chlorinator.

Question 9

How do I backwash my pool filter?

Accepted Answer

To ensure best performance, backwash your filter once every 2 weeks or whenever the pool cleaner gets sluggish.
Backwash for 2 minutes or until water runs clear out the backwash pipe.
Remember to rinse for 20 seconds before you resume filtration.

Question 10

Why is the chlorine in my pool not working?

Accepted Answer

Ensure that the pH level in the pool is between 7.2 and 7.6.
Check the stabilizer (CYA) level – levels higher than 80 ppm could cause chlorine lock and prevent the chlorine from working.

Question 11

Why is the chlorine in my pool not lasting?

Accepted Answer

Check the pH level and maintain around 7.2.
Calculate your pool volume and ensure that sufficient chlorine is added when required.
Add Pool Stabiliser to a level of 50 ppm to protect chlorine against sunlight.
Ensure that weir and pump baskets are cleaned regularly.
Consider using a slow-release chlorine floater.

Question 12

My chlorine level is too high, how can I reduce it?

Accepted Answer

Check that your pool is not over stabilized (CYA is lower than 50 ppm)
If not, let the chlorine dissipate over the next day or two or drain a portion of the water and top up with fresh water.
Check that chlorine level is lower than 3 ppm before entering the water.

Question 13

How long after I’ve added chemicals to the pool will I be able to enter the pool?

Accepted Answer

It’s best practice in terms of safety and product performance to add chemicals to the pool when nobody is swimming.

For granular chlorine and Shock treatment products:
- Enter the water once the free chlorine level is below 3 ppm.

For pool acid:

Allow water to circulate for at least 2 hours.
Measure the pH level and only enter the water once levels are between 7.2 and 7.6

For other pool maintenance chemicals (e.g. algaecides, water clarifiers, metal remover)

Allow water to circulate for at least 12 hours before entering the water.

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