Spa and Pool Water Symptom Guide
We have detailed below some of the most common problems experienced by the pool and spa owner. Always check and adjust your pool or spa chemical readings before embarking on other remedies.
"Little and often" is an excellent motto for maintaining a healthy and attractive pool or spa.
Symptom Recommended Chemical Readings
Cloudy Water Total Alkalinity 80 – 120 ppm
Algae Growth Calcium Hardness 250 – 350 ppm
Water Musty Odour Stabiliser 30 – 80 ppm
Chlorine Odour pH 7.0 – 7.6
Eye Irritation Total Dissolved Solids 1500 ppm max
Skin Irritation Chlorine 7.2 – 7.6
Scum Ring Round Spa
Scale on Surfaces
Stains on Surfaces
Cloudy Water
Probable Causes: Cloudy water is often associated with a dirty filter cartridge, excessive body oils or organic matter, which are suspended in the water. Other causes can be an imbalance of chemicals, poor water management or overuse of old water. Cloudy water may also be caused by a build up of calcium carbonate which is measured as calcium hardness. The ideal range is 250 to 350 ppm. If this is the cause you will also find a build up of scale on the spa or pool surfaces.
Solutions: Clean and soak the filter cartridge(s) in Relax Filter and Cartridge Cleaner. On a spa If the spa control panel indicates that there is a low flow rate it may be necessary to replace the filter cartridge.
Remove body oils/organic matter by shock dosing the water with Relax Non Chlorine Shock (if using Chlorine as your main sanitiser) or Relax Granular Chlorine Shock (if using Bromine).
Check and adjust pH and Total Alkalinity levels. Add Relax pH Plus (soda Ash/sodium carbonate) to increase pH. Add Relax pH Minus (dry acid/sodium bisulphate) to reduce pH. Once the pH level is within the required range, check the Total Alkalinity (T.A.) and adjust using Relax T.A. Plus. When at the correct level this will stabilise the pH level of the water.
Spa water should be drained and replaced every three or four months depending upon the amount of use. Remove filter cartridge(s) and wash out, drain spa, clean and refill.
Algae Growth
Probable Causes: Algae growth is usually associated with low sanitiser levels and high pH levels over a prolonged period. Algae thrive in high pH environments due to the warmth and high levels of lime scale.
Solutions: Shock the spa or pool water with Relax Non Chlorine Shock (if using Chlorine as your main sanitiser) or Relax Granular Chlorine Shock (if using Bromine).
Check and adjust pH and Total Alkalinity levels. Add Relax pH Minus (dry acid/sodium bisulphate) to reduce pH. Once the pH level is within the required range, check the Total Alkalinity (T.A.) and adjust using Relax T.A. Plus. When at the correct level this will stabilise the pH level of the water.
In a spa where a high level of algae has built up over a long period it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that the spa water is drained and replaced. Legionella bacterium can build up in hot, unsanitised spa water. Remove filter cartridge(s) and soak in Relax Filter Clean, drain spa, rinse with clean water, clean surfaces and refill.
We recommend the use of Clear N Clean as a algae preventative for swimming pools. It will keep your pool free of algae for six months during both the summer and winter..
Musty Odour
Probable Causes: Musty odour is often caused by excessive levels of organic matter in the water. This is normally due to low or poor sanitisation combined with low pH levels.
Solutions: Shock dose the water with Relax Non Chlorine Shock (if using Chlorine as your main sanitiser) or Relax Granular Chlorine Shock (if using Bromine).
Check and adjust pH and Total Alkalinity levels. Add Relax pH Minus (dry acid/sodium bisulphate) to reduce pH. Once the pH level is within the required range, check the Total Alkalinity (T.A.) and adjust using Relax T.A. Plus. When at the correct level this will stabilise the pH level of the water. It may be necessary to empty and refill the spa or pool.
Chlorine Odour
Probable Causes: Strangely, if you can smell chlorine there is not enough chlorine in the water. There are two chlorine levels to consider;. Free Chlorine (this is friendly) and Combined Chlorine which is a compound and is the cause of the chlorine smell. Combined Chlorine results from body oils, ammonia and organic matter being partially broken down and halomethanes are released from the water. In addition pH levels may be too high. When pH is 8.0 chlorine is only 20% effective. It is important to keep the pH between 7.0 and 7.6. If the pH is below 7.0, chlorine becomes over active and this may also result in chlorine odour.
Solutions: Shock the water with Relax Non Chlorine Shock (if using Chlorine as your main sanitiser) or Relax Granular Chlorine Shock (if using a non chlorine sanitiser).
Check and adjust pH and Total Alkalinity levels. Add Relax pH Minus (dry acid/sodium bisulphate) to reduce pH. Once the pH level is within the required range, check the Total Alkalinity (T.A.) and adjust using Relax T.A. Plus. When at the correct level this will stabilise the pH level of the water.
Eye Irritation
Probable Causes: This normally caused by low pH levels (water becomes more acidic) which causes chlorine to become over active. Eye irritation can also be caused when there is a build of calcium carbonate which is measured as calcium hardness. The ideal range is 250 to 350 ppm. If too high the water will become cloudy.
Solutions: Shock the water with Relax Non Chlorine Shock (if using Chlorine as your main sanitiser) or Relax Granular Chlorine Shock (if using a non chlorine sanitiser).
Check and adjust pH and Total Alkalinity levels. Add Relax pH Minus (dry acid/sodium bisulphate) to reduce pH. Once the pH level is within the required range, check the Total Alkalinity (T.A.) and adjust using Relax T.A. Plus. When at the correct level this will stabilise the pH level of the water. If the chlorine level is found to be too high, remove the covers and run the filter system so that the chlorine evaporates off.
Skin Irritation
Probable Causes: Skin irritation can result from excessive levels of organic matter in the water or from Free Chlorine levels exceeding 5ppm.
Solutions: Shock the water with Relax Non Chlorine Shock (if using Chlorine as your main sanitiser) or Relax Granular Chlorine Shock (if using a non chlorine sanitiser).
Check and adjust pH and Total Alkalinity levels. Add Relax pH Minus (dry acid/sodium bisulphate) to reduce pH. Once the pH level is within the required range, check the Total Alkalinity (T.A.) and adjust using Relax T.A. Plus. When at the correct level this will stabilise the pH level of the water. If the chlorine level is found to be too high, remove the covers and run the filter system so that the chlorine evaporates off.
Scum Ring Round Spa
Probable Causes: Normally due to a build of of oils and dirt.
Solution: Wipe off scum, but if severe, drain the spa and use a water line cleaning liquid or paste to protect the spa shell, the refill spa.
Scale on Spa or Pool Surfaces
Probable Causes: This generally caused by a build up of minerals, particularly calcium carbonate which is measured as calcium hardness. The ideal range is 250 to 350 ppm. Chlorine contains calcium hypochlorite which is released into the water as calcium carbonate. If the level is too high there will be a build up of scale on spa and pool surfaces; filters and pipes will become clogged.
Solutions: With a spa it is best to use Relax Stain and Scale as a preventative measure. A capful once a week will keep the problem at bay. The high water temperatures within a spa lead to high levels of evaporation and the simplest solution, where scale is a significant problem, is to empty the spa, clean off the scale with Relax Stain and Scale, rinse and refill the spa.
In a large pool the most effective solution is to change some of the water. This will dilute the effects of the calcium carbonate.
Stains on Spa and Pool Surfaces
Probable Causes: Low pH and Total Alkalinity (T.A.) can cause staining. It can also be caused by a build up of minerals, particularly calcium carbonate, iron or copper, and is measured as Calcium Hardness. The ideal range is 250 to 350 ppm. Chlorine contains calcium hypochlorite which is released as calcium carbonate. If the overall mineral level is too low the water becomes corrosive leading to the pool or spa surfaces becoming stained.
Solution: Check and adjust pH and Total Alkalinity levels. Add Relax pH Minus (dry acid/sodium bisulphate) to reduce pH. Once the pH level is within the required range, check the Total Alkalinity (T.A.) and adjust using Relax T.A. Plus. When at the correct level this will stabilise the pH level of the water.
If the Calcium Hardness level is still low it can be increased using calcium chloride (industrial salt). Divide the calculated amount into three parts and add at four hourly intervals. Test between doses
Increase level by Volume of water Amount of Salt
10 ppm 5,000 litres 75 grams
10 ppm 45,000 litres 675 grams
With a spa it is best to use Relax Stain and Scale as a preventative measure to maintain the correct mineral balance.
