Pool Docs Prescription

Symptom	Diagnosis	Cure	Prevention
Cloudy water	high pH	Lower pH level to 7.2-7.6	Regular water testing, and maintenance of correct pH range 7.2-7.8
	high total alkalinity	Lower total alkalinity	Maintain total alkalinity at 80-120 ppm.
	poor filtration	Check filter
	early algae growth	Follow the cure for algae	Maintain a free chlorine residual of 1-3ppm.
Hazy green water	Green algae	Adjust pH to 7.2-7.4 and shock treat with chlorine. Brush walls with a brush to dislodge algae. Add a shock-dose of chlorine. Add an algaecide to assist : try Black & green or Busan algaecides. Run pool filter for 24 hours or until water clears, then vacuum. Add liquid floc if particles in suspension do not settle.	Use an algaecide. Shock treat weekly.
Black or mustard algae	Insufficient free chlorine residual	Follow directions for green algae. Supplement with an algaecide specifically for black or mustard algae	Maintain minimum free chlorine residual of 1-3 ppm. Maintain pH in 7.2-7.8 range. Shock treat weekly.
Water discoloration	Excess copper, if water is clear but green. Excess manganese, if water is black/purple. Excess iron, if water is red/brown	Adjust pH to 7.2-7.4 Pre-dissolve shock treatment and add through an empty skimmer. Run filter for 24-48 hours, or until water is clear. For sand filters, if colour remains after 48 hours, add liquid floc.	Maintain pH at 7.2-7.8 range. Use a stain and scale controller.
Eye or skin irritation	Improper pH Chloramines in water	Adjust pH to 7.2-7.4 range. Super-chlorinate	Maintain pH in 7.2-7.8 range. Shock treat weekly.
Chlorine Odour	Insufficient chlorine	Adjust pH to 7.2-7.4 range. Shock treat.	Shock treat weekly.
Scale formation	High pH, high alkalinity and/or high calcium hardness	Lower pH Lower total alkalinity. If hardness level is excessively high, it may be necessary to drain off some water. Stain and scale controller may also be used.	Maintain pH in 7.2-7.8 range. Maintain total alkalinity at 80-120 ppm. Maintain calcium hardness at 200-1000 ppm.
Corrosion of metal parts	Low pH, low total alkalinity, and/or low calcium hardness	Adjust pH to 7.2-7.6 range. Raise total alkalinity. Raise calcium hardness to a min. of 200 ppm using a calcium adjuster.	Maintain pH in 7.2-7.8 range. Maintain total alkalinity at 80-120 ppm. Maintain calcium hardness at 200-1000 ppm.
No chlorine reading on test kit	Chlorine level may be too high and is bleaching your test kit reagents. Check by diluting water sample	Dilute the test sample with fresh water and retest. Multiple the test reading by the amount the sample has been diluted. (Note : do not enter the pool if the chlorine level exceeds 3 ppm.)	Follow dosage recommendations for your size pool. Test chlorine level at least every other day.
Scum ring	Body oils and dirt accumulation	Remove with tile and vinyl cleaner	Encourage swimmers to bathe before entering the pool.
Foaming	Buildup of body oils, cosmetics or other contaminants, Or use of a "quat" algaecide.	Use a defoamer	Encourage swimmers to bathe before entering the pool. Use a non-foaming algaecide.