How To Add Calcium To A Pool

How should nosotros add calcium chloride to a swimming pool? How tin we make sure we're handling it safely, and properly, to avoid unintended consequences? Adding calcium is not as simple as information technology sounds...you lot don't just throw information technology in the pool. Calcium chloride doesn't dissolve the same mode as dry acid, sodium bicarb or a non-chlorine shock; calcium chloride gives off a lot of estrus. Similar any other dry chemical, withal, calcium chloride should exist pre-dissolved in a bucket prior to adding to the pool. Allow's explain.

Why add calcium chloride?

Until recently, calcium hardness and its importance h2o chemistry has been underestimated. Expert calcium hardness levels can brand managing puddle chemistry so much easier and price effective. Calcium provides stability. Information technology is remarkably consistent when left alone, and when coupled with good LSI management, calcium hardness helps h2o chemistry behave in a more predictable way. Nosotros suggest testing for calcium out of the tap, during initial make full ups, and once a month or so later that.

Related: LSI Balance & Calcium Management (Pillar 1)

Regardless of where you live, water gets colder in the winter fourth dimension. In much of the country, pools freeze...and fifty-fifty in warm places like Southern California, Arizona and Florida, water temperatures can dip below 50 degrees for several weeks at a time. Water temperature getting colder seriously affects the balance and makes for more than corrosive pool water. Calcium-deficient pool water gets aggressive and volition steal calcium from anywhere it can observe it. If a source isn't readily available, the water will corrode through all sorts of equipment (like heaters and salt cells) looking for calcium.

Nosotros accept adamant (in our opinion) that calcium hardness is the most misunderstood chemistry in the pool business organisation. But the truth is, calcium is a very consistent chemical science in pools; information technology doesn't fluctuate like pH or alkalinity will. It's a sturdy foundation to balance water around. The Orenda LSI app taught u.s. calcium's importance, and why its stability is such a do good in h2o chemistry.

What is the platonic calcium hardness level?

At Orenda, nosotros hear this question all the time. Here's our answer to everyone:the platonic calcium hardness level is one that allows you to comfortably maintain LSI balance year-round.

The colder your climate, the more calcium hardness you should have in the h2o. We differ from many textbooks on this, and nosotros exercise so based on our own learning of the LSI and in-the-field evidence. We advise 300 ppm calcium hardness as a minimum, even if y'all're in a hot climate. If you lot are in a climate where your puddle can freeze, 400 ppm is the blank minimum for you...though information technology'southward even better if you have 450-500 ppm. Every bit a matter of fact, many commercial pools that utilise calcium hypochlorite (cal hypo) chlorine routinely maintain calcium levels over 700 ppm without calibration problems. Scale is not a function of calcium hardness alone, just of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) saturation, as measured on the LSI.

Likewise much calcium tin be a bad matter, and cause calibration. Scale is abrasive, just gauge what? It doesn't damage the pool. Scale is treatable; the opposite problem of beingness under-saturated with calcium (which causes corrosion and etching) is not.Add calcium to get the water happily saturated with information technology, and etching/corrosion problems can exist prevented.

How to add together calcium chloride to a pool

You will need:

A reliable test kit that measures calcium hardness
A 5-gallon plastic bucket
Safety equipment - glasses and gloves
Something to stir with - similar a wooden paint-stirring stick
Calcium chloride - The Orenda App displays 77-eighty% fleck, but you can too apply prill/granular.
- Optional: SC-chiliad to chelate the calcium before pouring it into the puddle
A dry measuring cup or saucepan - dose properly. Don't cut corners.

Related Procedure: How to Heighten Calcium Hardness

Pace 1

Examination your pool water and your make full h2o for calcium hardness. Record results. The Orenda app will tell y'all exactly how much calcium chloride you need. Bring the calcium and the items above to the pool, and put on safety spectacles and gloves.

Step 2

Dip the bucket into the pool until it is near 3/4ths full of water. Slowly pour the measured corporeality of calcium chloride into the bucket. If your dose is more than the bucket can handle, you will demand to repeat these steps, or use multiple buckets. We strongly advise you to use good judgement in how much calcium a bucket can hold. Do non exceed 10 pounds per saucepan, as it volition be hard to dissolve and can get besides hot for the bucket. We have seen plastic melt!

Exist very careful with the heat. Condom glasses and gloves are important to avoid accidental burns. It may aid to put the bucket in the water to help cool it downwardly.

Step 3

Stir until the calcium chloride iscompletely dissolved. Pouring undissolved calcium in the pool tin go to the bottom and fire the pool surface, leaving a mark.

In this footstep, it often helps to add near an ounce of SC-grand into the bucket. SC-1000 is a chelant that will demark to calcium and help go along it in solution, and reduce your chance of information technology precipitating back out of solution in the water. As well, if the pH of the water in the bucket is above 8.0 (which is should be if you're doing this on a weekly visit, thanks to Henry'southward Law of physics), add an ounce of muriatic acrid to the bucket too.

Footstep iv

Slowly pour the completely dissolved calcium chloride into the pool. Maybe do about half the saucepan, then permit fresh pool h2o into the saucepan, and stir once more, and slowly pour once more. It helps regulate the hot temperature of the water, and it also gives you more than fourth dimension to make certain everything is dissolved. Add calcium the right fashion, and information technology will go well for you.

What not to do

Don't just throw calcium chloride in your pool. Information technology takes time to dissolve. Never pour calcium directly into a skimmer or gutter. That is a actually bad idea and can wreak havoc on your pool equipment and filter. Calcium is an alkali earth metal and it'southward harder to dissolve than some other pool chemicals. If yous add calcium the proper way, y'all shouldn't take issues.

the wrong way to add calcium to a pool, add calcium, calcium prill, swimming pool calcium, undissolved calcium, calcium burns plaster, calcium damage plaster pool What not to do: never throw undissolved calcium in your water! Information technology will sink to the bottom and information technology gets very hot. It can burn and impairment your pool surface. E'er pre-dissolve calcium in a bucket before pouring it into your water.