In sunny Florida swimming pool and spa waters are exposed to many environmental elements that can negatively affect the chemical balance and appearance of the water.  Air, wind, pollution, sunshine, lawn fertilizers, and weed killers can all contribute to the difficult task of keeping a pool sanitary and crystal clear.  Below are some frequently asked questions regarding pool and spa water problems.  If you do not find your question/answer below please feel free to give us a call.  Or simply hire the Pool Ninjas to solve your swimming pool problems!

What are the components and proper levels of water chemistry?

Chlorine residual: 1.0-3.0 ppm

Total alkalinity: 80-150 ppm

PH: 7.4-7.6

Hardness: 200-400 ppm

Total dissolved solids: less than 2000 ppm

Cyanuric acid: 30-80 ppm

What causes algae in a swimming pool ?
The facts of nature that support algae growth include sunlight, high outside temperatures, and humidity.  All the nutrients algae need to grow are commonly present in swimming pool water: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorous.  Many contaminants contain nitrogen and phosphorous-like contaminants such as skin fragments, dead bacteria, cosmetics, suntan lotions, chemical cleaners, soils, fertilizers, bird droppings, dead insects etc.  The good news is that in most cases algae is not harmful to swimmers.  It does pose a slip  hazard if any is present on wet deck areas or on pool steps.  It also clouds the water making it difficult to see a potential drowning victim.  Algae is most commonly grouped by color into three groups; green, black and yellow.  Algae can be controlled to some degree by insisting that swimmers use the bathrooma as well as shower before entering the pool.  Other factors that may help include the removal of plants that drop debris into the pool as well as making sure the filtration system is running at least 8 hours per day.
 
What is the black stuff growing in between my coping and tiles? 
Black algaes are usually found growing on pool walls in areas of poor circulation, such as the deep corners of the pool. 

Is there such a thing as Mustard algae?  
Mustard algae, which most often grows on pool walls that are shaded, is easily brushed off surfaces yet is difficult to kill.  Although mustard algae may not present problems in the same magnitude as green algae, this form of algae appears to be quite resistant to normal disinfectants and the addition of algaecide.  Some swimming pool algae are also pink in color. 

Why do I have stains on my pool surface?
When pool water becomes discolored or stains on the pool shell begin to appear, the actual color exhibited can often predict the pool problem being experienced.  Colored water from any of the above algaes as well as minerals including iron, copper, and calcium can be the culprit.  Minerals like iron, calcium and copper exist naturally in trace amounts in pool water.  They may originate from the source water, that is, the watr used to fill the pool.  Well water is notoriously high in mineral content.  Iron and copper pipes, fittings and equipment found in older pools can erode slowly with the evryday force of water rushing through.  This corrosion and erosion releases heavy metal ions into the pool, which may be forced out of solution (precipitated), creating dramatic color schemes when free floating and stains when they deposit themselves.  Another source of metal ions occurs when two dissimilar metals are placed in close proximity to each other.  For expample, iron pipe connected to copper pipe, or a brass valve connected to aluminum equipment.  These metals will attempt to exchange ions; water rushing in between them prevents the exchange, carring off bits of their essence to the pool.  A frequent source of copper discoloration and staing is the heat exchanger in the heater.  Water rushing through the 8 or 10 tube, copper finned heat exchanger, at possibly higher than normal flow because of an oversized pump or faulty bypass valve can strip the copper right out.  Corrosion and scaling conditions are dramatically increased by the high temperature found in heaters.  As heat exhangers erode, the pool becomes stained and the exchanger tube walls become thin and begin to leak.

Why does my pool look cloudy?
There are many reasons for cloudy water.  The most common causes are improper filtration, insufficient water circulation or flow rate, and poor water chemistry.  The early stages of algae growth also cloud the water.

Sometimes we get foam in the pool, what is it from?
Suntan lotions, body deodorants, cosmetics, algaecide, organic wastes, and low calcium hardness can all contribute to the formation of foam.

Why does my pool smell like we have too much chlorine in it?
Ammonia compounds released into the water by bather urine, sweat, or the environment, react with chlorine.  The result of this reaction is the formation of chloramines, which are responsible for the so-called "chlorine smell" associated with pools and spas.

Why do my children complain of eye and skin irritation?
Swimmer discomfort is often caused by high combined chlorine levels.  If chloramines are not present in the pool water, however, and the discomfort is still a problem, the PH of water may be too high or too low.

It looks like I have sand at the bottom of my pool?
If sand or DE finds its way into the swimming pool, it is usually caused by filter problems.

My pool keeps losing water, how do I know if it is normal evaporation?
Water loss that is excessive would be more than one inch in a 24-hour period.  For every 1,000 square feet of surface area, an inch of pool water represents 620 gallons.  This type of water loss is probably due to a leak rather tan evaporation or splash-out.  Leakage in the pool shell can occur around inlets, outlets, and copings, but most large leaks are most often detected in the main drain box.  Broken or corroded pipes may also cause major water loss.  A simple test called the "Bucket Test" can help determine if water  loss is due to evaportation or a leak.  First bring pool water to proper level which is half way up the tile or half way up the skimmer basket.  Fill a bucket with pool water to about one inch from top.  Place the bucket on the first or second step inside the pool.  Mark the water level on inside of bucket.  Shut off pump and mark pool water level on outside of bucket.  Turn pump back on and after 24 hours, comare the two levels.  If the pool water (outside mark) goes down more than the inside water level, there is probably a leak.  Repeat the test if it rained during the 24 hours.  Please note the test is not accurate after 24 hours.

Is it safe to swim in a pool that has a thin layer of slime on top of the water?
No! Many bacteria can protect themselves from disinfectants by forming and embedding themselves within a layer of slime called a "biofilm".  Bacteria in a biofilm differ from the bacteria that float freely in the water (plank ton bacteria).  Biofilm bacteria may take a disinfectant level 100 times higher in concentration to achieve the same kill as required for bacteria suspended in water.  Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 65% of human bacterial infections in aquatic environments involve biofilms. Biofilm can harbor disease-causing (pathogenic) bacteria in filters and plumbing.