Swimming Pool and Spa Troubleshooting Tips

Better Pool Management is dedicated to helping you keep your pool operating and looking like new. If you experience any problems with your pool or pool water we hope this information will assist you in determining an easy solution. All of the products listed on this chart can be purchased from Better Pool Management by calling us at 215-676-0648.

To determine your pool capacity:

Round Pools: diameter (ft) X diameter (ft) X average depth (ft) X 5.9 = gallons

Rectangular Pools: length (ft) X width (ft) X average depth (ft) X 7.5 = gallons

Oval Pools: short diameter (ft) X long diameter (ft) X average depth (ft) X 5.9 = gallons

 

Problem	Product To Use	Possible Cause	Suggested Solution(s)
Algae Green, Yellow or Black	Super SUN-BURN™ SUN Algae Preventor SUN NF Algaecide 30% SUN NF Algaecide 60% SUN Copper Algaecide SUN Black Algae Treatment	Insufficient chlorine residual Cyanuric Acid >100 ppm Nitrates > 20 ppm	Adjust pH to 7.2-7.4, shock treat with Super SUN BURN™ (1.5ozs/1,000 gals). Brush walls vigorously using nylon brush (vinyl liners) or stainless steel (concrete surface.) Add SUN Algaecide. For green, yellow (mustard) or black; use SUN NF Algaecide 30% or 60% or SUN Copper Algaecide and Black (on White Plaster Pools ONLY) use SUN Black Algae Treatment. Run filter for 24 hours or until water clears. Repeat as necessary.
Pink Algae	Super SUN-BURN™	Insufficient chlorine residual Cyanuric Acid > 100 ppm	Adjust pH to 7.2 - 7.4 triple shock treat with SUper SUN-BURN™ (1.5 ozs. / 1000 gals) Brush walls vigorously using nylon brush (vinyl liners) or stainless steel (concrete surface.) Run filter for 24 hours or until water clears. Repeat as necessary.
Cloudy Water	Super SUN-BURN™ SUN Minus SUN Filter Cleaner	Early Algae Growth Unbalanced water: pH, TA, CH Dirty Filter	Test water using a reliable test kit. If Combined Chlorine exceeds 0.2 ppm, treat as for green algae above. If pH exceeds 7.8 or Total Alkalinity exceeds 125 ppm, lower using SUN Minus. If Calcium Hardness exceeds 1,000 ppm it amy be necessary to partially drain some water. Consult Better Pool Management. If your filter has not been cleaned recently, use SUN Filter Cleaner according to label directions for your filter type.
Colored Water	SUN Metal Control Super SUN-BURN™	Green, hazy - algae Green, clear - copper Red, brown - iron Purple, black - manganese	If water is hazy, and slimy, fllow green algae solution. Otherwise, using a reliable test kit, test water for Copper or Iron (no simple test for Mangenese). test pool with SUN Metal Control using 1 quart per 1 ppm metals for every 10,000 gals. For total metals in excess of 3 ppm, shock treat using Super SUN-Burn™ (1.5 ozs. / 1,000 gals). Adjust pH to 7.2 - 7.4 . Predissolve in a clean bucket of water, add through skimmer, and filter continuously for 24 to 48 hours. If color remains, consult Better Pool Management.
Stain / Scale	SUN Metal Control SUN Minus	Copper, iron, manganese Unbalanced water:pH, TA, CH	Using a reliable test kit, test water for Copper or Iron (no simple test for manganese). Treat pool with SUN Metal Control using 1 quart per 1 ppm metals for every 10,000 gals. If fresh stains are visible, but test results yield 0 ppm, treat as if for 1 ppm. Pour SUN Metal Control directly over fresh stains. Repeat if needed. Refer to Cloudy Water for treatment of high pH, Total Alkalinity or Calcium Hardness.
Foam	SUN Defoamer	Build-up of body oils, cosmetics or other contaminants Use of "quat" algaecide	Use SUN Defoamer. Read and follow label instructions
Film/Scum	Super SUN-BURN™ SUN Tile & Vinyl Cleaner SUN Filter Cleaner SUN Clarifier	Insufficient chlorine residual Dirty Filter Body oil and dirt accumulation	Test water using a reliable test kit. If Combined Chlorine exceeds 0.2 ppm, adjust pH to 7.2 - 7.4 and shock treat using Super SUN-BURN™ (1.5 ozs. / 1,000 gals.) For scum ring, use SUN Tile and Vinyl Cleaner. Clean filter with SUN Filter Cleaner according to label directions for filter type and add SUN Clarifier to water.
Chlorine Odor	Super SUN-BURN™	Insufficient chlorine. the cause is not too much chlorine, but not enough free available chlorine.	Adjust pH to 7.2 - 7.4 and shock treat using Super SUN-BURN™ (1.5 ozs. / 1,000 gals.) Repeat if necessary.
Eye / Skin Irritation	Super SUN-BURN™ SUM Minus SUN Plus	Chloramines (See chlorine odor) Improper pH	Follow shock treatment for chlorine odor if chloramines indicated. Adjust pH to 7.2 - 7.8 with SUN Minus or SUN Plus.
Corrosion of Metal Parts	SUN Plus SUN Alkalinity Control SUN Hardness Treatment	Low pH Low Total Alkalinity Low Calcium Hardness	Adjust pH to 7.2 - 7.8 with SUN Plus. Raise Total Alkalinity to 60-125 (depending upon sanitizer) with SUN Alkalinity Control. Raise Calcium Hardness to 200 - 1,000 ppm using SUN Hardness treatment.
Green Hair	SUN Metal Control SUN Plus SUN Alkalinity Control SUN Hardness Treatment	Copper in water (See corrosion of metal parts) Over use of copper algaecide	Follow suggestions for corrosion of metal parts. Discontinue using Copper Algaecide

 

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