| Reading for |
Specific Reading Goal |
Reason Why |
| pH |
7.5 |
pH and Alkalinity and CYA affect one another. pH is buffered from TA, CYA |
| Total Alkalinity (TA) |
90 ppm |
Alkalinity is normally the buffer against pH decrease. If pH drifts up, lower goal to 80 ppm. If pH drifts down, raise goal to 100 ppm. |
| Cyanuric Acid (CYA) |
50 ppm |
Not higher than 50 ppm. CYA is also a buffer against pH decrease. CYA protects chlorine against degradation from sunlight and controls the amount of chlorine available for disinfection and oxidation. |
| Calcium Hardness |
250 ppm vinyl pools 350 ppm concrete |
NEVER below 150 ppm. Maximum can be greater if source water has high calcium and magnesium minerals. Lower pH and TA to lower calcium. |
