Clearwater Enviro Technologies MineralPURE RC-50 Manual

Chemistry / service

Table of Contents

Quick Links

Download this manual

Chemistry / Service

Manual

Pools & Spas

Dealer Chemistry Service Manual

Table of Contents

Need help?

Do you have a question about the MineralPURE RC-50 and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Summary of Contents for Clearwater Enviro Technologies MineralPURE RC-50

Page 1 Chemistry / Service Manual Pools & Spas Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 2 Chemistry / Service Manual Published by Clearwater Enviro Technologies, Inc. , and is intended for the exclusive use of its dealers and distributors worldwide. Copyright 1992, 2001, 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2023. Any reproduction or duplication without express written consent of Clearwater Enviro Technologies, Inc.
Page 3: Table Of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS WATER CHEMISTRY ..........................4 Glossary of Water Treatment Terms ......................5 Metric Conversion Chart ..........................9 Calculating Pool Capacity ......................... 11 Water Testing Guidelines & Techniques ....................13 Care of Reagents ............................21 Pool Chemistry Chart ..........................24 pH ................................
Page 4: Water Chemistry
WATER CHEMISTRY Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 5: Glossary Of Water Treatment Terms
A. Glossary of Water Treatment Terms The following compilation includes commonly used industry terms and their deﬁnitions Absolute: Used in reference to micron rating of saprophytic (digests chemicals already present cartridge ﬁlters. Refers to an exact size of in their environment) or parasitic. particles that will not pass through, and all particles larger than that size are trapped within Bactericide: material capable of inhibiting or...
Page 6 Chlorine: Chemical sanitizer that kills bacteria Disinfection: Destruction of bacteria in a water and algae. A very toxic biocide. A halogen supply or distribution system. element isolates as a heavy irritating greenish- yellow gas of pungent odor used especially as Dissolved Solids: Includes colloidal and small bleach, oxidizing agent and a disinfectant in suspended particles.
Page 7 Heavy Metals: Metals having a high density or Osmosis: The spontaneous ﬂow of water from a speciﬁc gravity. A generic term used to classify less concentrated solution to a more contaminants such as cadmium, lead and concentrated membrane occurring until energy mercury.
Page 8 Porous: A material which allows certain Superchlorination: Application of large substances to pass through its pores. dosages of chlorine to destroy build-up of undesirable compounds in water. PPB: Parts per billion. Suspended Solids: Includes settle-able particles PPM: Parts per million. less than 1.2 in diameter.
Page 9: Metric Conversion Chart
B. Metric Conversion Chart For your convenience, Clearwater Enviro Tech has formulated Metric and English conversions, as well as International. You will ﬁnd these charts not only handy in volume of water, but area, mass, length, and temperature. INTO METRIC OUT OF METRIC If you know Multiply by To Get If you know Multiply To Get...
Page 10: Volume Conversions
Conversion Charts (continued) METHODS OF EXPRESSING WATER CONSTITUENTS ON WATER ANALYSIS: INTERNATIONAL 1 U.S. grain/gallon ........1 grain, calcium carbonate, per U.S. gallon of water 1 part per million (PPM ......1 part calcium carbonate, per 1,000,000 parts of water 1 part per million (PPM ..........in metric = 1mg/L (one milligram per liter) 1 U.S.
Page 11: Calculating Pool Capacity
C. Calculating Pool Capacity CALCULATION OF POOL CAPACITY: Before a pool can be properly treated, the pool capacity needs to be determined. The formulas below will give you a guideline to follow. The results of these calculations will be approximate. CALCULATION OF AVERAGE DEPTH: Take the depth at the deep and the depth at the shallow end, divide by two, and this will equal your average depth.
Page 12 IRREGULAR POOLS To calculate irregular pools, some ﬁguring will be required. If you cannot get the gallon total from the homeowner’s pool contractor, you can get an approximate ﬁgure by dividing the overall shape into smaller geometric forms- squares, rectangles, circles, or ovals- and ﬁguring the gallon total in each. Then add them together.
Page 13: Water Testing Guidelines & Techniques
D. Water Testing Guidelines & Techniques When it comes to the maintenance of swimming pool and spa water, the service technician wears many hats. Depending on the circumstances, he may be chemist, a lab technician, a biologist, a hydraulic engineer, an analyst, a doctor, or a dispensing pharmacist. Wearing his chemist’s hat, he treats water with various chemicals to sanitize, balance and increase clarity, as well as combat invasion of unwanted plant and animal life.
Page 14 Back in the old days, when people went for a dip in the swimming hole, Mother Nature pretty much took care of all the waterʼs sanitation and puriﬁcation needs. But when folks became trapping and re- using water in swimming pools, Mother Nature was taken out of the picture. Natural bodies of water support a complex network that scientists refer to as an ecosystem.
Page 15: Before You Test
BEFORE YOU TEST No type of testing is any good at all without ﬁrst having a good, representative sample of what it is you’re testing. That rule applies to political polls, television ratings, and best-seller lists as much as it applies to water testing.
Page 16 • Preform tests as soon as possible after taking the sample -- don’t let the sample stand around for too long before you test it. The water characteristics can actually change if the sample is allowed to stand. • Carefully handle samples to be tested later – If you must carry a sample back to the shop for testing, be sure that the bottle is a clean one and that it is ﬁlled to overﬂowing and capped tightly.
Page 17: Test Methods
TEST METHODS There are three basic methods used in testing pool and spa water, and the name of each method pretty much tells you how you judge the results. By far, the vast majority of testing in the pool and spa industry is reagent testing. What this means is that you use some sort of color comparison to read your test results.
Page 18 •Follow the directions – if the directions call for adding ﬁve drops of a liquid reagent, add ﬁve drops: No more, no less. If the test calls for one tablet of dry reagent use only one. If the test tells you to wait 30 seconds for color development, wait 30 seconds, not 20 or 45 or a minute and a half.
Page 19 ELECTRONIC TEST LABS Although they are not designed for service technicians, the most accurate instruments for water testing are complete electronic laboratories, which feature colorimeters and photometers and oﬀer computerized test analysis. For the most part, electronic test labs perform the same tests that you would normally perform with a test kit, but they measure the water sample and dispense reagents much more precisely, and they can read the color intensity of a sample with much more accuracy than you could with your eyes.
Page 20 Taylor Complete Test Kit Copper - Ion Test Kit Phosphate Test Kit Calcium Hardness Test Kit Guardex 4 in 1 Test Kit Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 21: Care Of Reagents
E. Care of Reagents HEAT… LIGHT… TIME… FREEZING Accurate test results require taking proper care of reagents. Using deteriorated or out-of-date reagents may cause inaccurate test results. Let’s examine how to recognize and prevent reagent deterioration. HEAT/LIGHT As with most perishables, reagents need to be stored under speciﬁc conditions. Exposure to extremes of heat or strong ultraviolet light (sunlight) should be avoided.
Page 22 PROPER TESTING PROCEDURES REPRESENTATIVE WATER SAMPLES: the location in the pool where the water sample is taken has a signiﬁcant bearing on the representative chemical determinations. Water samples should be taken at least 18" inches below the water surface in areas away from the return line. Insert a clean plastic bottle, bottom side up, to the required depth and turn the bottle top side up to receive the sample of water to be tested.
Page 23 PREPARE FOR THE NEXT TEST: After testing, ﬂush out sample cells with tap or fresh sample water to avoid any residual from interfering or contaminating the next test. Additionally, colored solutions remaining in the test cell may stain the sides of the cell, compromising color interpretation. Finally, replace reagent bottle caps and securely tighten to avoid external contamination.
Page 24: F.) Pool Chemistry Chart
F. Pool Chemistry Normal Range What can To decrease What can To increase happen if it’s happen if it’s too high too low 1.0 to 5.0 Health hazard Wait; Health hazard. Add Chlorine Chlorine (swimming Algae and Chlorine will should not be bacteria may dissipate quickly permi ed...
Page 25: G.) Ph
G. pH DEFINITION A scale of measurement, pH, was invented to measure the acidity of water in the brewing of beer in the early 1900’s. “pH” stands for “potens hydrogen” – Latin for “hydrogen power” – as acidity is caused by a predominance of the chemical species “H.P.”...
Page 26 RECOMMENDED RANGE Clearwater Enviro Technologies recommends a pH of 7.2 to 7.6. This is THE MOST IMPORTANT TEST to monitor. Try to keep the pH as low as possible (for water clarity) without dropping below 7.0. a pH of 7.2 to 7.4 gives the water a clear look while providing a safety zone to prevent low pH. Since pH normally tends to drift upward, in concrete pools, the slightly lower starting point (7.2 –...
Page 27 With the Taylor test kit, high levels of chlorine (7 – 10 PPM) will completely convert phenol red into a new pH indicator (chlorphenol red). This new indicator is a dark purple when the water is alkaline. Unfortunately, some pool operators mistake the purple color for dark red and think the pool water is very alkaline and wrongly add acid to the pool.
Page 28: How To Adjust
The rain aﬀects pH. An acid rain will lower it somewhat, while other types of rain generally raise it. Heavy bather loads may actually lower the pH, but suntan oil on bathers may raise it. In spas, due to the nature of small amounts of water, the pH will drastically change more often than in pools because the bather load is in direct contact with virtually all of the water.
Page 29 DECREASING THE pH To decrease the pH, ﬁrst do an acid demand test and then add muriatic acid (liquid) or sodium bisulfate (dry acid). It is very inexpensive and available at all pool stores and many hardware and home improvement centers like Home Depot or Lowe’s. Muriatic acid may range in color from a clear to yellow, and has a shelf life of up to 6 months.
Page 30: Total Alkalinity
H. Total Alkalinity DEFINITION In simple terms, total alkalinity is the amount of “basic” (non-acid) materials in a water supply which enables the water to resist abrupt changes in pH. It is the reserve of buﬀering agents that react with and neutralize contaminating acids and bases to maintain a chemical balance.
Page 31 Total alkalinity, as we stated before, is the “buﬀering capacity of water or its ability to resist change in pH”. Drug manufacturers add buﬀering agents to aspirin to prevent the acid in it from damaging the lining of your stomach. Similarly, by preventing or slowing down changes in pH, total alkalinity protects the pool plaster and equipment from damage.
Page 32 HOW TO ADJUST Of all the factors a pool owner must know, this is the trickiest of them all. How do I adjust total alkalinity and pH at the same time so they are both in range? In the pool and spa industry, there are four chemicals commonly used to adjust pH and total alkalinity at the same time.
Page 33 If you stand in one spot and pour muriatic acid into the pool you will lower total alkalinity dramatically with little eﬀect on pH. If you “walk” it around the pool, you will lower both pH and total alkalinity. The reason for this is that when you concentrate the acid in a small area, the pH within that area drops less than 5.5.
Page 34: Calcium Hardness
I. Calcium Hardness DEFINITION The calcium hardness of water is a measurement of dissolved minerals in water, principally calcium and to a lesser extent magnesium. The term “hardness” originally referred to water’s ability to prevent soap from sudsing. Water that resisted sudsing became known as hard water, and water that promoted sudsing became known as soft water.
Page 35 Limestone is the basic source for water hardness in the United States. Most areas of the country have relatively hard water, although some parts – like Atlantic and Gulf coasts and the Paciﬁc Northwest have low levels of hardness in much of their water supply. Some are actually lower than 60 PPM. Some municipal water plants treat their water supplies to reduce hardness.
Page 36 HIGH CALCIUM HARDNESS Water that contains high levels of calcium and magnesium salts is called hard water because it consumes soap and is “hard to form suds”. These minerals combine with soap to form a grey insoluble curd-like substance and cause problems in laundry use. Hard water can stain dishes and clothes. In the pool and spa industry, problems of high calcium hardness are serious.
Page 37 HOW TO ADJUST The basic method used to test water hardness is with a colorimetric test involving a titration. In the calcium hardness test, you ﬁrst add a buﬀer solution to the water sample. The solution contains an organic dye and a buﬀer that increases the pH of the sample to around 10.0, which is where the test works best.
Page 38 Make sure the customer understands that you are not recommending that part of the water be drained because the Clearwater Ionizer is being installed. He may think “well, if I have to do all that I had rather keep using chlorine”. If he keeps using chlorine, it is even more important that he drains part of the water when the calcium is too high.
Page 39: Total Dissolved Solids
J. Total Dissolved Solids DEFINITION Total dissolved solids, or commonly referred to as “TDS” is the sum total of all the dissolved materials in the water, some of its chlorides, algaecides, soda ash, baking soda, and even tile cleaner and body oils.
Page 40 RECOMMENDED RANGE THE RECOMMENDED RANGE OF THE TDS level with the Clearwater system is between 500 and 3,000 ppm. If the range is below 500 ppm, the units cannot produce ions at 100% capacity. As a rule of thumb, the RC-50 units can obtain a maximum readout very similar to the TDS level – for example if the TDS is 400, the highest the Ionizer will go is about 400 mA.
Page 41 HOW OFTEN TO TEST The TDS level should be tested once a year. As a dealer, you should test the TDS level before installation. If it is too high, corrections should be taken to prevent call-backs. Once corrected and retested, the TDS level should be checked on a once a year basis. We recommend that you oﬀer a once- a-year “tune up”...
Page 42 DECREASING THE TDS If the TDS level increases above 3,000 ppm, we recommend that you decrease it. It will be much easier to keep water clear if the TDS is lowered. Excessively high TDS is usually found in hot, dry, arid climates.
Page 43 CHART J-3 Eﬀect of Common Pool Chemicals on Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Common Name Chemical Name Form Increase in TDS (per Neutralizer Increase in TDS due Total TDS Increase 15,000 gallons of pool Required to Neutralizer (per for Chemical & water) 15,000 gallons) Neutralizer (per...
Page 44: Cyanuric Acid
K. Cyanuric Acid (stabilizer) DEFINITION Cyanuric acid is a stabilizer used in chlorinated pools to reduce the chlorine degradation caused by ultra- violet light. Since chlorine in water is rapidly destroyed by direct sunlight, cyanuric acid is added to increase the overall time chlorine will remain in the pool to provide sanitation. Cyanuric acid is a urea- based chemical that passively bonds to free available chlorine, enabling the free chlorine to sanitize the water while being protected from the sun.
Page 45 IMPORTANCE Cyanuric acid is only important to pools that are outside in areas with a lot of direct sunlight – that use chlorine. In a pool with a Clearwater Ionizer, cyanuric acid is not required because they are not using chlorine (residential pools).
Page 46 LOW CYANURIC ACID Low cyanuric acid levels have very little eﬀect on chlorine when below 25 ppm, so a minimum of 25 ppm should be required if any cyanuric acid is needed in the pool. FACTORS OF CYANURIC ACID Pools that are using stabilizing chlorine (dichlor or trichlor) have cyanuric acid in them and is usually available in a stick or tablet form.
Page 47 Chart K-1 Eﬀects of Cyanuric Acid & pH On Free Chlorine Requirement Chlorine Required (ppm). Cyanuric Acid (ppm) For example: it takes a chlorine level of 3.5 ppm at a pH of 7.8 and a cyanuric acid level of 100 ppm to be as eﬀective as 1.0 ppm CI at a pH of 7.2 and a cyanuric acid level of 25 ppm.
Page 48: Copper-Ions And The Clearwater Ionizer
L. Copper-Ions (and the Clearwater Ionizer) DEFINITION Copper is a natural mineral that is the primary source of disinfection of the Clearwater Ionizer. Copper’s job is to kill algae in pool and spa water. IMPORTANCE Copper-ions are an eﬀective algaecide. It is sold by pool store owners to kill black algae, the toughest of all.
Page 49 RECOMMENDED RANGE The recommended range of copper-ions should be between 0.15 and 0.20 ppm. Any amount lower than 0.15 will require a chlorine residual in the water to eﬀectively kill algae. A reading over 0.30 ppm and an improperly balanced pool can cause staining. In some hot, rainy, humid climates, such as Florida, Mexico, Indonesia, a copper reading of .30 ppm may be required.
Page 50 HIGH COPPER-ION READING The only problem associated with a high copper-ion reading is the risk of staining on concrete pools if the pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness or TDS is high for a long period of time. Overkill, by using an excessive concentration of copper, should never be practiced. More is not better in this case.
Page 51 HOW OFTEN TO TEST The copper-ion level should be tested once a week on residential pools, once a day on commercial pools. This is to make sure the proper amount is always in the water. If the pH and total alkalinity readings are kept in range, the copper-ion level will generally stay in the same range all season long.
Page 52 GETTING THE DESIRED COPPER-ION LEVEL When turning on the Clearwater Ionizer for the ﬁrst time, make sure the copper level has been ﬁrst. Make sure the water is clear, and not full of algae. Make sure no metal out removers or sequestering agents that can remove copper have been added to the water for the past year.
Page 53 11.) High Phosphates in the Water. Recent advances in water technology have found that high a level of phosphates in the water is the main breeding ground for algae. By removing phosphates in the water, you greatly reduce algae growth - and copper-ion usage. 12.) High Nitrate, Nitrites, Ammonia, Sulfate Levels.
Page 54 HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO OBTAIN THE PROPER COPPER-ION LEVEL? When installing the unit for the ﬁrst time, make sure none of the above 14 factors can aﬀect the Ionizer. How long will the Ionizer take to reach the proper ion level? What level should you set the Ionizer at? Several factors (such as the 14 listed above), the number of hours the pump is on, pump size, and the setting of the unit is all factors.
Page 55 You can ﬁnd more details in the “Installation and Pool Care Manual” included with every Ionizer. If you ever have any problems, always call Clearwater Enviro Technologies, Inc., directly and we will gladly help you with any questions.
Page 56: Silver-Ions
M. Silver-Ions DEFINITION Silver is a natural mineral that is a primary source of disinfection in the Clearwater Ionizer. Silver’s job is to help kill bacteria and viruses in pool and spa water. IMPORTANCE Silver has had a long history as a bacterial killer. During the plague-ridden middle Ages, mothers knew that to place a silver spoon in an infant’s mouth was a way of warding oﬀ...
Page 57 RECOMMENDED RANGE The recommended range of silver-ions in the water is 1 - 5 ppb (parts per billion). TESTING OF SILVER Testing of silver-ions is not required because if the copper-ion level is in range, the silver-ion will be also. The concentration of silver is pre-mixed in the Clearwater Electrode. Maintaining the proper copper level will ensure the proper silver level as well.
Page 58: N.) Sequestering / Chelation Agents
N. Sequestering / Chelating Agents DEFINITION Sequestering and chelating agents act as a metal controller and stain/scale remover. These products neutralize the eﬀect of metals in water, appearing to lift metal stains and remove metal discoloration from water. Chelating agents resolve the problem when it appears, while sequestering agents provide preventive measures.
Page 59 WHY TEST FOR SEQUESTERING! CHELATING AGENTS? There are two main reasons why you should test for sequestering/chelating agents – A.) If the pool installed is a marcite/gunite pool, the use of a sequestering agent should be used and measured for the proper amounts in the water at any one time to prevent staining (see section “Pool Stain Prevention”).
Page 60 SOLVING PROBLEMS WITH SEQUEST! CHELATING AGENTS The only time you need to solve a problem with high sequestering chelating agents is if the product is removing the copper-ions from the water. The best thing to do is try to determine which products are in the water that are removing the copper-ions from the water.
Page 61: Chlorine
O. Chlorine DEFINITION Webster’s dictionary describes chlorine as a “greenish-yellow, poisonous gaseous chemical element with a disagreeable odor used in the preparation of bleaching agents in water puriﬁcation.” Chlorine used in swimming pools is used to kill algae and bacteria, and to oxidize the dead organic matter.
Page 62 HOW CHLORINE WORKS What happens to chlorine when it is added to the water? How is chlorine manufactured? Most gas chlorine is produced by the electrolysis of sodium chloride (salt) brine. This is done by passing electricity through the solution and separating it into its elements. All chlorine - regardless of whether it is liquid, gas or dry - when added to the water does exactly the same thing - it forms hypochlorous acid (HOCL) &...
Page 63 CHLORAMINES As soon as you add chlorine to the water, it begins to combine with bacteria, algae and organic matter (anything that once lived). It will combine with ammonia and nitrogen compounds and organic matter containing ammonia, to form chloramines. These compounds come from our bodies in the form of saliva, sweat, urine and fecal matter.
Page 64 TYPES OF CHLORINE There are six diﬀerent types of chlorine on the market today. We will look at each one individually: 1. Gas Chlorine Gas chlorine is the purest form of chlorine you can buy. There are no ﬁllers or carriers, so all the chlorine you add to the water is used for disinfecting, sanitizing and oxidizing.
Page 65 The way you pour liquid chlorine into the pool can aﬀect its available chlorine content. It should be poured into the pool with the jug as close to the surface of the water as possible. Aeration and sunlight can destroy part of the available chlorine content on the short distance between the mouth of the bottle or container, and the surface of the water.
Page 66 Dichlor has a near neutral pH of 6.8 - 7.0 and does not require any neutralizing chemical to be added to the pool water. And because it contains cyanuric acid, it does not require the addition of that chemical. 4. Trichlor Trichlor or trichlor-s-triazinetrione (try that word in a spelling bee and you can see why we simply call it “trichlor”!), contains the highest percentage of all types of chlorine compounds.
Page 67 6. Cal-Hypo Cal-Hypo, or Calcium Hypochlorite (chemical formula Ca(ClO) ) was patented in 1799 and was called “bleaching powder”. It is produced by passing chlorine gas over slaked lime. The resulting powder or granules contain 65% - 10% available chlorine. Cal-Hypo is stable and can be stored for long periods of time without signiﬁcant loss in available chlorine content.
Page 68 HOW TO TEST CHLORINE There are two types of test kits used to test chlorine in swimming pools. 1. OTO The OTO test is a colorimetric test that uses a reagent called orthotolidene. The earliest reference to the use of an OTO test was published in 1935. OTO is a white, crystalline material that is normally sold in a hydrochloric acid solution.
Page 69 OTO may also be used to test total bromine. Manufacturers of OTO bromine test kits include a special color comparator for bromine. You may test for bromine using a chorine test kit, but you must multiply the results obtained by 2.2, because bromine is 2.2 times heavier than chlorine. OTO is considered to be a hazardous chemical.
Page 70 If you need to know either the concentration of combined chlorine or bromine in the water, or the total amount of chlorine or bromine in the water, you need to add additional reagents to the sample already tested. Usually, you will use a reagent labeled DPD #3, although some manufacturers include reagents marked DPD #2, #3 and #4 to perform speciﬁc tests for monochloramines dichloramines and total chlorine.
Page 71 TYPES OF CHLORINE NAME Elemental Sodium Lithium Calcium Sodium Trichlori-s- Hypochlrite Hypochlorite Hypochlorite Dichoro-s- triazinetrione Chloride triazinetrione Common Name Liquid Lithium Cal-Hypo Dichlor Trichlor Chlorine Eﬀect on pH Drama cally Raises Raises Raises No change Lowers lowers Advantages Least Inexpensive. Dissolves Great for Built in...
Page 72: Using An Oxidizer / Ozonemax
P. Using an Oxidizer / OzoneMAX All Clearwater Pool and Spa Ionizers will need an occasional oxidizer to keep the water sparkling clear. Commercial pools will need to maintain a small residual of free available chlorine to oxidize the dead matter, algae, bacteria, suntan oils and body oils.
Page 73: Hydrogen Peroxide
All pool stores carry this product, but under a diﬀerent name such as “non-chlorine shock” or some kind of trade name. It is usually listed as potassium monopersulfate, or possibly potassium peroxymonopersulpate in the ingredients. LIQUID CHLORINE OR BLEACH The most cost eﬀective means to oxidize a residential pool is with liquid chlorine or regular household bleach.
Page 74 TRICHLOR TABLET IN SKIMMER A very simple way to oxidize is by simply adding a 3" trichlor tablet in the skimmer for continuous oxidizing. You can even place it in a sealed “baggy” and puncture a few holes to slowly release a strong chlorine oxidizer.
Page 75 COMBINATION IONIZER / OZONE INSTALLATION RC-50 & OZ-50 Installation OZ-50 110/220 VAC Pump Timer, Control Box RC-50 Automation Controller Relay or Power Control Box Installer Supplied Source Control Box Timer Pump Filter SB Coil Venturi Wrapping Electrode Heater Manifold Location To Pool From Pool Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 76: Pool Stain Prevention & Removal
Q. Pool Stain Prevention & Removal POOL STAIN PREVENTION Whenever the Ionizer is being added to a marcite/gunite pool, it is very important that a sequestering agent be added to the pool on a regular basis to prevent staining. There are two types of sequestering agents that we recommend: A.) Pool Stain Treat by United Chemical.
Page 77: Phosphates - The Algae Source
R. Phosphates - The Algae Source Although a common component of pool and spa water, phosphates have gone virtually ignored by the pool and spa industry until now. But as water-chemistry experts are discovering, making the eﬀort to remove this key nutrient from the water can control or even eliminate algae blooms in pools and spas. It’s a familiar tale of woe: no matter how much shocking, scrubbing, ﬁltering and vacuuming you do, the algae in your customer’s pool or spa just keeps coming back.
Page 78: Overall Water Balance
S. Overall Water Balance The overall water balance ties together pH, total alkalinity and calcium hardness. Besides being in the recommended range, these factors should be balanced relative to each other. Refer to the Taylor Watergram Wheel in your Taylor test kit. This is sometimes referred to as the Langelier Index method, and will be described in the next chapter.
Page 79: Langelier Index
T. Langelier Index Back in 1936, Wilfred F. Langelier tried to determine if the water in boilers, cooling towers and heat exchangers was corrosive, neutral or scale-forming. Through experimentation, Langelier discovered that ﬁve factors inﬂuence calcium carbonate precipitation. They are pH, temperature, alkalinity, calcium hardness and total dissolved solids (TDS).
Page 80 LANGELIER VALUE CHARTS C. and D. Water Temperature Value Calcium Ha r dness Value (in degrees Fahrenheit) Total Alkalinity (ppm) 50 ---------------------------------- 2.35 10 ---------------------------------- 1.00 55 ---------------------------------- 2.27 20 ---------------------------------- 1.30 60 ---------------------------------- 2.21 30 ---------------------------------- 1.48 65 ---------------------------------- 2.14 40 ---------------------------------- 1.60 70 ---------------------------------- 2.08 50 ---------------------------------- 1.70...
Page 81 After getting the results by testing these factors, obtain a value from the charts provided in this chapter. To obtain the ﬁnal results, add “A” to “B” together, and then subtract “C” and “D” from that total. The result is a number called the calculated pH, often written pHs. After doing this calculation, there is one more step.
Page 82 Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 83: U.) Filtration & Circulating
U. Filtration & Circulation The ﬁltration system is an essential piece of pool equipment. It is usually located close to the pump. Water is pumped from the pool through the pipes into the ﬁlter and then returned to the pool. By circulating the water and ﬁltering out large dirt particles and sediment that the chemicals and ions cannot handle, it enables you to use the same pool water over a long period of time.
Page 84 BOTTOM DRAIN The bottom drain pulls water from the bottom of the pool to allow circulation in the deep end. It is not just for draining the pool as the name implies. It is very important that the bottom drain stays open, unless a pool vacuum system is being used.
Page 85 Sometimes, it may be necessary to partially close the valve(s) controlling the skimmers to pull water from the bottom drain. Much more suction is required on the bottom drain and the skimmer(s). Some pools have a single valve which shows 100% to 0% to 100% drain. Do not always rely on these markings.
Page 86: Back Pressure
Type Par cle size Cleaning method Advantages Disadvantages removed Sand (#20 grade 35-50 microns Backwash Easy to clean Not the best ﬁlter. silica) Wastes water. Doesn’t ﬁlter well when sand gets old. Cartridge woven 15-20 microns Remove and Good ﬁlter, Diﬃcult to clean polyester sheets wash...
Page 87 To clean the sand, turn oﬀ the pump and drain as much water as possible from the ﬁlter tank. Then pour a bottle of ﬁlter cleaner into the pump leaf strainer compartment. Put the valves in the backwash position and run the pump until the ﬁlter tank is full. Leave this solution in the ﬁlter for about four hours (follow the instructions on the bottle).
Page 88: Cartridge Filter
We ﬁnd that most distributors change the sand on about one pool out of ten. Routinely changing the sand any time the sand is more than two to three years old could solve a lot of potential problems. If you change the sand in ﬁlters very often, you will ﬁnd a device called a “Sand-Vac”...
Page 89 D. E. FILTERS Diatomaceous earth ﬁlters are characterized by vertical stainless steel enclosures which separate in the middle, usually by a constriction band. These ﬁlters may have provisions for back washing or bumping. They ﬁrst appeared shortly after the end of World War II. In general, there will be one or more cloth surfaces in the ﬁlter with a white power (D.E.)
Page 90: Maintenance & Troubleshooting
MAINTENANCE & TROUBLESHOOTING Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 91: Sizing The System
A. Sizing The System When installing the Clearwater system, always make sure it is large enough for the application. The worst thing to do is sell an Ionizer on a large commercial pool, only to ﬁnd it not powerful enough. The maximum capacities on the product speciﬁcation sheets are a good rule of thumb, but there are some other considerations.
Page 92 DETERMINING THE PROPER UNIT Clearwater manufactures several models to ﬁt any size pool or spa: SPA-1R The SPA-1R unit is designed to handle up to 1,000 gallons. It is designed in a weatherproof enclosure and has the electrodes in a clear chamber for easy viewing. R-40 The R-40 unit is designed to handle up to 40,000 gallons of water, or 20,000 in very warm weather climates like Florida or Arizona.
Page 93: B.) Spa-1R Spec Sheet
Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 94 Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 95: C.) R-40 Spec Sheet
Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 96 Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 97: D.) Rc-50 Spec Sheet
Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 98 These measurements were made with the following conditions: • Electrode Used: CLE-11 • Water Temperature: 72.7 °F • Total Chlorine: 0 • pH: 7.45 • TDS: 347 mg/L • Hardness: 215 mg/L • Total Alkalinity: 85 mg/L Designed, engineered & assembled in the USA. Licensed technology Licensed technology 3/23...
Page 99: E.) Cs-75 Spec Sheet
Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 100 Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 101: F.) Cs-150 Spec Sheet
Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 102 Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 103: G.) Cs-225 Spec Sheet
Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 104 Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 105: H.) Cs-300 Spec Sheet
Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 106 Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 107: I.) Cs-450 Spec Sheet
Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 108 Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 109: J.) Cs-600 Spec Sheet
Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 110 Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 111: Opening A Pool
K. Opening a Pool When warmer weather ﬁnally arrives, thoughts will return once again to outdoor activities and the pool. Before you take that ﬁrst dip in the pool for the season, maximize your swimming pleasure by opening your pool properly. By following these opening steps, you can quickly get your pool ready for another season.
Page 112 Bring the water up to the proper level and balance the water chemistry. RANGES Copper 0.15 - 0.20 ppm 7.2 -7.6 Total Alkalinity 80 - 120 ppm Calcium Hardness 150 - 300 ppm 500 - 3,000 ppm Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 113: Closing A Pool
L. Closing a Pool As the weather gets cooler, much less maintenance is required to prevent damage to your pool. The pH will not tend to change as much in the winter as it does in the summer. If you don’t drain your pipes, ﬁlter and pump, it is advisable to run your pump at least one hour a week.
Page 114: Copper, Iron & Other Metals Already In The Water
M. Copper, Iron & Other Metals Already in the Water Sometimes a swimming pool will already have a copper residual. This residual may be from copper algaecides, copper plumbing and heaters, or may be from the city drinking water. Ideally, this residual should be lowered to less than 0.2 ppm and preferably less than 0.1 ppm, before the Clearwater Ionization System is turned on, otherwise the copper/silver balance will not be correct.
Page 115 Never add any chemicals that claim to “prevent staining”, “remove any metals” or “remove staining,” other than those expressly recommended by Clearwater Enviro Technologies. They will lock up the copper and algae may start to grow even though the test kit will still indicate that there is plenty of copper in the water.
Page 116: If The Copper Level Won't Increase / Headquarters Water Testing
N. If The Copper Level Won’t Increase The actual time it takes to raise the copper level will vary from pool to pool and from unit to unit. A pool that takes up to a week to build up the proper amount of copper ions should not be a concern, but if there is no noticeable increase within three or four days, take the following steps to identify the problem.
Page 117 SCALED ELECTRODES/ METER TESTING OF UNITS One of the most common reasons for not obtaining the proper copper-ion level is from scaled electrodes. A calcium buildup between and around the electrodes may insulate the electrodes and reduce the amount of copper and silver-ions going to the water. The old RS-50 (RC and CS units) have a check electrode light that will come on when you are unable to reach desired milliamp power on units.
Page 118 WORN ELECTRODES Over a period of time, the electrodes will wear down, and will get proportionately smaller in size as natural plating occurs. The further apart the electrodes get the less maximum output you will obtain. This is normal and should not be a concern until you are unable to obtain the proper copper ion level. The milliamp level will decrease, but there is no reason to replace the electrodes until you are unable to keep the copper-ion level in the proper range.
Page 119: High Water Temperature
STEEL PLUMBING If the pool plumbing is composed primarily of steel (very common in many countries) there is a chance that this steel pipe can attract the charged copper and silver ions. Locate the electrode chamber as close to the outlet as possible so that the ions travel through less metal pipe. You may want to replace some of the pipe with PVC and upgrade the system to a larger one.
Page 120 WATER TEST REQUEST FORM All water samples should be sent in a plas c container of at least 12 ounces. Company Name: Customer Name: Address: City: State: Phone Number: Mobile Phone Number: E-mail: CET Rep. Size of Pool Unit Installed Date of water test: Water sample labeled: Descrip on of problem –...
Page 121 WATER TEST RESULTS Date: ____________________ Dealer name: __________________________ Contact info: __________________________ Customer name: ________________________ Contact info: __________________________ □ □ □ New installation Troubleshooting Other _______________________ Note:_________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ RESULTS OF TEST Free chlorine ______ ppm Cyanuric Acid ______ ppm Total chlorine ______ ppm ______ ppm ______...
Page 122: Cloudy Water
O. Cloudy Water Cloudy water is always caused by very small particles in the water. The water will not be clear until the particles are removed. There are three ways to remove these particles. For quick results do all three at once. 1.
Page 123: Algae
P. Algae Algae contains an internal green pigment call chlorophyll. Algae may be found in every water supply that is exposed to sunlight and some that aren’t. It is possible to develop a thriving algae population in a 24 hour period. Algae spores and cells are brought into the pool by wind, rain and makeup water. Note that the term algae is plural although many people incorrectly speak of algae in the singular sense.
Page 124 BLACK ALGAE REMOVAL If black algae gets started in a pool, take immediate steps to get rid of it. Rub the top layer oﬀ with a chlorine stick, and then apply an algaecide directly to the algae. Keep treating it every time algae starts to show up.
Page 125: Green Tinted Water
Q. Green Tinted Water On rare occasions the water may develop a clear green tint. The water may be clear with no algae, but has a green tint color to it. This is usually caused by the pool chemistry being out of balance. Solve the problem by balancing the pool chemistry.
Page 126: Black Ladders
R. Black Ladders If a black substance ever forms around anything metal in the pool (ladders, light holder), the cause is a combination of our Ionization taking place along with the “ungrounded” metal. To correct this problem, remove the metal from the pool and clean oﬀ with muriatic acid. It will come right oﬀ.
Page 127: Gunite Stains
S. Gunite Stains Gunite pools, even when properly cared for, are not impervious to discoloration throughout their life. ORGANIC STAINS Leaves, twigs, grass clippings, as well as the creatures commonly found dead in pools, will all eventually sink to the bottom, and deteriorate. As this decomposition occurs, many organic compounds are released which can cause a stain on the surface of the pool.
Page 128 COPPER AND IRON STAINS Normally metals do not cause stains on gunite surfaces unless the water chemistry is out of balance or the level of metals in the water is excessively high. The stains caused by metals may range in color from gray to green to blue to rust, and will usually produce a mottled or streaked appearance.
Page 129 MORE NOTICEABLE STAINS Staining which is easily visible from the pool deck, and has not been on the pool long, may be treated with the following procedure: 1. Turn oﬀ the pump and allow the water to stop moving. 2. Dilute two quarts of acid per 10,000 gallons in a bucket of water and pour around the perimeter of the pool as close to the wall as possible, without splashing on the wall.
Page 130: Vinyl Liner Stains
T. Vinyl Liner Stains Vinyl liners, which are properly cared for, remain fairly impervious to discoloration throughout their life. However, some discoloration or fading with age is normal, and liners which are not properly cared for may exhibit both reversible and non-reversible color changes. DAMAGE BY SUNLIGHT The areas of the liner that are above the water line are constantly exposed to the ultraviolet rays of the sun.
Page 131 INORGANIC STAINS Stains which are caused by metals are classiﬁed as inorganic stains. Coins, bobby pins and metal yard debris such as paint can lids are the most common source of metal stains. Chlorine does not remove metal stains well, just as it does not remove rust stains, from clothing. Oxidizers which have an aﬃnity for metals are required for this type of stain removal.
Page 132 BLEACHED LINERS Pools with white spots or white vertical streaks on the walls are caused by the repeated chemical addition at these areas of the pool. Normally these bleached areas at the edges of the pool are close to the chemical storage area. Pools which are completed bleach have a history of very high chlorine levels. Any bleached area of the pool is very susceptible to staining of any kind.
Page 133 The source of the fungus can be attributed to pool construction and water table. The sand or vermiculite used as well as all other materials in contact with the liner should be treated with a fungicide before the liner is installed. Dredged river sand should never be used to ﬁll or level a pool bottom, as this sand has been shown to be a major cause of fungus introduction.
Page 134: Baquacil Removal Procedure
U. Baquacil Removal Procedure Because of the incompatibility of Baquacil with the other forms of puriﬁcation, all Baquacil must be removed prior to operating the Clearwater Ionizer. When the customer converted to baquacil, they knew that nothing could be in the water with it. (chlorine and/or bromine) So they will understand that if you are converting them to the Clearwater system, the Baquacil will have to be removed.
Page 135: Cleaning And Replacing The Electrodes
V. Cleaning And Replacing The Electrodes The copper/ silver electrodes will last anywhere from a few months to several years. Factors that contribute include pool size, water temperature, ﬂow rate, bather load, ﬁlter condition and chemistry balance. For example, a pool in Maine that is 10,000 gallons may last several years, while a pool in Florida that is 50,000 gallons will last 6 months.
Page 136: Water Treatment Tables
W. Water Treatment Tables Once all the tests for water balance have been completed, and ·the need for treatment determined, the following tables can be used to ﬁnd the correct amount of treatment chemical to add. Turn to the appropriate table and using the column with the correct volume of water, determine the amount of treatment chemical to add.
Page 137 TABLE A Amount of Chlorine Compound to Introduce 1 ppm Chlorine Volume of Water 1000 5000 10,000 20,000 50,000 100,000 Available gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons Chlorine * 1.02 ﬂ oz 2.56 ﬂ oz 12.8 ﬂ oz 1.60 pts 1.60 qts 1.00 gal 2.00 gal...
Page 138 TABLE B 30 ppm Shock Table for Algae Removal Volume of Water 1000 5000 10,000 20,000 50,000 100,000 Available gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons Chlorine * 1.92 pts 2.40 qts 3.00 gal 3.00 gal 6.00 gal 15.0 gal 30.0 gal 15.4 ﬂ...
Page 139 TABLE C To Decrease Free Chlorine Using Sodium Sulﬁte Volume of Water Desired decrease 1000 5000 10,000 20,000 50,000 100,000 in ppm gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons 1 ppm 0.09 oz 0.24 oz 1.19 oz 2.37 oz 4.75 oz 11.9 oz 1.48 lbs 2 ppm...
Page 140 TABLE D To Increase pH Using Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate, 100%) with the Taylor Base Demand Procedure Volume of Water Drops of Taylor Base 1000 5000 10,000 20,000 50,000 100,000 Demand gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons` gallons Reagent 1 drop 0.21 oz 0.51 oz 2.56 oz...
Page 141 TABLE E To Decrease pH Using Muriatic Acid (20° Baumé /31.45% Hel) with the Taylor Acid Demand Procedure Volume of Water Drops of Taylor Acid 1000 5000 10,000 20,000 50,000 100,000 Demand gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons Reagent 1 drop 0.37 ﬂ...
Page 142 TABLE F To Decrease pH Using Dry Acid (Sodium Bisulfate, 93.2%) with the Taylor Acid Demand Procedure Volume of Water Drops of Taylor 1000 5000 10,000 50,000 50,000 100,000 Acid Demand gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons Reagent 1 drop 0.49 oz 1.23 oz 6.16 oz...
Page 143 TABLE G To Increase Alkalinity Using Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate, 100%) Volume of Water Desired 1000 5000 10,000 20,000 50,000 100,000 increase in gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons 10 ppm 0.90 oz 2.24 oz 11.2 oz 1.40 Ibs 12.6 Ibs 7.00 lbs 14.0 lbs...
Page 144 TABLE H To Decrease Alkalinity Using Dry Acid (Sodium Bisulfate, 93.2%)* Volume of Water Desired 1000 5000 10,000 20,000 50,000 100,000 decrease in gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons 10 ppm 1.37 oz 3.44 oz 1.07 2.15 lbs 4.30 lbs 10.7 lbs 21.5 lbs 20 ppm...
Page 145 TABLE I To Decrease Alkalinity Using Muriatic Acid (20° Baumé / 31 .45%) Volume of Water Desired 1000 5000 10,000 20,000 50,000 100,000 decrease in gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons 10 ppm 1.02 ﬂ oz 2.56 ﬂ oz 12.8 fI 1.60 pts 1.60 qts...
Page 146 TABLE J To Increase Calcium Hardness Using Calcium Chloride (77 %) * Volume of Water Desired 1000 5000 10,000 20,000 100,000 400,000 increase in gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons gallons 10 ppm 0.77 oz 1.92 oz 9.61 oz 1.20 Ibs 2.40 lbs 6.01 Ibs 12.0 lbs...
Page 147: Chlorine / Salt Generators
X. Chlorine & Salt Generators Chlorine / Salt Generators Chlorine/salt water generators have become the top alternative sanitizer in the United States over the past 10- 15 years or so. Unfortunately, many people mistaken them as a chlorine-free system, when in fact, they make chlorine! People think that by just adding salt to the pool instead of chlorine makes it a chlorine-free pool.
Page 148 The electrolytic process naturally attracts calcium and other minerals to the plates. Thus, depending on water chemistry and magnitude of use, the cell will require cleaning in a mild acid solution which will remove the buildup of calcium. Extremely excessive build up can reduce the eﬀectiveness of the cell.
Page 149 Disadvantages (continued) Calcium and other precipitate buildup will occur naturally on the cathode plate, and sometimes in the pool itself as “scaling”. Regular maintenance of the cell is necessary; failure to do so will reduce the eﬀectiveness of the cell, which will in turn increase the salinity of the water to corrosive levels (as water ﬂowing through the chlorinator will have salt added but not electrolyzed into chlorine).
Page 150 NOTES Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 151 NOTES Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...
Page 152 CLM-144 04/2023 Dealer Chemistry Service Manual...