In general the whole saturation index thing the pool industry has wasted so much paper on doesn t apply to most pools.
Is calcium hardness important in a vinyl pool.
For vinyl pools calcium should be between 150 250 ppm.
In reality calcium is actually your best friend for water balance as it is remarkably stable and able to help you keep your pool in lsi balance year.
Along with ph and total alkalinity the third important measurement of water balance in a swimming pool is the amount of dissolved calcium this measurement is usually called the hardness of the water high calcium levels indicate hard water.
Calcium hardness is also very important to the chemical balancing of your vinyl liner swimming pool.
Hardness at any level is only an issue in a plastic pool pvc pipes vinyl liner polymer pump if it s high.
Calcium hardness has a bad reputation and that reputation is undeserved.
Calcium hardness is the measure of how hard or soft your pool water is and measures how much calcium is dissolved in your pool water.
To keep pool water balanced calcium hardness is one of the most important levels to maintain.
When people see calcium scale or plaster problems that are white in color they immediately assume it s calcium s fault.
I explain calcium hardness in more detail in our swimming pool glossary.
Low ph will damage copper pool heaters.
If your pool has a vinyl or fiberglass liner the calcium hardness level should be between 175 parts per million ppm and 225 ppm.
A low level can result in foaming which is unpleasant but shouldn t harm the liner.
Low levels are soft water.
A hardness of 10 is fine in a plastic pool.
If a vinyl liner s calcium level is too low this soft water situation could lead to foaming and other water problems and can harm the vinyl.
Calcium often referred to as calcium hardness is one of those chemicals that could be easily ignored at first giving the appearance of little importance only to haunt the pool owner in the long run with serious costly damage.
If you have a concrete or plaster pool keep the level between 200 ppm and 275 ppm.
It also produces itchy skin.