ABSOLUTE POOL & SPA SERVICES

A Huge Resource of Pool and Spa Information, Products & Services
100% Satisfaction Guarantee or we Work for Free

NEW# 604 464-SPAS (7727) Please make use of our voicemail service if reached.
  www.AbsolutePoolSpa.info  

British Columbia Arms

Glossary

Home ] Service & Repairs ] Hot Tub Covers ] Products ] Chemistry Resource ] Lots & Lots of FAQ's! ] Tips-Must Read ] Manufacturer Links ] Contact Us ]

Member of Better Business Bureau of Mainland BC - Our NEW Phone # 604-464-7727 effective Sept 2/03 - Mention you saw us on the web.

 

Home
Up

Pages available under the page your currently at, are below.

Up

General Categories Available below

Home
Up
Service & Repairs
Hot Tub Covers
Products
Lots & Lots of FAQ's!
Tips-Must Read
Manufacturer Links
Contact Us

Glossary

  1. Acid
  2. Acid Demand
  3. Aggressive Water
  4. Algae
  5. Algaecide
  6. Alkalinity
  7. Bacteria
  8. Balanced Water
  9. Base
  10. Base Demand
  11. Bather Load
  12. Break Point Chlorination
  13. Bromine
  14. Buffer
  15. Calcium
  16. Caustic Soda
  17. Chloramines
  18. Chlorine
  19. Combined Chlorine
  20. Chlorine Demand
  21. Chlorine, Free
  22. Conditioner
  23. Corrosion
  24. Cyanuric
  25. Disinfect
  26. Dry Acid
  27. Erosion
  28. Ion Exchange
  29. Hard Water
  30. Langelier Index
  31. Magnesium Hardness
  32. Muriatic Acid
  33. Non-Chlorine Shock
  34. Organic Contaminants
  35. OTO
  36. Oxidizing
  37. pH
  38. pH Saturation
  39. Phenol Red
  40. ppm
  41. Sanitizer
  42. Saturation Index
  43. Scale
  44. Shock
  45. Soda Ash
  46. Sodium Bisulfate
  47. Sodium Bicarbonate
  48. Sodium Hydroxide
  49. Soft Water
  50. Stabilizer
  51. Superchlorination
  52. Titration
  53. Total Alkalinity
  54. TDS

 


Acid

Chemicals such as muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate used to lower pH or alkalinity.

Acid Demand

A measure of the amount of acid required to reduce pH to a predetermined level. This can be accomplished by use of an acid titration procedure (Acid Demand Test)

Algae

Microscopic aquatic plant life which can grow on pool surfaces or float freely in the water though harmless to swimmers the presence of algae discolors the water and indicates improper sanitization. Black algae which grows on pool walls and floor can actually crack plaster finish.

Algaecide

A chemical used to kill existing algae or prevent the growth of algae.

Alkalinity

See Total Alkalinity.

Bacteria

Very small organisms continuously entering the water via swimmers, dust, etc. Without proper sanitization pools and spas are a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, many of which can cause disease or infection.

Balanced Water

Water that is neither corrosive nor scaling (in relation to pH, total alkalinity, calcium harness, and temperature factors). The Langelier Index for perfectly balanced water equals zero.

Base

A chemical which raises pH when added to the water, like sodium carbonate or caustic soda.

Base Demand

A measure of the amount of alkali material required to raise pH to a predetermined level. This can be accomplished by use of a base filtration procedure (Base Demand Test).

Bather Load

The number of individuals using a pool or spa in a 24 hour period and the pool and spas principal source of bacterial and organic contamination.

Break Point Chlorination

The process of shocking the water with significant quantities of chlorine to oxidize all contaminants and organic wastes and leave all remaining chlorine as free chlorine.

Bromine

Chemical sanitizer that kills bacteria and algae.

Buffer

Chemical that resists pH change, e.g. sodium bicarbonate

Calcium Hardness

A measure of the calcium salts dissolved in water.

Caustic Soda

Also known as sodium hydroxide and is used to raise pH.

Chloramines

A group of chlorine ammonia compounds formed when chlorine combines with organic wastes in the water. Chloramines are not effective as sanitizers and are responsible for eye and skin irritation as well as strong chlorine odors (also known as Combined Chlorine).

Chlorine

Chemical sanitizer that kills bacteria and algae.

Chlorine, Combined

The reaction product of chlorine with ammonia or other pollutants, also known as chloramines.

Chlorine Demand

Amount of chlorine required to react on various water impurities before a residual is obtained.

Chlorine, Free

Chlorine available to kill bacteria or algae. The amount of chlorine available for sanitization after the chlorine demand has been met. Also known as chlorine residual.

Conditioner

See Cyanuric Acid

Corrosion

The destruction of metal surfaces mostly due to low pH (below 7.0) and or low alkalinity. 

Cyanuric Acid

Chemical used to prevent the decomposition of chlorine by ultraviolet (UV) light.

Disinfect

To kill and inhibit growth of harmful bacterial and viruses in pool and spa water.

Dry Acid

A granular chemical used to lower pH and or total alkalinity.

Langelier Index

A mathematically derived factor obtained from the values of calcium hardness, total alkalinity, and pH at a given temperature. A Langelier index of zero indicates perfect water balance (i.e.., neither corroding nor scaling).

Magnesium Hardness

A measure of the magnesium salts dissolved in water - not a factor in water balance.

Muriatic Acid

An acid used to reduce pH and alkalinity. Also used to remove stain and scale.

Non Chlorine Shock

An oxygen based shocking compound. Non Chlorine shock is fast dissolving so it allows swimming just 15 minutes after use.

Organic Wastes

Wastes such as saliva, urine, perspiration and sun tan oils which swimmers introduce into the pool or spa. Most organic wastes will not filter out and must be removed by shocking/oxidizing.

OTO

Test Regent used to test bromine and chlorine in pool and spa water.

Oxidizing

The process of breaking down organic wastes into simpler elemental forms or bi products. Also used to separate combined chlorine and convert it into free chlorine.

pH

A measure of the acidity of water. The pH scale runs fro 0 to 14 with 7 being the mid point or neutral.. A pH of less than 7 is on the acid side of the scale with 0 as the point of greatest acid activity. A pH of more than 7 is on the basic (alkaline) side of the scale with 14 as the point of greatest basic activity.

pH of Saturation

The ideal pH for perfect water balance in relation to a particular total alkalinity level and a particular calcium hardness level, at a particular temperature. The pH where the Langelier Index equals zero.

Phenol Red

Chemical reagent used for testing pH in the range of 6.8 - 8.4.

ppm

Abbreviation for parts per million.

Sanitizer

A chemical which disinfects (kills bacteria), kills algae and oxidizes organic matter.

Saturation Index

See Langelier's Index

Scale

Crust of calcium carbonate, the result of unbalanced pool water. Hard insoluble minerals deposited (usually calcium bicarbonate) which forms on pool and spa surfaces and clog filters, heaters and pumps. Scale is caused by high calcium hardness and/or high pH. The regular use of stain prevention chemicals can prevent scale.

Shock

Also known as superchlorination or break point chlorination. Ridding a pool of organic waste through oxidization by the addition of significant quantities of a sanitizer.

Soda Ash

Chemical used to raise pH and total alkalinity (sodium carbonate)

Sodium Bicarbonate

Commonly used to increase alkalinity of water and stabilize pH.

Sodium Bisulfate

Chemical used to lower pH and total alkalinity (dry acid).

Sodium Hydroxide

Also known as caustic soda, A by-product chlorine generation and often used to raise pH.

Stabilizer

See Cyanuric Acid

Superchlorination

Application of large dosages of chlorine to destroy buildup of undesirable compounds in water.

Titration

A method of testing by adding a reagent of known strength to a water sample until a specific color change indicates the completion of the reaction.

Total Alkalinity

A measure of the acid-neutralizing capacity of water which indicates its buffering ability, i.e. measure of its resistance to a change in pH. Generally, the higher the total alkalinity, the greater the resistance to pH change.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

The accumulated total of all solids that might be dissolved in water.

 

Please, please give us your impressions and comments about us or our site. (Click here)

Back ] Home ] Up ]

Satisfaction Guarantee ]

Just some of the suppliers and product lines we work with.

 

  Unicel Filter Cartridges Ideal Pool Logo

Currently working on rebuilding this site completely, to make easier to navigate and repair broken links.
Copyright © 2000,2001,2002,2003, 2004, 2005,2006 thru 2011 
Last modified: March 14, 2012

British Columbia Arms  Based in Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada.

All prices on this site are in CND dollars.