Too much calcium hardness causes scaling in your pool and too little causes your pool … Reader note: An edited version of this article originally appeared in the summer 2007 issue of The Edge, a publication of the Northeast Spa & Pool Association.. Calcium hardness … Your pool should be at a pH between 7.4 and 7.6. Ideally, your total hardness should fall between 200-400 ppm, however, it may vary if you have a fiberglass or vinyl pool. Oh wow, I was just about to buy calcium carb for my vinyl pool. Developing white flakes or calcium buildup in non-saltwater pool is not common, unless you are using a pool heater or you have not been monitoring and balancing Calcium Hardness (CH), pH, TA and other minerals levels, and these levels have gone extremely high forming calcium scales in your pool. With sufficient levels of calcium dissolved, the aggressive nature of water is tamed and will help prevent the leaching out of certain substances in pool equipment. Hardness, on the other hand, is a measure of the calcium and magnesium in the water. Related: LSI Balance and Calcium Management (Pillar 1) Saltwater pools have to be maintained differently than non-salt pools for a few reasons. I read above that I only have to add calcium carb to a vinyl lined pool IF there is equipment that can be hurt by low hardness. Levels which are too low, require the addition of calcium chloride. Tips for Maintaining Your Calcium Hardness Levels in the Right Range. It is at 75 ppm. Thanks for the heads up here. Although soft water is desirable in everyday home use, calcium hardness is necessary in pool water. When water is too hard, white scale forms on equipment and pool surfaces. When it is too soft, … The first indication will likely be a cloudy pool. Although calcium hardness can undoubtedly be fixed, it’s a pain when your pool water levels aren’t balanced properly. My pool is four years old and nobody ever measured total hardness until now. Does a salt water … If you have calcium carbonate in your pool … But if the cloudiness doesn’t dissipate after shocking, especially if you try it a couple of times, it could be too much calcium … Normally, you can clear cloudy pool water with pool shock. This can also be accomplished by dilution (draining old water and adding water to the pool that has lower calcium hardness content). For one, saltwater pools, thanks to the salt added to the water, have a baseline TDS of at least 3000 ppm more than other types of pools. Ideally, you’ll want to maintain your calcium hardness … Calcium Scales: Causes, Clearing and Preventing White Flakes in a Saltwater Pool. If the calcium hardness level in your pool gets too high, the water will be hard. Both are caused by a pH imbalance. Understanding Calcium Hardness. Recommended range for calcium hardness is 200-400ppm. If your Calcium Hardness levels are too high you can use TSP to lower the levels. 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