USEFUL ADVICES

1 – Achieving ideal pH value, basic procedure for successful maintenance of the water.

The pH value, shows if the water has alkali or acid character and the size of the alkali and acid reactions. The pH scale is from 0 (the strongest acid) to 7 (neutral) and from 7 to 14 (the strongest alkali). If the pH value is below the level 7,2 , there is danger of all metal parts corroding in the installation. As for pH values higher than 7,6 there is danger from damaging the mucus in the eyes, the tufa dragging on the bottom of the pool, the installation is increased and the Chlorine disinfection is decreased. Therefore, it is of importance to know the characteristics of the water with which the swimming pool is filled in. Starting from the moment of filling the water in the pool, the pH value should be controlled more often. If the pH becomes over 7,6 , it is recommended using pH-Down acid in powder form, which until now it has shown very safe while using it. The neutralization process is made step by step – slowly. The pH controls and the pH-Down additive must be used regularly, in fact, in certain periods of time. In case of filling in the swimming pool with soft water, the situation is simpler: the pH value is usually below 7, so that by adding pH-UP, which is in a form of alkali salt, the pH value of 7,2 is easily achieved.

2 – The prevention of the mould creating in the swimming pool is not only an esthetic question

The mould is a microorganism that produces dead substances, carbon-oxides and organic substances from the water. It multiplies with the spores that are transferred with the dust in the air. It can be easily created in every swimming pool, including the indoor swimming pools. Therefore, it is recommended regular use of means that would prevent the mould creation and its development. Having in mind that there are many kinds of mould resistant to chlorine, especially for this purpose, SANTEM has developed its product ALGEAKNOCKOUT. The ALGEAKNOCKOUT does not contain chlorine, bromine or any other toxic heavy metal and while using it, according to the directions of use, there are no negative influences on the body skin. It is used immediately after the filling in of the pool. The using of the product in the recommended dosages and periods is a safe way for getting rid of the mould.

3 – Disinfection / oxidation - safe way to clean water without bacteria

The swimming pool is a good environment for microorganism development, like bacteria and fungi. Therefore, it is of importance to find a solution for destroying the microorganisms, in fact, disinfection of the water, a task that is successfully realized by the chlorine based products. The development of stable chlorine products is not limited only on their safety while using them, but it enables better and more efficient usage of the existing chlorine. These products are firm compounds of chlorine, and on the market can be found by the following names: Superchlorine, Fast Tab, Chloritab tablets and Superchlorine granulates. They contain highly active chlorine that creates solution without left-overs and at the same time it does not change the chemical characteristics of the water. These products do not have negative influence on the pH value. They provide long-time stability of the chlorine in conditions of hot sun and high water temperatures. The product Santem Oxs is a chlorine alternative and it provides the water with active oxygen. The water disinfection and the oxidation of organic dirt are done with active oxygen. In this way, the three basic activities – the pH control, the destroying of the mould and the disinfection/oxidation can be related with the three previously mentioned water maintenance methods.

ANTIALGEA Method – Method for short time chlorination (Antialgea Method – temporary treatment) means safely swimming in water without chlorine. The infection risk is minimal in the swimming pools that are used only for one family. Therefore, there is no need for maintaining a certain level of chlorine in the water. In this case, the basic thing in maintaining the swimming pool water is the prevention from mould creating. By using ALGEA-KNOCK-OUT or ANTIALGEA in the recommended dosage, the mould creating can be stopped. The usage of few Super-Chlorine-Fast tablets or Super-chlorine granules in certain periods of time conditions oxidation and disinfection of the organic substances in the pool water. If the tablets (or the Super-chlorine granules) are used at night, the chlorine will be active during the night and it will gradually disappear. The next day, the swimmers can enjoy swimming in the water without chlorine.

CHLORLAB Method. Regular chlorination (ChloriTAB Method – constant treatment) means healthy and relaxing swimming in water that is constantly disinfected. In the swimming pools with more swimmers, the risk of infections is present. Therefore, for these kinds of pools and the public swimming pools, it is recommended constant and effective disinfection of the water. After the pH value of the water is being controlled and regulated and after the water is put in Algea-Knock-Out – against the mould, by using Super-Chlorine Tab or Super-Chlorine, the level of the free chlorine is increased to medium value of 0.5-1.0 ppm (mg/lt). Furthermore, the Chloritab tablet, the Chloritab dosage apparatus, GW chlorinator or Santem floater can be used. The Chloritab tablets because of their slow melting condition supply the water with free chlorine for one to two weeks period of time. The level of free chlorine in the water is maintained in certain constant limits.

SANTEMOX Method. The short-time treatment with active oxygen (Santemox Method) means healthy and relaxing swimming in water that is disinfected and cleaned by oxidation. Santemox is a new product that releases active oxygen and it that way it replaces the chlorine work, which is used in the other methods. The increased presence of the chlorine in the water, as a result of uncontrolled or wrong usage leads to creating of nitrogen and chlorine, called Chloramine. Santemox tablets should be used for disinfection once a week, with certain pauses, set in GW floater or in Skimmer basket. Also, Santemox should be used together with the second compound of the system. Santemplus makes the oxygen in the Cloritab tablets active and at the same time it prevents the mould appearance.

Other important precautions: Prevention of dirt in the filters for sand by using Fast-Flock: The most common reason for the dirty water are the small particles, which cannot be hold by the filters. The filters capability for keeping this kind of dirt can be strengthen by using certain chemical means. This treatment means adding of the Fast-Flock flocculation agent after the filter is cleaned from the opposite side. Depending on the size of the filter, while the circulation pump is working, the needed quantity of Fast-Flock is added inside the skimmer (if there is one) or on the place where the pump and the filter connect. The filter creates one layer of the follicle in the place for sand, it filtrates the very small layers in the pool water. At the same time, the follicle layer sucks in the other harmful substances dissolved in the water and it keeps them in the filter.

Directions for maintaining the equipment and the installation of the swimming pools:

Automatic chlorine dosing: The Chloritab tablets and the G 10 apparatus used for automatic and constant chlorine dosing (or the chlorinators that are sold on the market by different names) work on the principle of constant chlorine dosing in the circular filtrating process. This system compared to the other dosing systems on the market is different, because there are no mechanical or electron compounds that can easily cause a defect in the system.

Chlorine stabilization: By adding the Stabichloran tablets in the pool water, the chlorine stabilization in the water is achieved. As a matter of fact, Stabichloran tablets prevent the chlorine evaporation in case of high temperatures and in case of hot sun rays.

Filter care:

In principle, the filters that are used in the swimming pools, at least once a week are cleaned from the opposite side (back-wash) and are dried in order to remove the layered dirt from the filtrating process. Because of water tufa in the filter, canals and cracks are created in the filter, and, because them, while the fast water flow, the capability for keeping the dirt is lost. In order to stop this occurrence, Sand-Cleaner is used in the sand-filters and with certain pauses the layered tufa is cleaned. The process is repeated every second or third filter-cleaning in the opposite direction.

• Constant filter maintenance (Sand Filters): On every third filter-cleaning in the opposite direction or filter-drying, it is recommended to use Sand-Cleaner inside the skimmer (if there is one) or on the front filter of the pump. The filter is processed to the drying position (rinse) and it is kept open while Sand-Cleaner is going inside the filter, in order to be later closed. After around one hour, wash the filter from the opposite direction and dry it.

• Intensive filter maintenance: Once or twice a year, the filter reservoir is opened and 10% Sand-Cleaner decomposer is put in it. For a complete effect, it is left for ten hours to take actions, in fact a whole night. Then, the filter is cleaned in the opposite direction. With this procedure the filter is cleaned, and the filtrated environment is to be disinfected, that would prevent bacteria creating in the filter.

Surface disinfection: Providing protection for the feet of the sportsmen. The wet high temperature surfaces are ideal environment for appearance and creating of bacteria, fungi and viruses, that sometimes the possibility for illness from the pool surface is bigger rather than the pool water. As most dangerous illnesses are considered the fungi on the feet and the viruses. In order for prevention, Xerocid disinfection means is put on the places where the swimmers walk, lay or sit. On the surface where Xerocid is put, it creates a long-time, protective layer, which does not damage the human skin.

Cleanness:

One of the conditions for healthy water in the swimming pool is cleaning of the empty swimming pool at least once a year, with certain pauses. This is for the outdoor and the indoor swimming pools. Maintaining clean water means cleaning the bottom and the walls of the swimming pools, in order for them not to become place for living of the bacteria, mold, tufa and dirt.

• Big cleaning (Spring cleaning): For ideal cleaning of the empty swimming pool, using of Pool Surface Cleaner is needed. This liquid cleaning product acts in that way that it removes the tufa and the other dirt, without damaging the surfaces of the swimming pool. The product can be used by putting it on a regular or material brush, so that after the action, it can be washed with clean water. The surfaces made of vinyl or the more sensitive once, can bi also cleaned with Adisan.

Stabilizing of the water temperature: The warmth of the water in the swimming pool can be also maintained by stopping the evaporation. (Out of the total warmth loss, 85 to 90% is due to the evaporation). This can be achieved by covering the swimming pool or by using the Stabitherm liquid agent, which stops the evaporation.

Water control:

The characteristics of the water can be controlled with different easily used apparatus:
• Apparatus for testing of the pH value and the chlorine level;
• Control of the Santemoxs: apparatus for testing the pH value and Santemchlor;
• Professional apparatus for testing with large volume; Apparatus for water analysis; All these apparatus can be found in SANTEM Products Catalogue.

Change of the pool water:

Even in the best maintained pool water, there is a possibility for salt leftovers that cannot be chemically removed or filtered. Therefore, regardless if the water looks clean, the pool water must be changed at least once a year. The best time for the outdoor pools to change the water is during the Spring period. After the swimming pool is cleaned with "Sanilon" the swimming pool needs to be washed, the walls and the floor need to be sprayed with Antialgea of 1% or Algea-Knock-Out, so that later on, the pool can dry. In this way, a protective layer is created with disinfection action that prevents mould creating and reduces the tufa.

SANTEM products for maintaining of the water

Regulating of the pH value, pH Down for reducing the pH value, pH,Up for increasing the pH value

Using of the two products is very safe: the usage in the defined quantities does not damage the skin and it does not cause corrosion.

Apparatus for testing the pH value and the level of chlorine LOVIBOND CL & PH TOOL is used for simple but precise control of the chlorine level and the pH value in the water.

Destroying of the mould

Antialgea or Algeaknockout

Long-time destroyer that keeps the water clean. It does not damage the skin. It does not contain chlorine, bromine or toxins.

Antialgea Jet or Algeaknockout Jet

It has the same action as Desalgin and it is used in swimming pools with opposite flow or in the swimming pools that use Kiselgur filters.

Superchlorine

Chlorine granulates for fast disinfection.

Chlortab

Big tablets made of chlorine for long-time disinfection.

Stabichloran

Tablets for stabilizing the level of the chlorine in the water. They prevent from early evaporation of the chlorine in the water.

Fastflock К / Fastflock Super

It prevents from dirt. Enables filtering of the small particles in the water and it increases the efficiency in the sand filters.

For maintaining the swimming pool in the Winter period

Wintertime

It protects the outdoor swimming pools during the winter period and it prevents from mould, bacteria and fungi in the water. By reducing the tufa creating, it enables easy Spring cleaning.

Other equipment

Chloring apparatus for dosing G10
Apparatus for dosing of constant long-time disinfection of swimming pools up to 100m³le

Floating Tablet

Tablets for disinfection that are slowly melted, especially for Ultralong Piccolo.

Thermometer

It is used for measuring the warmth of the water in the pool, on 30cm below the level of the surface. This thermometer can be read from the front and from the back side, without being taken out of the water.