1. How often should I test my pool water?
During summer, test your water at least twice a week—especially after heavy rain or intense pool use. In winter, testing once every two weeks is sufficient. Regularly check pH, Total Alkalinity (TA), and free chlorine levels to keep your water balanced and safe.
2. What are the ideal chemical levels for a residential pool?
To maintain sparkling, safe water and protect your equipment, keep your parameters within these ranges:
pH: 7.2 – 7.6
Total Alkalinity (TA): 80 – 120 ppm
Free Chlorine: 1 – 3 ppm
3. Why is my pool green, and how do I fix it?
Green pool water is caused by an algae bloom, usually triggered by low chlorine levels, high pH, or poor circulation.
Test and adjust the pH to 7.2 – 7.6 using PoolBrite pH Down or pH Up.
Apply a heavy dose of PoolBrite Month Mate Shock Xtra Blue to kill the algae.
Add PoolBrite Month Mate All-In-One Algaecide and run your filtration system continuously until the water clears.
4. How do I clear cloudy or hazy pool water?
Cloudy water occurs when fine particles pass right through your sand filter. Add PoolBrite Water Clarifier (or place a Brite-Blu Clarifier Tablet in your weir basket after backwashing). The clarifier binds microscopic particles together into larger clusters so your filter can easily trap them.
5. What is Total Alkalinity, and why does it matter?
Total Alkalinity (TA) acts as a buffer for your pool’s pH. If your TA is too low, your pH levels will fluctuate wildly (pH bounce), leading to corrosive water that can damage marbelite, fiberglass, and equipment. Adjust your TA first using PoolBrite Alkalinity Up before making minor pH adjustments.
6. How do I get rid of stubborn black algae?
Black algae forms deep “roots” in porous plaster and tile grout, making it tough to remove.
Brush the dark spots aggressively with a stiff pool brush to break their protective outer shell.
Shock the pool using PoolBrite Month Mate Granular Xtra Blue.
Dose with PoolBrite Month Mate All-In-One Algaecide and clean your filter sand using PoolBrite Filter Cleaner so spores don’t re-infect the pool.
7. How long should I run my pool pump each day?
Summer: 8 to 10 hours daily to handle higher heat, increased UV rays, and heavy bather loads.
Winter: 4 to 6 hours daily during the cooler, dry months when algae growth slows down.
8. How does a PoolBrite Month Mate Floater work?
The PoolBrite Month Mate and Multi-Floaters are “set-and-forget” sanitising dispensers. As water flows through the floater, it steadily dispenses a balanced, multi-action mix of high-grade chlorine, algaecide, and clarifier for up to a month, keeping your pool protected with zero daily hassle.
9. Why should I chemically clean my filter sand?
Backwashing flushes out loose dirt, but it cannot remove oily body lotion, stubborn calcification, or sticky algae spores that accumulate on the sand grains over time. Using PoolBrite Filter Cleaner deep-cleans the sand bed, restoring your filter’s efficiency and saving power.
10. How do I prepare my pool for winter?
Rather than shutting down your pool completely, switch to a low-maintenance routine:
Cut daily filtration hours in half.
Balance your Total Alkalinity and pH.
Drop in a slow-release PoolBrite Month Mate Super Floater.
Keep the water level sitting at the halfway mark of the weir to prevent the pump from running dry.
11. What causes organic or metallic stains on my pool surface?
Stains are typically caused by rotting leaves (tannins) or excess dissolved minerals in tap/borehole water. To lift unsightly marks and prevent mineral scaling on your pool steps and walls, treat the water with PoolBrite Metal & Stain Remover.
12. Where can I buy PoolBrite products?
PoolBrite products are widely available at major retailers, hardware stores, and specialized pool care stockists across South Africa. Visit our Where to Buy page on our website to find your nearest stockist or dealer.
