Water Balance: Water Balance takes into account such factors such as pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, chlorine, and water temparature.

Alkalinity: The alkalinity is closely related to the pH but should not be confused. The alkalinity is a measure of the amount of alkalinity materials in the water. If the alkalinity is too low it can cause fluctuations in the pH.

pH: The pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. This is a very important concept. You will never get the best out of your pool unless the pH is correct.

Conditioner (Stabilizer): The chemical name is Cyan Uric Acid. Conditioner is beneficial because it prevents the waste of free chlorine by the UV waves in the sunlight.

Calcium Hardness: Calcium Hardness is the amount of dissolved calcium in the water.

Chlorine: Chlorine is available in many forms such as granules, tablets, and liquid.

Algae: Algae are microscopic plants that can literally transfer your pool water from clear to green within hours. These are introduced into the pool by spores. Algae growth is also common after thunderstorms, especially if the water temperature is high.

Test Strips: Test strips are paper strips that contain certain dyes, which will change color once added to pool water. These colors will correlate with a color chart on the bottle, which will show if a chemical is low in range or high. Most test strips will test for chlorine, alkalinity, and pH.