• Total Alkalinity = 30 to 90 ppm
• pH = 7.2 to 7.6
• Calcium Hardness = less than 300 ppm

CAUTION: Increasing total alkalinity or adding calcium to a pool or spa already on the PristineBlue® Water Treatment System may tie up the biological effectiveness of PristineBlue® and cause green or cloudy water.

The chemicals used to balance water are sold under many different brand names such as "Alkalinity Plus" and "pH Down". Ask your retailer to help you select the correct water balance chemicals for your pool or spa. If Calcium Hardness is over 300 ppm, use 1 ounce of PristineCheck per 1,000 gallons of water during routine two-week maintenance or dilute pool/spa water with water low in calcium.
 

How do I calculate the volume of water in my pool?
For square or rectangular pools, multiply the length in feet by the width in feet by the average depth in feet by 7.5 to find the number of gallons of water in your pool. For round pools, multiply the diameter of the pool in feet by itself, then multiply by the average depth in feet. Multiply that result by 5.9. For oval pools, multiply the width of the pool in feet at the widest point by the length of the pool in feet at the longest point, then multiply by the average depth in feet. Multiply that result by 5.9.
 

Is PristineBlue® compatible with other products?
One advantage of the PristineBlue® Water Treatment System is its compatibility with a variety of surfaces, filters and chemicals. It is important to realize, however, that like all chemicals, PristineBlue® may react with certain products and create problems in your pool and spa. Below is an outline of the products which may be used with PristineBlue® and those to avoid.
OK - Acids, pH down products, alkalinity down products, filter aids.
NOT OK - Metal out products, stain and scale products, algicides, alkalinity up products, calcium and flocculates. Use of these products are not needed and may cause PristineBlue® to be ineffective in controlling algae and bacteria.
OK - Chlorine and bromine. Unlike most other alternative products, a significant advantage of the PristineBlue® system is its compatibility with primary disinfectants such as chlorine. When swimmer or user load is particularly heavy, or when there are unusual risks of contamination, PristineBlue® may be used in combination with at least a 0.3 ppm chlorine residual to ensure immediate neutralization of bacteria. To achieve this increased level of protection in a PristineBlue® pool or spa, we recommend simply placing a chlorine tablet or stick in the floater, feeder or skimmer and running the filter continuously during this exceptional use period. After conditions return to normal and you no longer need the type of protection in a residential pool or spa that only the most harsh chemicals (such as chlorine) can provide, you may discontinue its use and return again to the satisfaction of chlorine-free PristineBlue® water. The nominal amount of chlorine used on these rare occasions will dissipate and be gone forever within a few hours.
NOT OK - PristineBlue® is not compatible with any polymeric biguanide or hydrogen peroxide product and when converting a pool from these chemicals to PristineBlue®, it is very important to carefully follow the procedures outlined in the Pool and Spa Care Guide.
OK - Vinyl, fiberglass, cured plaster, acrylic and painted pool surfaces.
NOT OK - Newly constructed gunite, marcite, unpainted plaster and unpainted concrete pools. PristineBlue® is compatible with all types of pool surfaces and construction, but we discourage the use of the PristineBlue® system during the first six months as there is slight risk that the pool surface could be chemically stained before it has had time to fully cure. Bleaching agents (chlorine or bromine) are more appropriate during this period. PristineBlue® can be used in most situations after the pool is approximately 6 months old.
OK - Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) filters, low rate sand filters, high rate sand filters and cartridge filters. Due to the ability of D.E. filters and some cartridge filters to filter very fine particles it may be necessary to shock these pools with PristinePower more often than pools with sand filters to keep down back pressure.
NOT OK - Freezing temperatures. Undiluted PristineBlue® products must be protected from freezing. Once the products are added to your pool, freezing has little effect.
OK - Ozone. Ozone has a quick kill but has a very short residual allowing bacteria and algae to re-grow. PristineBlue®'s extremely long residual prevents algae and bacteria from coming back.
 

How do I get rid of a stain?
PristineBlue® is designed to minimize staining problems. Some of the most common causes of staining are out of balance water, chemical overdosing, and failure to follow the procedures in the Pool and Spa Care Guide. Be sure you follow the procedures in the Guide to prevent the reoccurrence of staining. Due to the bleaching action of chlorine, stains that were not previously visible may appear on the pool surface after chlorine use is discontinued.

Please download the following PDF file for full details on causes of stains and remedies: Stains
 

How can I clear up water that's cloudy?
The most common complaint of pool and spa owners is cloudy water. The main difficulty of treating cloudy water is to determine the cause. While the PristineBlue® system is designed to minimize cloudy water problems, there are a few things you can do to solve these problems and prevent reoccurrence.

Please download the following PDF file for full details on causes of cloudy water and remedies: Cloudy water
 

What happens if I add too much PristineBlue®?
PristineBlue® overdose can occur when PristineBlue® is applied more than every two weeks or when the pool or spa volume is miscalculated. The signs of an overdose are often mistaken for other problems because of their similarity. The most common signs are high PristineBlue® demand, cloudy or green tinted water, blue color in the filter, and consistently low PristineBlue® level, even immediately after PristineBlue® application.

To prevent an overdose, do not add PristineBlue® more than every two weeks and double check pool or spa volume. A good rule of thumb for spas is to use 0.2 ounces of PristineBlue® per 100 gallons in the start up.

If you suspect too much PristineBlue® has been added, you can download the following PDF file for information on how to determine if you're "overdosed" and what you can do: Overdose
 

What is PristineBlue®'s shelf life?
PristineBlue® stays active indefinitely and can be used from season to season if stored in a closed container at a temperature above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. If PristineBlue® freezes, product separation will occur and it won't be effective against algae and bacteria in your pool. PristineClean and PristineCheck last indefinitely regardless of temperature conditions. Unopened packages of PristinePower will be most effective if used within a year after purchased; opened packages of PristinePower should be stored in a tightly sealed container and used as quickly as possible. Test Kit tablet reagents should be replaced if more than one year old.
 

What causes "swimmer's hair?"
Swimmer's hair can be the result of such factors as acidic water (low pH), iron or manganese in the water, and electrolysis from water moving through recirculation pipes at excessive velocities. It is seldom caused by the water treatment chemicals in a properly maintained pool. It is always a good idea to wet hair with tap water before entering any pool or spa to minimize the absorption of chemicals by your hair. It is also important to rinse hair after swimming. Health and beauty experts recommend using a leave-in conditioner on chemically treated hair before entering a pool or spa. The best preventative for swimmer's hair is keeping the pH in the 7.2 - 7.6 range, avoiding over-treatment with PristineBlue® and using PristineClean on a regular basis. Refer to the Pool & Spa Care Guide for complete instructions. There are commercial products available should hair discoloration occur. Below is a list of some of these products. Discoloration can also be removed by washing the hair in a mild vinegar solution followed with a mild baking soda solution to neutralize the vinegar, or rinse hair with warm water containing dissolved aspirin.

• Alared (manufactured by Redken)
• Baby shampoo
• Shampoo containing chelating agent EDTA (ethylenediamene tetracetic acid)