Guides / Pool chemicals: what order to add them in
Pool chemicals: what order to add them in
Adding everything at once is how people end up with cloudy water and a pH that will not stay put. The order matters. This is the order most pool guides and Clearly use, with the typical target ranges.
Download the printable order card (PDF)
One page: the order, typical targets and a 10-row test log. Keep it with your test kit. Free, no sign-up.
The order
- Test first, with a reliable kit. Free chlorine, pH, total alkalinity (TA), calcium hardness (CH) and cyanuric acid (CYA).
- Algae or combined chlorine? Shock first. Raise free chlorine to the shock level for your CYA (see the chlorine calculator), then keep it there until the water is clear.
- Total alkalinity. It steadies pH, so fix it before pH. Baking soda raises it; a little muriatic acid (aerated) lowers it.
- pH. Adjust after TA. Soda ash raises pH (and TA a bit), muriatic acid or dry acid lowers it. Make small changes and retest.
- Calcium hardness. Raise with calcium chloride, dissolved in a bucket first (it gets hot).
- Stabilizer (CYA). Protects chlorine from the sun. Dissolve in a sock or bucket, circulate for a day or two before retesting.
- Chlorine last. Once the rest is in range, bring free chlorine to its target.
Typical target ranges
| What | Pool | Pool with salt generator | Hot tub |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free chlorine | 1 ppm or 7.5% of CYA, whichever is higher; aim a bit above | about 4.5% of CYA, at least 1 ppm | 3 ppm or more |
| pH | 7.2 to 7.8 (7.5 is a good target) | ||
| Total alkalinity | 60 to 100 ppm (80) | 50 to 90 ppm (70) | 50 to 80 ppm (60) |
| Calcium hardness | 150 to 400 ppm (plaster 250 to 650) | same as pool | 100 to 250 ppm |
| Cyanuric acid | 30 to 50 ppm (40) | 60 to 80 ppm (70) | 20 to 40 ppm (30) |
These are common ranges, not a rule for your pool. Check your pool's manufacturer, any local health rules and your surface type (plaster, vinyl, fiberglass).
Common mistakes
- Chasing pH while TA is wrong. If pH keeps drifting up, check TA first.
- Too much CYA. High stabilizer makes chlorine slow. The only fix is partial draining and refilling.
- Adding dry products to the skimmer or leaving granules to sit on the floor; dissolve or pour as the label says.
- Testing right after dosing. Let the pump run a few hours first.
How much of each?
Doses depend on your volume and the product strength. Use the volume calculator and the chlorine calculator, then read the label for other products.
Want a step-by-step plan from your own test?
Clearly turns your pool or hot tub water test into an ordered plan: what to add, how much and in what order, for any brand of chemicals. It works offline and needs no account.
Clearly by Pulad Labs (Istanbul). Android, available on Google Play.
General information, not professional advice. Always follow the product label and your pool manufacturer's guidance. Never mix chemicals, add chemical to water (not water to chemical), wear eye and skin protection, and keep children and pets away while treating the water.
Frequently asked questions
What order do I add pool chemicals in?
Test first. If there is algae, shock first. Then alkalinity, then pH, then calcium hardness, then stabilizer (CYA), and set free chlorine last.
Why fix total alkalinity before pH?
Alkalinity acts as a buffer for pH. If it is off, pH keeps drifting back after you adjust it.
Can I add pool chemicals all at once?
No. Add one at a time with the pump running, never mix products, and wait a few hours of circulation before retesting.