Understanding Pool Chemical Levels: The Ideal Range Chart

Every pool chemical interacts with the others, so understanding target ranges together — not in isolation — is key to stable water. General targets: free chlorine 1–3 ppm, pH 7.2–7.6, total alkalinity 80–120 ppm, cyanuric acid 30–50 ppm, and calcium hardness 200–400 ppm.

These numbers form the backbone of nearly every other pool task, from dosing chlorine correctly to opening and closing a pool for the season. Keep a log of readings over time — patterns are often more useful than any single test result for catching problems early.