There are four different types of chemical programs that American Sale offers:
• Chlorine only
• Chlorine with Proteam Supreme
• Chlorine with Proteam Supreme and Silver Ion Purifier
• Biguanides
To maintain your pool, you must choose one program to follow. However, you can adopt a different program at any time.
Chlorine Only
The use of chlorine is the most common practice used today. With this sanitizer, all you do is adjust your alkalinity first to have the range within 100 to 150 ppm. Once you have adjusted that, you must now adjust your pH. Your pH should read somewhere between 7.4 to 7.6. After your total alkalinity and pH are adjusted properly within range, you can now add your sanitizer, chlorine. You should keep your chlorine level between 1 to 3 ppm. If you are not using a chlorine with cyanuric acid, make sure to also check your level and add the recommended amount so that you’re in range.
Even though you may have your water balanced and proper chlorine levels, some algae can still be introduced into your pool that is resistant to these sanitation methods. You should use an algaecide weekly to try to avoid any problems with algae.
Chlorine with Proteam Supreme
Proteam Supreme is an excellent way to fight against algae. It is now being used in major water parks, such as Great America, Busch Gardens, and all Disney properties. How supreme works is it lowers algaes ability to process carbon dioxide. Humans use oxygen to breathe, plant life and algae use carbon dioxide. Without carbon dioxide in your pool water, algae have very little chance to survive. You have made an unpleasant environment for algae, and an enjoyable one for yourself! This EPA registered product has been allowed to state on its label Reduces eye and skin irritation and reduces sanitizer consumption.
Features of Proteam Supreme:
- Reduces sanitizer consumption
- Inhibits algae growth
- Unaffected by sunlight or evaporation
- Compatible with all sanitizers
| Benefits of Proteam Supreme:
- Saves You Money
- Improves water clarity
- Easy to use and less maintenance
- Reduces eye and skin irritation
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As you have learned, Proteam Supreme inhibits against algae growth. The number one problem with pools is algae. Since algae is no longer a problem for you, you will reduce the amount of sanitizer you are using. Using less will save you more! Also by using less sanitizer, you will reduce red eyes and itchy skin. The water is more comfortable for everyone to swim in. By using Supreme, you’ll be one step ahead of the game!
Supreme even goes further than inhibiting algae growth. Sunlight or evaporation does not affect
Proteam Supreme. As long as you have added supreme into your pool, it will always remain in
the water. The only way to remove supreme is through backwashing and splashing out. By
having such a feature, it is like you’re making an investment rather than having an expense.
How to Apply Proteam Supreme
Each Proteam Supreme kit is sold by gallonage. The three kit sizes are 5,000, 10,000, and 20,000 gallons. Some pool sizes may have an excess amount of supreme left over, depending on the kit they receive. (Example: a pool with 7500 gallons would receive a 10,000 gallon kit). There is no need to add the whole kit, but it won’t hurt.
It is recommended to add the Gentle pH Down before adding Supreme to your pool. For every 1 pound of supreme that you must use, you need to add ¾ pound of Gentle pH Down. Do keep in mind that for every 30 ppm of supreme you add, it will raise your total alkalinity 10 ppm. Do adjust your levels as needed.
Maintenance of Proteam Supreme:
Having Proteam Supreme in your pool water is not enough. You still need to apply sanitizers in your water. You will be using chlorine, but now your level is reduced down to 1 to 2 ppm. Using supreme does not exempt you from properly balancing your water either. Testing for total alkalinity and pH is still needed to keep your water looking crystal clear.
Chlorine with Proteam Supreme and Silver Ion Purifier F.R.O.G.
A silver ion purifier contains silver ions (Ag+) that help kill bacteria in your water. The system that American Sale carries is called the Frog Cycler. The Frog is composed of four parts:
The Frog is not like other mineral purifiers. It acts as an automatic chlorinator also. So not only are you getting the benefit of fighting bacteria off, it is also dispensing constant chlorine for you.
Frog Cycler:
The Cycler is the white container that holds the different pieces of the system together. This container is a one-time purchase and sits outside the pool next to the filter. The cycler is placed in line after your filter but before the return.
The cycler has a knob up front, which allows you to adjust the quantity of silver ions and chlorine going into your pool water. When the need for more chlorine arises, all you do is turn the knob to a larger setting and it will automatically adjust and dispense more. It is as that easy.
Mineral Reservoir:
The mineral reservoir is the green cylinder shaped container, and it holds the silver ions inside of it. This reservoir lasts six months, so it will need to be replaced once a season. This reservoir fits right inside the Cycler. The Cycler contains grooves at the base of the container, which allows the reservoir to fit inside of it. You will have to turn the reservoir clockwise once it is arranged inside the cycler, and you should feel it drop into place. Once in place, there should be an opening in the center of the reservoir for the chlorine bac pac. In order for the mineral reservoir to be activated, you must superchlorinate the water. Once activated, trace amounts of chlorine must be used to maintain quality water.
Chlorine Bac Pac:
The chlorine bac pac is a colorless packaging that contains chlorine tablets. This chlorine container is then placed directly in the center of the mineral reservoir. You will want to place the reservoir in first, then follow with the bac pac.
One container can last anywhere from two to four weeks, depending on factors such as weather. Once the chlorine pac is empty, you can dispose of this container and purchase a new one. You no longer have to mess around with chlorine tablets/sticks, the Frog system has made it easy.
When using the chlorine bac pac, you must also use the mineral reservoir. However, you do not necessarily have to use the Frog Cycler as an automatic chlorinator. Just leave an empty bac pac in the center of the mineral reservoir and your Frog will dispense silver ions only.
Features of the Frog Cycler:
- Kills bacteria
- Easy to use
- Ends chlorine hassle
- All-in-one system
| Benefits of the Frog Cycler:
- Cuts chlorine use up to 90%
- Simplifies maintenance
- Less skin and eye irritation
- Improves water quality
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How does this all work together?
You may be asking, how do Proteam Supreme and the Frog Cycler work together? That’s a great question. They are actually doing separate functions to achieve the same goal. Proteam Supreme is inhibiting the growth of algae, while the Frog Cycler is killing bacteria. These two systems are now taking the place of what you would use a sanitizer for. So now instead of keeping high levels of chlorine in your pool water to do these functions, now you will use a minimal amount. The proper level of chlorine used with these two systems is now 0.4 to 0.6 ppm. That is 4 times less chlorine than usual! Say goodbye to red eyes, dry itchy skin, green hair, and bleached out swimming suits. It’s easy, makes the water feel good, and saves you money all at the same time.
Biguanide
Biguanides are sanitizers, similar to chlorine. Ideal range to keep biguanides is 30 to 50 ppm. You need to test this level once a week to make sure this level does not drop. Biguanides have built in UV protectors, so sunlight and heat do not effect the level. However, if you have heavy rainstorms or a heavy swim load, you will want to test more frequently.
When shocking a pool using the biguanide system, you will noT use a chlorine-based shock. There is a special shock for this system that contains hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide burns off waste in your pool. You should shock your pool once every 3 to 4 weeks. This system is replacing chlorine completely with an alternate form of sanitizing.
In conjunction with the hydrogen peroxide, you will want to use an algaecide weekly. Be careful with the use of algaecide, you do not want to overdose your pool. Some algaecides tend to foam, and by overdosing you can cause your pool to turn into a giant bubble bath.
A downfall of the biguanide system is that it is not compatible with many products on the market.
Also, many customers have had some problems with this system. Over time of using this system, you can form what looks like to be a pink slime. This is not algae, but rather a mold or bacteria. The only cure to this is to add more hydrogen peroxide, because no other product is compatible. 
Unfortunately, this system can get quite expensive. The only cure to any problem is more of the same product. Most customers who try this system usually convert back to chlorine within three years. If you do use Biguanides, we recommend 50 ppm of Proteam Supreme and weekly backwash with Filter Magic using sand filters.