Calcium is one of the minerals that are very important for human growth and development. Bone development is directly attributed to it. Most of us drink calcium supplements like milk and other milk products in order to meet the required level of calcium level in the body. However, as humans we also need to be careful in having too much of it because it can lead a myriad of signs and symptoms that can easily progress into a medical emergency. You also have to know having less of it will also have the same effect. That is why it is best to keep it with in its normal range and that is a blood serum level of 9-10.5 mg/dl.

Calcium is not only present in human body. Actually, it is also important for maintaining the chemistry levels of swimming pools. Just like our blood, water maintains a specific level of this mineral as a contributing factor to its hardness. As experts say, it contributes 97% of water hardness and the rest are just minute amounts. They are measured in terms of calcium hardness. The level to be maintained is around 200-400 parts per million. While other resources say it should be around 150 to 330 parts per million. Some people have set their own acceptable level, which is more manageable for them in handling their pool pebble water.

Now what happens if the level goes too high and too low? It is similar to the concept of alkalinity. There are corresponding undesirable effects to the swimming pool if they not kept within the required level. Too low calcium hardness results to deterioration of your pool interior materials (most especially the plaster) and water can become aggressive. They can also result to erosion of grouts and oxidation of metals. These effects are even potentiated when the ph of the pool water decreases as well. On the other hand, too much calcium hardness results to scaling, calcification, cloudy waters and irritations. Scaling occurs when calcium carbonate are drawn. When this happens, they solidify causing sandpaper like texture in its early stages. Then it can slowly progress in to hard edges that can be harmful to you. Calcification is the term for the buildup of calcium causing them to harden.

You see it is best to keep in mind that calcium levels should be monitored because it is difficult to manage them. If they are too high in your pool pebble, you will have to undergo a tedious process of draining some of your pool water and adding fresh ones. If you were to raise the levels of calcium at a normal range, a type of chlorine with calcium content can be applied to the water. The most commonly used solution is calcium hypochlorite

Therefore, it is important for you to maintain the normal levels of calcium in your pool. You can have you water analyzed for its chemistry three to four times in a month just to be sure. Any abnormalities should have prompt actions.