Pool Care Blog
Pool maintenance tips, guides and advice from the Crystal Reef team in Centurion, Gauteng.
Common Pool Repairs in Centurion and Pretoria
The repairs Gauteng pools need most, from weirs and pump seals to valves, lights, plaster and tile lines: what you notice, what to check, when to call.
Dolphin Robotic Pool Cleaners: S100 vs S300i
How a Dolphin robotic pool cleaner works in a South African pool, what the S100 and S300i each do, how to look after one, and who should buy one.
How to Choose a Pool Service Company in Gauteng
The questions to ask before you hire a pool service company in Gauteng, the red flags to watch for, and how to compare two quotes fairly.
Pool Maintenance Checklist: Weekly, Monthly and Seasonal
A pool maintenance checklist by frequency: every few days, weekly, monthly and by season, with how long each job takes and the three readings that matter.
Pool Shop for Pretoria and Midrand: Delivery and Collection
How our online pool shop serves Pretoria, Midrand and Johannesburg from Centurion: what sells online now, delivery by road distance, collection and paying.
Salt Chlorinator Not Working? 10 Checks to Make
Salt chlorinator on but the pool is losing chlorine? Work through flow, salt, temperature, water balance, settings and power before you call anyone.
Kreepy Krauly Dominator Care, Tyres and Parts Guide
A monthly care routine for a Kreepy Krauly Dominator, Lite or Pro, and when to replace tyres, gears and hoses or fit a tune-up kit instead of buying new.
Pool Pump Buying Guide for South Africa: Size and Price
Choosing a pool pump for a Gauteng home pool: sizing by volume and turnover, 0.55, 0.75 or 1.1 kW, single-speed or inverter, and what drives the price.
Pool Service in Pretoria Now Has Its Own Page
We have published a page for pool service in Pretoria: the older central, southern, Moot, northern and western suburbs, and what their pools need most.
Spring Pool Season in Gauteng: Booking Your Pool Opening
September and October are when Gauteng pools come out of winter. What we do to get a pool ready, and how to book it with us on WhatsApp.
Our Pool Service Prices, Now Published Online
Each of our pool services now has its own page with the price on it, so you know what a weekly plan, green pool recovery or sand change costs first.
Our Online Pool Shop: Pay by Card or Instant EFT
How our online pool shop works in September 2026: what sells online, paying through PayFast, delivery priced by road distance and collection in Centurion.
Suction Pool Cleaner Not Moving? A Troubleshooting Guide
Your suction cleaner has stopped, crawls or sticks in one spot. Work through pump, baskets, filter, suction, hose and worn parts in the right order.
Buying a Robotic Pool Cleaner in South Africa
Decided on a robot? A buyer's checklist for South African pools: cleaning coverage, surface, filters, cable or battery, spares, warranty and care.
Pool Chlorine Types: Granular, Tablets, Liquid or Salt?
Granular, stabilised, tablets, liquid or salt: what each type of pool chlorine does to your water, when to use it, and how to store it safely.
Black Algae and Mustard Algae: How to Get Rid of Them
How to tell green, mustard and black algae apart from stains, and the step-by-step treatment that actually clears the two stubborn kinds.
Pool Clean-Up After a Hailstorm or Thunderstorm
What to do with your pool after a Highveld storm: electrical safety first, then debris, water level, chemistry, filtering and checking for hail damage.
Spring Pool Opening Checklist for Gauteng
A step-by-step spring checklist for Highveld pools: cover, debris, equipment, backwash, water balance in the right order, shock, and what to book.
Pool Covers Compared: Solar, Safety, Automated or Net?
Solar blankets, safety covers, automated and hidden covers, leaf nets and slatted covers compared on heat, water, chemicals, leaves, safety and effort.
Pool Heat Pump Sizing: How to Choose the Right kW
How to think about heat pump size for your pool: the physics of heating water, heating output versus input, COP, heat loss and why a cover matters.
How to Clean a Salt Chlorinator Cell Safely
Why chlorinator cells scale up in hard Highveld water, the signs to watch for, and how to clean a cell safely without damaging the plates.
When to Change Pool Filter Sand (and Should You Use Glass?)
Signs your filter sand is worn out, how to find your filter's bag count, what a sand change involves, and a neutral look at glass and zeolite media.
How to Backwash a Sand Filter, Step by Step
Multiport valve positions explained, when to backwash by the pressure gauge, and the exact steps that protect your valve and keep the water clear.
Pool Water Balance on the Highveld: pH, Alkalinity, Calcium
Hard water, strong sun and summer storms make balance harder on the Highveld. What to test, the order to adjust it in, and how to add acid safely.
Load-Shedding and Your Pool Pump: A Practical Guide
How to plan pump run-time around outages, protect your equipment when the power returns, re-prime a pump and get the water back on track afterwards.
How Long Should a Pool Pump Run, and What Does It Cost?
How many hours your pool pump needs, how to find its power figure, and how to work out what it costs to run using the rate on your own electricity bill.
Cloudy Pool Water: Causes and How to Fix It
Cloudy pool water usually comes down to chlorine, water balance or the filter. How to find the cause in the right order and clear the water step by step.
How Much Does Pool Maintenance Cost in Centurion?
Our 2026 pool service prices in Centurion: weekly plans by pool size, once-off cleans, green pool recovery, sand changes and equipment work, explained.
The Complete Guide to Pool Maintenance in Centurion
How to keep a Centurion pool clear all year: the readings that matter, a weekly routine, Highveld weather, and when to call in help.
Why Your Pool Turns Green & How to Fix It Fast
Why Highveld pools turn green, how to clear one step by step without draining it, and what a professional green pool recovery costs.
Pool Pump Problems: 7 Signs You Need a Repair or Replacement
Seven warning signs your pool pump needs attention, what you can safely check yourself, and how to decide between repairing and replacing it.
Pool Heating Options in South Africa: Which is Best for You?
Heat pumps, solar, gas and covers compared for Gauteng pools: how each works, what drives the running cost, and which suits your pool.
Acid Washing Your Pool: When, Why, and How It's Done
When a plaster or marbelite pool needs an acid wash, when it does not, why winter is the time to do it, and how the job is done.
Pool Filter Types Explained: Sand, Cartridge, and DE Filters
Sand, cartridge and DE pool filters compared: how each works, which suits a Gauteng pool, how to backwash, and when to change the sand.
Pool Safety Tips Every Gauteng Family Should Know
Fences, covers, supervision, swimming lessons, CPR, chemical storage and electrics: the layers of protection every family pool needs.
How to Prepare Your Pool for Winter in Gauteng
Do not drain it, do not ignore it: how to run a Gauteng pool through winter with less effort, and why winter is the time for the big jobs.
Salt Chlorinator vs Traditional Chlorine: Which is Better?
Salt chlorinator or traditional chlorine? How each works, the real pros and cons, and why Gauteng's hard water matters more than you think.
Commercial Pool Maintenance: Legal Requirements in SA
Running a pool at a complex, school or guest house? The South African rules that can apply, water targets, records and safety basics.
Pool Leak Detection: How to Find and Fix Leaks
Is your pool leaking or just evaporating? How to do the bucket test, where leaks usually are, how they are found and how they are fixed.
Choosing a Pool Cleaner: Robot, Suction or Pressure?
Suction, pressure-side or robotic? How each pool cleaner works, what suits your pool, debris and pump, and what to check before you buy.