Closed the ABG pool today It was a decent season, not as good as our first back in 2007 , but better than some. Here is what I learned from troublefreepool.com this season:

1) Patience - Don't rush to adjust your pH, TA, CH, or CYA ... take you're time. Half dose the pool first, then test, then add the rest (if needed of course). About the only thing you want to jump on is low FC or CC >0.5ppm

2) Accuracy - Double check the numbers you input into http://www.poolcalculator.com
I put in DOUBLE the amount of Borax because of a typo that I missed Where's the MA ???

3) Community - Because I have learned so much, and was helped so often here, I feel the need to check back to see if I can help someone in need. I like to read all the success stories here, and love to see when we can help someone turn around their lost pool!! I was there once, never again!!!

4) Trust - trust your gut instincts if all you added using Tri-chlor pucks to your CYA was about 4ppm CYA (according to http://www.poolcalculator.com) and yet the CYA test said otherwise. After over a week of scratching my head the CYA tested to be what is was supposed to be (see patience).

Thanks to each and all for your help. It was a great and sparklypoolitis season and I promise to check back here from time to time to see if I can help any of our brothers and sister to the south!!

Very nice post, Pirate,

Each year will get better and better for you because you TRULY understand your pool and know how to manage it now. Your insights are well written and thoughtful.

Most of the "hardcore" hangs around here all winter. It's not as busy but we always come across something interesting.

See ya' around

Thanks ... and don't forget today (Sept. 19th) is talk like a pirate day!!! AAAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!! ME Matey !!!! LOL

Yeah, but have you gotten your pirate name yet?

Cap Iron Davey Kidd at your service!

Yep, it's Captain Tom Rackham!! But just for today!!! Otherwise, I go back to being the boring old Pirate Morgan

I kept track of, and calculated, what it cost me this season in regards to chemicals:

$52

I spend that much on acid alone!!

'course I have really hard water. And I maintain the pool year-round since it shares the water with the spa, and we do fire that up once in a while even when the pool is too cold to swim in.

Did include the extra Borax in those calculations, or did we get the sanitized version?

BUSTED !!!!
I wondered if someone was going to catch on to that ... this was the sanitized version, did not include the screw up!!
I couldn't get that one by ya!!!

>> $52

I spent 30-33 at Home Depot for Muriatic Acid entire year since build -- no other costs incurred