Recent content by DFW

I used to use polyquat for the same reason (backup/insurance) and seem to remember comparing cost and it was about the same either way (might have to take another look at that) Anyway the phosfree won out because I think it's easier to handle (just dump it in the skimmer) and you can test for...

My personal preference is to use phosfree in my pool as backup/insurance. Maybe im wasting my money but so far it's worked equally as well as my anti-tiger rock. That rock has been in my backyard for nearly 15yrs and I haven't seen ONE! Tiger :-)

The biggest problem I see with that water isn't the salt, it's the CH (tot. Hardness). That's some HARD water! The iron is also high. I wouldn't use it if I had the choice (maybe you can shop around?) But it's not unusable. You'd need to be pretty darn proficient with pool water chemistry to...

I average 2gal (121oz bottles) of bleach a week (more in summer) Don't think 6 in a month is high?

You've found the right place for pool help (all kinds) :-) Your pool doesn't look nearly as bad as you might think! I'm on my phone or I'd take a stab at helping you (I could probably recite what someone here soon will tell you in detail in my sleep :-) ) Listen to what these folk are about...

If you have a pool light, wait until dark, shut off the pump, wait for the water to be fairly still, switch the light on. What do you see? If you see a million tiny little floaties in the light beam then you might try using some clarifier. Disclaimer: Might not work, might gum up your filter...

Ignition Control was waiting for me on the porch at 4:30. ICM replaced, LX control panel installed about an hour ago. Heater is fixed, upgraded and the water is 105!!! :-) Opened a bottle of my homemade 2012 merlot :-) going in the hottub :-) Thanks Again!

Got the replacement triac soldered in and everything wired back up this morning. Now the fan is constantly on! :-) Assuming this may not have worked, Monday, I ordered the ICM from a heater supply place (should arrive today according to UPS) I also bought (have not installed) the temperature...

I think (based on wine making experience, never used it in my pool and prefer potassium metabisuphite) that sodium bisulfite breaks down into sulpher dioxide (rotten egg smell) and will normally gas off overtime (sometimes requires aeration or binding to copper to remove excess levels).

I hesitate to suggest this and it might be a gamble that could cause unwanted problems but some clarifier and brushing (to keep everything suspended) MAY help. If you are very very sure what you're dealing with is dirt/sand/dust then it might work out (might). Noone here can suggest it as a fix...

I'm in pretty much the same boat you are. My Ph gets to 7.8 and will hold there for along time. My water is also softened so I keep some calhypo around to maintain CH around 250 (also have pebbletec) and so far so good :-)

Ok, so your CC is 1 then. Just make sure your FC is above your minimum and check it again tomorrow. Btw, I've been a reader here for almost 9 years but have just very recently posted anything (primarily about a problem with my heater) so if.anything I say sounds wrong disregard it :-)

For the fas-dpd test (using the 10ml sample) add a scoop of the powder then drop by drop the r0871. Drops X .5 is your FC. Then add 5 drops of r0003. If it stays clear CC is 0. If it turns pink do the r0871 drop by drop again, multiply drops by .5 to get CC.

That might be about as good as it gets. Up here the 3 packs at sams and costco run $9.95. Aldi is a bit cheaper (per ppm) lower strength (6%) and smaller jugs (98oz) make it not worth the hassel though.

Don't have a speedstir but have a stir plate (same thing, larger scale, I use it to grow yeast! And test my pool :-) ). I use a magnet to hold the stir bar in place while dumping :-) mine came with my stirplate for that purpose but any reasonably strong magnet should work.