Recent content by FromTheBlackLagoon

Over the winter, the water level in my in ground pool got very low, and parts of the liner came detached from the edges of the pool. A large amount of water accumulated behind the liner. I spent a couple of hours with a shop-vac removing water from behind the liner and dumping it back into the...

If I were in your shoes I would continue with more bucket tests. I'd dump large amounts of every crazy chemical I could think of into separate buckets of pool water until I found something that worked. Then if/when I found something, I'd repeat the test until I found the minimum dose required to...

Just finished reading this whole thread and my stomach is still churning with stress. I was hoping you had found a solution :( I gotta say, the fact that your bucket test (green --> yellow) had such a dramatic effect on a small scale makes me think that super-super-super chlorinating might have...

My vacuum plate tends to get stuck in place after vacuuming, and it's impossible to remove by hand. I used to insert a piece of wood into the hole in the plate and pry it out that way, until one time it was stuck so badly it cracked the wood! Now maybe this is common knowledge, but I...

Yeah, I probably shouldn't have lead with that. :lol: I actually was (and still am) more interested in the technical question that followed. Even though I have the CYA test now, I'm still interested in the chemistry/theory behind it. Well, off to the deep end :snorkle:

The "10% Sodium Hypochlorite" is pretty clear. It's the "90% Other Ingredients" that freaks her out. Why can't they just say 90% water?? I'd show her the MSDS but even they don't list the water content. Oh well, Ollie's has 1 Gal 12.5% "Pool Tech Shock" for $2.49. That's cheaper than Walmart...

I've started calling it "liquid chlorine" now, even though I know it's just a euphemism for "bleach" :rolleyes: Yeah, and add a 2.5 year old, a .5 year old, and two elderly in-laws to the mix and I hope everyone understands my reluctance to "just do it." Thanks everyone for all the marriage...

This is almost exactly what I ended up doing this afternoon. I got the 6 Way HTH test (on sale for $15 at Walmart!) and compared my tests to yesterday's pool store test, demonstrating to her that they were WAY off on the stabilizer level. She's starting to see the light! She even offered to...

Yes, but that's kind of the problem... I'm already in well over budget, and with the pool looking great and testing well at the pool store, I can't convince her I need to spend more money :P First world problems I guess :-D

I would buy one on the sly but I don't want to make waves... Ugh that was bad, I'll see myself out :-D

I actually wasn't aware the HTH 6-way had a CYA test... That might solve my (short term) problem! I'm pretty sure my levels are low enough right now to not require above 5ppm FC unless I need to SLAM. But if/when I do need to SLAM I think the green water may convince her to put some more money...

As newly appointed pool-guardian I consider it my responsibility to prevent that... Despite *ahem* "obstacles" I know a proper test kit is the easiest and most reliable way to get the numbers I need, but is it the ONLY way? I'm willing to do things the hard way if a hard way is available.

Looks like buying the baby kit from Walmart and the extras from TFTestkits would end up running me over $60 after shipping, which is more than the K-2006 via Amazon Prime :( My birthday's in December, so that may be an option for next season. Hoping I can wear her down before then anyway. ;)...

Ok, so maybe it's not quite as bad as my title. :rolleyes: Here's some background: My wife and I recently acquired a foreclosed home with a neglected pool. We are first time pool owners and briefly considered draining it, but were dissuaded by my brother in law who threatened damage to the...