Recent content by SongMonk

Hi folks. Thanks for the great advice. I've decided to forgo the booster pump and to simply buy a self-powered robot cleaner. I do have an existing cleaner which requires the booster pump, but that's a sunk cost, and by going the self-powered route, I'm removing any future interdependence. And I...

Thanks again PoolStored. I've been doing a lot of reading and learning, and my understanding is better now. I'm going to start with one question, and it's something you said at the top of your post. You said: "There are many of us that run without automation. Do NOT rely on a flow switch for...

Thank you, you have given me a lot of food for thought. The most basic one is that you're right that I don't need to buy a booster pump at all. Yes, I have a Polaris pool cleaner which is useless without the booster pump, but it's a sunk cost. If I buy a new booster pump, then it's only as...

Thank you, PoolStored. I have a few follow up questions already, but I'm going to go read the material you linked to and try to get a better understanding of everything before I come back. Thank you for your help. Mason

Hi folks. I learned everything I know about pool maintenance from this site, so I should have come to you earlier. I guess my first question is: are there tutorial articles about switching over to SWG? This site has a lot of great articles/posts, but I couldn't find a primer on switching over...

Thank you, Texas Splash. I appreciate what you are saying. I will keep at it. Mason

Yes. :-( The first weekend, I was unfortunately away for long periods of time. The second weekend, I was able to stay closer and keep the levels up better. Okay, so here's a question. People have often asked (numbers stated for my CYA level), "If 12 is good, then is 15 even better?" And the...

Yup, it's still out. I also brushed out the alcove the best I could with the pool brush. I'm not going to put the light back in until I can actually get in the pool and visually inspect the alcove. (Too difficult from above-pool level.) Thanks!

Let me clarify: the numbers I provided were only the overnight numbers so you could see the progress of the OCLT. During the day I raised it up to SLAM level as often as I could. Over both weekends, I definitely brought it up to SLAM levels more than once per day. Mason

Hi folks. I've been engaged in a SLAM since Friday June 17, and it shows no sign of ending. :-( I've made other posts, and some of you have been helping me out which I really appreciate. I'll try to consolidate all the relevant information here including the latest developments. When I...

Thanks, folks. I guess I'll have to make a judgment call once I see how gunky the filter is. :-) Mason

I'm talking about cartridge filters where you take them out and hose them down. I'm still a relatively new pool owner, and I haven't cleaned my filter out, but I plan on doing it this weekend. In the backyard, we have an artificial lawn, so I don't want to do it on that. We have a patio, and I...

I have not cleaned the filter since I inherited the pool (in February), but it is showing < 10 psi. Nevertheless, I plan on cleaning it this weekend. I have also never brushed the pool, b/c I don't have a pool brush! But I will get one. Thanks for your help. Mason

Thanks, pooldv. I'm committed to maintaining SLAM levels this weekend when I am home. Can I save on chlorine by letting the level fall down during the week (still keeping it above normal maintenance levels)? Or am I opening myself up to backsliding if I do that? I will note that CC levels are...

Thank you both. I believe I read that as long as the pool is less than shock level, it is swimmable. Is that true? Or should I let the levels drop down if we want to invite people over to use the pool this weekend? If I do that, will I be shooting myself in the foot in terms of getting the...