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Today I tested my TA and it was around 60. I figured that I just needed to add a little Sodium Bicarb / Baking Soda to raise it up a bit. Priort to testing my water, the reading on my SWG was 4400 ppm. About an hour after I added the BS, I looked at the SWG and it was reading 6600 ppm. So...

As if you need another, here's a reminder as to why you shouldn't rely on anyone other than yourself to test your water. Here are MY results that I confirmed with 2 other (small, independently owned & operated) pool supply stores. The 2 store's results, while not exactly the same as mine, were...

I know most people are thoroughly satisfied with the TFTestkits box for their pool testing kits. I'm looking for something that will accommodate ALL my testing supplies a little better. That would include ALL the testing reagents including for testing salt content PLUS a speedstir PLUS...

Which is better (more consistently accurate) for testing salt content? The Taylor test kit (the one with the 2 reagents and the testing vial) or the AquaCheck test strips? I have the test strips right now and my most recent test showed a result in line with what I got from the pool supply...

My Compu Pool CPSC unit (freshly installed) needs to be recalibrated as it's giving me an incorrect high reading for salt content. It reads 6600 when it's actually 4700 (I realize I need to bring that down but that's another issue in another post). Does anyone know how to recalibrate these...

My pool is 11,000 gallons with an attached spa. My salt reading is 4700 but my SWG requires 3500. About how much water (in inches) would I need to drain to bring my salt down to 3500? My pool is kidney shaped and 6' deep at the deep end. I'm not looking for an exact figure, just a roundabout...

So I just installed a new SWG yesterday and here are my readings as of right now: FC = 33.5 CC = 0 Ph = 7.5 TA = Solution would not turn red - Turned yellow CH = 300 CYA = 100 So my first problem is why is my FC so high? Second, has anyone had this problem when testing for TA where the...

I just made a rather abrupt / impulsive switch over from a traditional chlorine system to an SWG just when I was starting to feel like I knew everything about taking care of my pool. While I haven't yet taken the time to read the owners manual for my SWG, I feel a little overwhelemed b/c...

I'm getting a new pump, filter, and heater installed today and at the last moment (go figure) I'm thinking about adding an SWG. The dealer says they recommend Compu-chlor (by Compu Pool). He said they're cheap, self cleaning, and cheap and easily available parts. Does anyone know anything...

Hi, I'm considering the purchase of a heater for my pool & spa. My pool is about 11k gallons and has an attached spa that 'pours' or 'waterfalls' into it. The spa for some ungodly reason has never had a heater (I was not the original builder of this pool). I'm looking at the Reem Heat Pump...

I've been away from home for about a week and returned to find my pump not working. I'm nearly certain it's dead as it's been quite noisy for a while and have been told by a couple of different pool companies that it seemed to be on the verge of 'dying'. It's probably just the motor however...

I've recently been appointed to the HOA of my neighborhood. I don't really know anything about commercial / community pool maintenance but an issue that has come up is the use of these chemical feeders for our community pool. Apparently, the pool has one for chlorine and one for acid. They...

This is how my spa looks every morning before the pool pump starts up. (The water in the spa is about 8" low and the pool water is about 1" high). Then once the pump starts up, it gradually fills back up and everything seems to be functioning normal including the waterfall. So I asked a...

Here are my current readings: pH is 7.3 (Goal of 7.5) TA is 60 (Goal of 90) I know that I can add a little Borax to raise the pH and that will also rais the TA. I also know that I can add a little baking soda to raise the TA and that will also raise the pH. So how do you decide which to do...

Well, I just did. First - For those of you who don't know, Borax is a very effective treatment for ant infestations. I have used Borax very successfully to erradicate ant colonies. It attracts ants like sugar and then it kills them shortly aterwards. It usually takes a few days before you...

I've read here that pointing the returns upward toward the water surface will aerate the pool and help increase pH. My question has to do with how much movement on the surface of the water is sufficient to aerate the water? Does water actually have to 'break' the surface or will even subtle /...

Where's the best (or cheapest) place online to buy replacement reagents for the Taylor test kits? ETA: Also, what's the largest size bottles that will fit in my Taylor 2006 blue test kit box? I'd like to buy larger bottles of this, the powder, and the CYA reagent since those seem to be the...

My TA has dropped from 90 to 80 but my pH has remained steady at 7.5 Should I be trying at all to bring my TA back up to the 90-100 range or just let it be unless the pH goes down too?

My CYA is 75. Yes, I know it's high and this causes chlorine to burn off more slowly, correct? I just want to make sure about this b/c between yesterday and today, my FC went down by only .5ppm (form 15.5 to 15). This just seems a little slow. The previous day, it had gone from 17.5 to 15.5...

Our pool is about 12 years old and came with the house we recently purchased. The pump is a Jacuzzi Magnum Force 1.5 hp with an AO Smith Motor. It's loud to the point my neighbor has commented about it. The best way I could describe the noise is that it sounds like a coffee can rolling around...

My pump will be needing replacement soon and I have a few questions. I see a lot of posts telling people that their 1hp or 1.5hp pumps are too much power for their pools which are often times larger than mine. My pool is 11k gallons with an attached spa (presently not heated, just a jets) and...

Right now, my water is pretty clear, almost crystal clear. I can see the bottom of the pool very clearly and any inperfections in the surface. The only part that doesn't look crystal clear is in front of the light (at night) when the light illuminates all the particles. But aside from the...

Just picked up some Borax at Walmart and it has a new look. I had trouble finding it b/c I was looking for the 'original' style box but now it comes in this white box. I actually walked out of a Walmart without buying any b/c I thought they were out b/c I didn't see the familiar packaging. I...

I read in Pool School that aeration causes pH to rise. I have a spa attached to my pool that 'waterfalls' into the pool at all times the pump is running. Does this mean that I will be constantly battling with my pH to keep it down or will having the proper TA levels help keep my pH under...

A couple of days ago, I decided to shock my pool b/c my CC was a little high (my FC was about 10) So I added a large jug and a half of chlorine (the big yellow jugs) and that sent my FC soaring. My CYA is about 80 (I know, it's high). Today my CC is down to zero but my FC is 24. Should I be...

Earlier in the day yesterday by FC was 9.5 and my CC was .5. My CYA was close to 100 (yes, high I know) It was suggested that I might want to shock my pool. I added a jug of chlorine to my pool to attempt to shock it. Last night I tried to test for FC using my Taylor kit and I couldn't get...

As of this moment, I store my pool chemicals on the side of the house right next to all the pool pump & equipment. The area is fairly well shaded although it still gets some direct sun maybe about 4 or 5 hours per day at most. This time of year, I go through my liquid chlorine fairly quickly...

I need help understanding something. The local Pool Supply store tells me the ideal chlorine TC level is 2 to 4 ppm and the FC is also 2 to 4 ppm and the CC is 0. My 'Aqua Check' test strips say 1 to 5 ppm FC. The Pool Calculator says 7 to 12. My Taylor test kit only lets me test FC and CC...

11K gallon, In Ground, Concrete FC = 9.2 CC = .8 PH = 7.3 (Base Demand = 2 drops) TA = 70 CH = 230 CYA = 85 This is my first test so please go easy on me.

My thread on tablets raising CYA levels has me thinking... Let's say that I want to minimize or temporarily not use the Rainbow 320. Obviously, I stop adding tablets to it or simply reduce the tablets. But when I'm running it empty (no tablets), is it best to just leave the flow valve all the...