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My parents retired to Florida and are enjoying their waterfront house which has a enclosed screened pool and patio. I already bought them a TF-100 test kit, but now I'm looking for some "fun" ideas of things for their pool as Christmas gifts. They already have furniture covered. I'm thinking...

I just replaced a leaking 2 speed 230v pump with a new one and it's not working. I checked the wiring diagrams, and the newer motor has the terminals in a different order, so I had to swap the common and high speed wires around. With a test light I get 120v on all three terminals (low...

Well I did 3 drain and fills, used 2 rounds of "ahhh-some" hot tub cleaner, so I'm starting with a clean hot tub. I filled it today, used pool math (425 gallons, so .5 oz dichlor) and my FC drop test is showing 22! I should have tested the tap water before adding the dichlor. I assumed it was...

I'm back! I sold my house with pool back in 2014. I was a full on TFP'er and was running the pool like a champ. But now I'm a few years rusty and just bought a house with a huge Pinnacle Spa on the back porch. We were going to cut it up and throw it away until we uncovered it. It look like...

I've been away for a couple of years. We sold our house which had a great pool. I learned how to take care of it here on TFP. Well in 2 months we close on a new house to us. It has a hot tub on the screened porch. At first we were going to toss it, but after seeing it during the home...

Help! I went to install my new intermatic electronic timer and I'm confused. I have dual mechanical timers. One for the pump, one for the boost pump (polaris). I also have a heater and salt water generator on the main pump timer. The issue is that my 240v breakers have wires coming off each...

I tested my pool pilot nano + today after finding zero chlorine in the pool. Salt 3400PPM, temp 87, duty cycle was 50% (bumped to 75%), and running 8 hours (4hrs morning, 4 hrs night). Cell is pulling 4.9 amps. 4600 amp hours life on the cell. Pool tests: 7/17/15 PH 7.2 FC 9.0 (had pucks...

I want to upgrade from my dual mechanical timers to a single electronic Intermatic. I have a single speed 240v pump, booster for Polaris, and require a deadman lead to the pool heater. They list a P1352ME which is $238 on Amazon, or the P1403ME, which is under $150. Which one do I want? Will...

I'm sold on my new process of covering the pool in the fall while the pool is still "open" which keeps the leaves out and when the water is 60 degrees, I blow the lines and close (was covered for a month with the pump running). This past weekend I did the opposite. I pulled the plugs, fired up...

What are the best wine glasses for pool side? I thought it would be easy finding some plastic ones, but the online reviews are terrible on most. Tervis has the "goblet" which looks cool, but $20 each?

I'm getting a little lazy on keeping the pool level correct. If it drops too much, my skimmer starves and the pump runs dry. Is there a recommended auto-fill device that I hook my garden hose up to? It doesn't even have to be permenant- something I can just lay on the deck and will shutoff...

My Polaris spends over half it's time stuck in the corner of my steps. I tried every adjustment and even the trax kit with tank tracks. Nothing works. Now I'm thinking about putting something on the bottom of the pool to keep the cleaner from getting stuck. My dad thinks putting a row of...

I removed a dead SUNLITE and bought a new Pentair Aqualite which was supposed to fit the small niche. Well it "almost" fits in. I had to cut the clamp bolt shorter on the backside. Now I can get it mostly in, but the niche has a "flat" at the top and bottom that are keeping the light from...

My pool has steadily been shedding waterline tiles. Mostly the narrow rectangle ones at the top. I have a small bucket full of them. Only about 8 of the main waterline tiles have come off in once section. A bunch look they were just siliconed in place by the prior owner. I want to put them...

I have a two year old 1/2hp whisperflo 220v pump that runs 8 hours a day. I'm wondering if it's worth it to replace with a 2 speed or not. I have a huge sand filter if that makes a difference. My thoughts are that I could get one that at low speed, runs about what mine does right now, but...

Time to keep the toddlers away from the pool. I want to build a fence across the back of my pool going from the existing fence on the left in the picture straight across to the corner of my deck- shown by the brown lines. Then the red line will be mesh safety fence going from the corner of my...

Anyone watch the show? You think a 50,000 gallon natural pool works with just plants filtering the water? Serious lack of technical info in the show. I did find this article. Looks like bio nova made the pool? http://www.latimes.com/home/la-lh-natural-swimming-pools-20140526-story.html

My screened porch/deck is under contruction so I've left my loop-loc security cover on the whole season so far. The pump & SWG (35%) are running 4hrs a day. Water is clear, but some stuff on the bottom since I only vacuumed once when I opened the pool in May (then put the cover back on)...

I'm interested in upgrading my twin intermatic mechanical timers (pump and vacuum booster) to something electronic and easy to program. Worth it? Any recommend models? I have an old school pool heater without an operating thermostat, so right now to use it, as a safeguard I pull the "off"...

I'm stuck with a Pentair spa sized light on my pool. The housing is gone so I need a replacement. A 60w incadescent is $145 White LED is just over $300 5G color changing is just over $400 Anyone with experience seeing an LED spa light in a full sized pool? I'm worried about spending all that...

I have a 1997 Teledyne laars gas heater, 250k. The home warranty paid for a new gas control unit and pilot assembly, so now at least it works. But the temp knob does nothing, so it's either on or off. I almost had a catasrophy when the pump shut off with the heater still going. It did shut...

I'm considering a solar cover for my pool to keep the temps up. 1) It looks like it'll interfere with my polaris pool vac. Do I take the vac out when it's covered, or just not run it? 2) I get a lot of tree debris- with a cover on, the skimmer isn't going to be able to get the stuff. And...

I did my first opening yesterday. I left the loop lock cover on because of the impending oak tree pollen bloom that's due, but I wanted to get the water balanced and filtering. Temp 56 deg FC 0 Ph 7.5 Ta 100 Calcium 140 Cya 0 Salt 2200 Since I need calcium anyway, and I have half a bucket of...

Last year when we bought the house, the owners had me help open the pool. They strictly waited until late May to open, waiting for all the overhanging oak trees to finish dropping their pollen and "fuzzies" all over the place, and it was a swamp. Right now my pool is looking pretty good- nice...

I have an ancient pump that I can drop into the pool to keep the level in check under my looploc mesh drain cover, but it takes hours to drop the level a couple of inches. Is there a good, high flow 115v pump I can leave in there? I'm wondering if I should get one with a built in float switch...

I have a potential overseas deployment on the horizon that would go from July-July. I take care of the pool myself. I'm wondering what my options are so it can be worry free while I'm gone. We have a SWG, so maint is mostly scooping leaves, emptying scupper, and backflushing filter. I think...

I closed the pool myself ahead of the loop-loc cover installers. I did the air compressor line into the the pool pump drain with a fitting. Seemed to work fine to blow out the returns, but I have a check valve that kept air from going through the system/main drain/skimmer. So I turned the...

I know all the threads on here tout keeping the pool open until the water is in the 60's. But because I have so many trees around and over my pool, I need to be covered very soon. I'm scooping out leaves 2-3 times a day and the filter basket is constantly filling up and clogging. Right now my...

My looploc cover should be showing up soon. I'm going to close the pool myself, and time it so the cover comes either that day or the next. I'd like to drop the water level a day or two before they come so I can replace some tiles and paint my love-seat/bench area. I was thinking I could...

I'm going to close the pool myself this year (first year with the pool). I helped open it so I know there are plugs and drains and where they are. I've read for an hour but still have questions. I have a large shop vac, an air compressor, and a stihl gas powered leaf blower at my disposal...