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  1. Tom Tank

    Total Alkalinity Jumping?

    I ordered full replacement at the end of March for my TF-100.
  2. Tom Tank

    Total Alkalinity Jumping?

    I tested my TA last weekend and noticed that it was at 60. My pH was at 7.5. I thought that I should raise my TA to 70 or 75 so I added the proper amount of baking soda. I added it in 2 days and the amount according to the Pool Math. The last few days, I tested the TA just to see where it...
  3. Tom Tank

    Bonding Question

    Pool is about 15 years old. Why do you think they would bond everything and not run the wire in a loop back to the pump? When I shut off the booster pump there is no tingling sensation at all. However, the booster pump is bonded.
  4. Tom Tank

    Bonding Question

    Never had an issue before and now start to feel a little tingling on my hand when my Polaris Booster Pump is on and my hand is on the pavers around the pool. Nothing has changed except that I moved some pool furniture around. Does aluminum pool furniture need to be bonded somehow? Also, where...
  5. Tom Tank

    Couple of closing questions

    Thanks for the response and videos. I watched them and now have one more question - I thought the chemicals to raise the FC and Poly60 should be put in advance of the pool closing. It looks like the video shows it on the same day. Also, I was thinking that my gas leaf blower could do the...
  6. Tom Tank

    Couple of closing questions

    First time pool owner and I will be closing my pool myself for the first time this season. I have been following the TFP method for half of the season and it has worked great. My current setup is 3 returns, 2 skimmers, main drain and waterfall. Can someone validate my closing plan and answer...
  7. Tom Tank

    Algae returns at FC level of 7

    I just went through the same thing with algae returning after a successful SLAM. After the algae returned, I SLAMMED again, but this time used Polyquat 60 after the FC levels went down. My pool has been clear even with heavy bather loads and FC creeping close to the minimum for my CYA level...
  8. Tom Tank

    When to use Polyquat after Slam

    @ Sunny Good thought on checking the waterfall. We typically don't run it very often because it raises the ph too high. I will double check it now. @duraleigh: not losing faith in TFPC method and just chlorine. I wanted extra insurance for the algae and thought polyquat would work. The...
  9. Tom Tank

    What value do YOU keep your FC level at?

    Do you typically add bleach at night after the sun goes down or in the morning? I have been testing in the morning and adding bleach before the sun goes up. However, I am thinking maybe test at night and add at night for the next days consumption. Is that the best approach?
  10. Tom Tank

    Algae Back?

    Thanks for the advice. I have done what I thought was a good job of brushing the pool - removed light, removed ladder etc... The water is clear now after the second SLAM was completed, I am letting the FC drift to maintenance level. I have added polyquat 60 today and will continue to monitor...
  11. Tom Tank

    When to use Polyquat after Slam

    I have not tried adding borates, but thinking of doing that at the start of next season. I have avoided phosphate removers because of reading through these forums, but will probably use it if algae returns. Right now, pool is clear, FC is dropping after the SLAM. I am going to add polyquat 60...
  12. Tom Tank

    When to use Polyquat after Slam

    Thank you. This is my first year ever owning a pool, so I apologize for the questions. If the "algae" I am seeing is indeed pollen, would it make the water turn green too? When I brushed the pool the day I found the algae, it brushed off rather easily and created a cloud after the brush...
  13. Tom Tank

    When to use Polyquat after Slam

    Thanks tim5055. We missed some really good swimming days the past two weeks. I have followed everything that I could on this site, but still fear that algae will come back. Here are my latest readings: FC=27 / CYA = 70. FC is too high to get a good reading on the ph, but before the SLAM...
  14. Tom Tank

    When to use Polyquat after Slam

    Thanks, but this is my second time doing a SLAM in two weeks. The first time, it passed all of the tests and I maintained the FC to the appropriate FC/CYA level. However, algae still came back. I don't want to keep dumping a ton of chlorine in the pool (my CYA =70) and read that polyquat is a...
  15. Tom Tank

    When to use Polyquat after Slam

    Finished my SLAM and now have a question about Polyquat. My FC levels are really high due SLAM, can I put in Polyquat 60 now or should I wait until FC levels drop? I am going to use polyquat as insurance but read on some of the forums that it can break down faster when FC is high. Can someone...
  16. Tom Tank

    Algae Back?

    Yes. I have 2 skimmers a main drain and 4 returns. There is not one spot that keeps getting algae. Yesterday it was all over the bottom of the pool. I am pretty much at a loss as to what to do next. I am Slamming the pool now, but when it is finished i am not sure where to maintain the FC.
  17. Tom Tank

    Algae Back?

    I will keep FC at 9. When I woke up yesterday, FC was at 8 and the algae was back. So that is the cause of my confusion.
  18. Tom Tank

    Algae Back?

    I still don't understand how the algae returned. I kept my FC in the right range, test daily, but it still returned. Is my cya readings off?
  19. Tom Tank

    Algae Back?

    I did brush twice a day (morning and night), backwashed the filter. I did not brush behind the light. does this require me to take the light fixture out? I did brush all around the light. I am going to do the OCLT tonight because the water is cloudy now.
  20. Tom Tank

    Algae Back?

    Last week, I did the SLAM and all three tests passed (CC=0, OCLT and Clear Water). Water was perfect green algae gone. Well for at least 5 days. I let the FC level naturally drop to my CYA /FC maintenance level of between 6-11. I woke up today to more algae. Tested everything (using TF100)...
  21. Tom Tank

    FC Testing Q

    Sorry if I wasn't clear enough, CYA was slightly under 50 so I doubled it to 100 since I was using a 50/50 mix. Is that the correct?
  22. Tom Tank

    FC Testing Q

    I have tested CYA with the 50/50 mix and it was a little under 100. For FC testing, what would the calculation be if I used 50/50 mix in the 10ml tube? Is it 1:1?
  23. Tom Tank

    FC Testing Q

    Is there a way to dilute the water for testing for FC? I am in the middle of a SLAM and have to maintain a FC=39.
  24. Tom Tank

    FC Testing Q

    New pool owner and recent convert to the TFP method. Using the TF100 test, my CYA=100, so I know I need to drain water, but really don't want to do that until the season is over. So I am left with maintaining a pretty high FC between 7-12. My questions are: Because my FC level needs to be...
  25. Tom Tank

    Green Pool - High Phosphate Level

    I am just confused on how the CC does not show up. I never saw that anywhere in the articles i read. In any case, i just tested again and have the exact same results from 2pm. FC=30 and CC=0. With my CYA level of 100, I need to raise the FC to 39. Should I do that? I would hate to drain...
  26. Tom Tank

    Green Pool - High Phosphate Level

    Another question I failed to ask is how could my FC=30, CC=0, but the pool is still green and cloudy? I put in the recommended amount of bleach last night based on the pool stores test of CYA=60. I do not know if it FC held because i did not get my test kit until today. However, would there...
  27. Tom Tank

    Green Pool - High Phosphate Level

    I got my TF 100 test kit today and FC= 30 and when I went to do the CC test it = 0. In addition, my CYA = 100!!! Here are two additional questions: 1.) Is it possible to have such a high CYA when I have only been using tri pucks about since beginning of May? 2) When I tested for CC, the...
  28. Tom Tank

    Green Pool - High Phosphate Level

    Thanks for your help!
  29. Tom Tank

    Green Pool - High Phosphate Level

    That is what I thought. Thanks for the quick reply. Can I just stop using the chlorinator with the tri pucks completely and start the TFPC approach? Or is do I need to do something to get started? Just a newbie and not 100% sure how to get started.
  30. Tom Tank

    Green Pool - High Phosphate Level

    I live outside Raleigh, NC. I am familiar with the SLAM process which I cant really do until I have the TF 100 that I ordered today. So, if the test results above are correct, should I try to reduce the phosphates or SLAM?