I was about to start another thread, but this is just the place to say how much I love this forum. I' been treating water in an industrial setting for almost thirteen years but have learned so much here. Some has even been a good refresher for my job skills, and actually been fun. I go to pool school often and learn something new just about every time. The amount of knowledge here is impressive to say the least. I dont have a real pool, but I get into keeping it nice and watching my chemistry as much as anyone. If I can ever talk the wife into it, I'll have a respectable IG or AG pool someday in the near future. I've used tabs and bleach until finding TFP summer of 09'. Thats when I started using Borax and lovin it. Not trying to brag, but I've been quite successfull too. Been lurking again this season and really getting more interested in tweaking and learning further. I haven't found a place I like better and just wanted to say it. Thanks to all of you here.

Cheers,
Patrick

I have had my pool for about 6 years. Over the 6 years I have had mixed results in keeping the water clear and keeping algae out of the pool. It was a rare occassion when the pool was crystal clear and I could see clearly from one end to the other. Toward the end of last summer I got pool stored and dumped 60# of shock into the pool to meet the "chlorine demand" that the pool required. When I opened the pool this spring, I got pool store again dumping 75# of chlorine into the pool to again meet the chlorine demand. I then found TFP and the BBB method. When my new test kit arrived my CYA was well over 100, more in the 200 range. After a few drain and refills to lower my CYA, shocking the pool for a couple weeks, and doing battle with a dead frog in the skimmer my pool is wonderful and could not be easier to take care of. I never thought I would be signing on to my computer every day to read about other people taking care of their pools. Tomorrow is payday, tomorrow I will become a lifetime member! One thing that does drive me crazy......I can never get every last spec of dirt out of my pool! God knows I try!

"One thing that does drive me crazy......I can never get every last spec of dirt out of my pool! God knows I try!"

It sounds like we need to start a support group for those of us who are suffering from "Sparklypoolitis!" LOL
I never thought I would find enjoyment in cleaning my pool, but I do!

I joined TPP just a short time ago. I had an inground pool as a child, but dear old dad took care of most of the stuff and I just watched and helped whenever possible. Skip ahead about 20 years and here I am as a homeowner, mother of 2 and new AG pool owner. Hubby and I were given no real guidance by the pool store where we purchased the pool, but figured being college graduates we could probably figure things out. After about a month of having water in the pool and finally getting the filter/electrical work hooked up, we found that whatever we were doing wasn't working.

I went online to find some answers and came across TFP. Even though they've likely heard the same problems over and over, TFP moderators, contributors, etc. answered my questions and got me through the rough patches. After getting the water pretty crystal clean, about all I need to do now is maintain my chlorine levels and vacuum once in a while. Much more enjoyable than that green swamp I had!

Perhaps the best thing that came out of all this was the compliments from my husband on getting the pool water so nice and enjoying time with the family -- just like when I was a kid. The only pitfall from all of this is that I may have to bring back the tie-dyed look because I keep dripping bleach on my clothes when I pour it in the pool. Oh well -- small price to pay!

I have only been a member of troublefreepool.com for a short while. I haven't found many other forums with this much quality information. I feel confident that if I have any questions I will find my answer somewhere in these forums. It is great to have a community of pool enthusiasts like myself so share their knowledge. Thanks!

The TFP team has been the biggest blessing I have had since becoming a pool owner, only second to my son and his dogs happiness. I always knew there was something fishy when every time I entered a pool store I left with $50, $60, $70 or $100 bill and that doesn't even count for the pool guys cost (who I really liked and was a chlorine and acid only guy).

After finding this site, studying all the resources and most importantly with the guidance of people like jblizzle, Linen, JasonLion, frogabog and others that have lent insight direction and guidance I have become so less dependent on the Pool Store for the care of my pool. Funny its like they know somehow I found you guys they don't even bother selling me on anything anymore, I think they realize all I'm there for is Chlorine, Acid and CYA.

What a GREAT group of folks to put this kind of time and energy into helping those around them. At the very least I could donate and help pay for the resources that cost JasonLion cash to keep running.

Thanks again to those I listed, and to the rest of you who I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, you guys ROCK!

-8lbcalico

I had above grounds for about 12 years, and now have an in ground, and back then, the method was buy that $90 bucket of pucks, the $60 box of shock, misc algaecides over and over, and of course the pool would be fine for a few years, then it gets to the point where things grow, the plastic steps would become an algae farm, and it was a continuos fight. Luckily I found this site last year, and now I GOT IT!. I learned how to really shock a pool, get the organisms killed, and except for having a high CYA which caused me to go through a higher than normal bleach bottle count, I was able to keep it clear the rest of the summer without having to go through the shocking PROCESS again. I've got my CYA in check, and now have a SWG for even less maintenance. Looking forward to a full trouble free year.

Even with an excess rain that spilled into the pool, everything is still in check, and water is clear.

Nice work, X2, you are a true BBB'r and it is obvious you do "get it".