Well, this thread gave me the idea to do my pool store check. I was going into town anyway, so I grabbed two bottles of pool water and headed out.
First, my testing
FC 7*
CC .5
pH 7.5
CH 250
TA 70
CYA 40
Store #1 Testing with a SpinLab
FC 8.8
CC .6
pH 8.5
CH 267
TA 53
CYA 25
Copper .3**
Store #2 Testing with Taylor drop based kit
FC 5
CC 0
pH 7.6
CH 250
TA 55
CYA 20
Both told me my FC was high, giving the normal it shouldn't be above 1-3 or 1-4
Store # 1 wanted to sell me 29 pounds of BioGuard® - Balance Pak® 100 to bring my TA up to their desired level of 150. I was afraid to ask how much $$ because that might make them think I was going to buy something. On line is is sold in 4 pound bags in the $8 - $9 range.
The MSDS for Bioguard Balance Pak 100 lists the ingredient as 100% Sodium hydrogen carbonate
Which is just a fancy name for
Baking Soda. WalMart has that for $3.47 for a 5 pound bag.
* My FC is a little high. I am floating four 3" tabs to get my CYA back up to 50, but apparently I didn't turn
Stenner Pump down quite enough.
** Funny they should find copper. I don;t have a heater, I know of no copper pipes not only in the pool, but in the house at all (house is all CPVC). When I took over the pool the CYA was over 200 and over the past 18 months I have replaced 80% of the water. I have never used algecide and if the previous owner did it should be gone.