We put in an above ground pool last year. Towards the end of the season, we suddenly started having algea problems with no apparent reason and it was a battle for almost a month. When we opened our pool this year, the pool will NOT hold chlorine. I've gone round and round with it for almost two weeks now. I stumbled on this site and just reading the Pool School section has answered so many of my questions! Love this! However, I do still have a few...
I have yet to purchase an actual GOOD test kit but the results from the Wal-Mart one are CYA=40, Chlorine/Bro.=.5/1, PH=6.6, TA=110, TH=90.
I was told BEFORE putting the pool in that the "experts" at the pool store were not looking after my best interests so I've always taken what they said with a grain of salt. I was informed that if I had only drained to pool to just under the skimmer when we closed it, that we didn't need to add any stabalizer. WRONG. I tested anyway and it was barely registering. I've since gotten that level up, then the PH dropped and it hasn't held chlorine at ALL. The amount of shock I've used is appalling. A lot of what I've read here has lead me to believe that the trichlor tabs we've been using may have caused some of our problems last year as well as this year? The water was only a little cloudy when the cover came off. It cleared up when the CYA was raised but it seems to be getting slightly cloudy again.
Also, we have one of those mineral filter cartridges as well and I'm wondering if it's even worth using?
And, how does one transition from trichlor tabs to straight bleach? Is that even a good idea?
I have yet to purchase an actual GOOD test kit but the results from the Wal-Mart one are CYA=40, Chlorine/Bro.=.5/1, PH=6.6, TA=110, TH=90.
I was told BEFORE putting the pool in that the "experts" at the pool store were not looking after my best interests so I've always taken what they said with a grain of salt. I was informed that if I had only drained to pool to just under the skimmer when we closed it, that we didn't need to add any stabalizer. WRONG. I tested anyway and it was barely registering. I've since gotten that level up, then the PH dropped and it hasn't held chlorine at ALL. The amount of shock I've used is appalling. A lot of what I've read here has lead me to believe that the trichlor tabs we've been using may have caused some of our problems last year as well as this year? The water was only a little cloudy when the cover came off. It cleared up when the CYA was raised but it seems to be getting slightly cloudy again.
Also, we have one of those mineral filter cartridges as well and I'm wondering if it's even worth using?
And, how does one transition from trichlor tabs to straight bleach? Is that even a good idea?