New member

[geh]

Hi all, greetings from New Orleans. First time pool owner for the past three years. Been fumbling my way through it based on pool store advice, not all of which I trust, and self maintenance. Looking forward to getting more under the hood, learning more and managing pool chemistry in a more exacting manner. Just ordered a Taylor K-2006 testing kit. just had my pool replastered this past spring and want to make the new environment and plaster long lasting and chemistry always in balance.

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! Don't forget to update your signature. Have a nice weekend.

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Dirk]

Hi all, greetings from New Orleans. First time pool owner for the past three years. Been fumbling my way through it based on pool store advice, not all of which I trust, and self maintenance. Looking forward to getting more under the hood, learning more and managing pool chemistry in a more exacting manner. Just ordered a Taylor K-2006 testing kit. just had my pool replastered this past spring and want to make the new environment and plaster long lasting and chemistry always in balance.

Hey geh! Welcome. You've just completed the first two most important steps to taking control of your pool. You found TFP and you bought a great kit!! Have you read Pool School yet? I like the eBook version. It's a quick read. A link to it is at the bottom of this page:

Pool School

www.troublefreepool.com

You can get the same info online here, but the eBook goes from "page to page" without having to jump around from link to link. Get through Pool School then come on back if you need any help implementing what you'll learn. You'll find lots of help from this amazing community of pool owners, just like you.

 

[geh]

Hey geh! Welcome. You've just completed the first two most important steps to taking control of your pool. You found TFP and you bought a great kit!! Have you read Pool School yet? I like the eBook version. It's a quick read. A link to it is at the bottom of this page:

Pool School

www.troublefreepool.com

You can get the same info online here, but the eBook goes from "page to page" without having to jump around from link to link. Get through Pool School then come on back if you need any help implementing what you'll learn. You'll find lots of help from this amazing community of pool owners, just like you.

looking forward to reading the ebook. I might also mention I’ve made multiple repairs on the pool heater, had it re-plastered this year, repaired the Pentair SAL lights twice, got conned into replacing the sand filter by the local pool shop, resealed my deck myself, had a tech replace both the failing pool pump and the Polaris pump, so I’ve been hands on and brought back to life a pool and patio that had been neglected by the previous owner. I’ve also replaced virtually every part of the Polaris 280 at least twice. Now the float broke off the main housing so looking to buy a Polaris Quattro Sport to replace it. Managing the chemistry, however, has been an uninformed process of test strips, add muriatic acid, add shock and stabilizer tabs, rinse and repeat. However I have been using borate, the first two years purchased from the pool shop, and this year with 20 Mules from the grocery. Looking forward to a more informed approach of managing the water properly.

 

[Dirk]

Yah, you gotta dump most of what you've been taught by the pool store. And only go back in there to buy chlorine and acid, and only then if their prices are better than you can find elsewhere. No more test strips. No more shock. No more tabs. No more worries, we'll get'cha going in the right direction, real quick.

I had a plumber convert my pressure port to a suction port and I replaced my 280 with a Rebel suction-side vac. Cleaning efficiency was the same, but I was able to get rid of my booster pump. I swear by my vac. Others here swear by their robot cleaners, which don't use the pool pump at all. Some of us here still use pressure-side vacs, but they're kinda the #3 choice for cleaning. They all have their pros and cons. You should look into some of the other options before you plunk down for another pressure-side vac. Or start a thread about it and you'll get lots of opinions about what to buy next.