Please, help me understand the TFP way and why anyone would want to work on their pool daily?

[NextGallon]

I know you probably get this all the time, and I am probably breaking every etiquette rule here immediately, so pardon my bluntness and lack of understanding, and I will promise to do better next time, but I want to get to brass tacks right away.

I have owned a pool for exactly one season and a few weeks - opened recently, and used a good pool company that was expensive and seemed to always find problems but they were good last season. Hired a new company this year that was the cheap ones, because not smartly, I thought its only chemicals, right? They were cheap for a reason. So I fired them. Tried to hire old company back, and they are all booked up. Apparently the current state of affairs has more people wanting pool service across the board.

Anyway, I am on the waiting list for service, but I have about a month before I can get someone to do it for me. That said, I have to do a month, and if I am going to have to do it maybe, I will just continue doing it.

But here is my question - and I am sure I am about to offend the purists, but why spend time daily working on your pool, when I can bottle up some water and head down to the pool store 5 mins away and ask them to test and tell me what I have to put in it? I have a test kit. Its probably not as high end, and I tried using it, and have trouble actually reading it. Then I tried the clorox strips and those were probably worse.

Anyway, daily work on a pool seems like you never get to enjoy your pool. Do you guys really check your pool daily and adjust?

Again, sorry if I am bull in a china shop, but wanting to understand.

IG
Pebbletec
Chlorine
Not sure on gallons, but its basically a 13 yard lap pool going from 3 feet to 8 feet in the deep end - half and half essentially.
Coversafe cover
I don't have any readings yet.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Dude! perfectly understandable question because you obviously don't understand the TFP method of pool care. Basically its all based on owner testing, adding ONLY the chemicals needed and nothing else. We use chemicals available at grocery stores, Lowes, Home Depot, and they're the exact chemicals pool stores sell. But at probably 1/3 the price.

We don't put anything in our pool we don't know what the result will be. We don't use anything we don't know what chemical it is and WHY we are using it. We know how pool stores oversell "potions and lotions" that actually cause you trouble and then they sell you others to fix what they caused.

I test my pool maybe 2x week in summer. About 5 minutes twice a week. Thats it. I spend a total of about $100-150 a year on chemicals and testing reagent refills. How much do you spend? In 10 years of using TFP I've never once had algae. I leave my pool open year round. I can go on vacations to Europe and come back to a sparkling clean healthy pool. You?

We also learn nifty tricks from each other on best practices for pool care. Saves time and Money.

I have a robot that scrubs my pool and vacs up the schmutz that can fall in to it, and about once a week Skippy goes to empty and clean out the collection basket. So another 10 minutes, maybe?

Its all about learning the What/Where/Why/How of pool care. Many folks tell us they never knew their pool water could be so clear and sparkle so. How Clear is TFP Clear? Let's See (Pics Please).

Maddie

 

[DeanP66]

Pool stores are notorious for being way off on their testing. That free test isn't really free if you have to walk out of there with $300 worth of chemicals. We have a term for that here. It's called "getting pool stored". You go home with all the potions they sold you, add them and wonder why they didn't fix the problem.

If you really want to cut down on your maintenance time, nothing beats having a salt water chlorine generator (SWG). Once you get to know your pool and dial in your settings on the SWG and your run time on your pump, it's very easy. I finally got one (SWG) last year after 5 years of dosing with liquid chlorine and couldn't believe how little time I had to spend on the pool. I would test the pH and FC about 2 times a week just to make sure nothing was funky, and would add a little muriatic acid to control the pH climb if I needed it. That pretty much was it. The rest of the summer was all swimming and laying out in the sun enjoying the pool.

Even if you dose manually with liquid chlorine, you can probably get away with doing it every other day as long as you top your FC off on the high side of the target range. A little higher stabilizer level (CYA) like 50 or 60 can also help slow down the FC burn off. If you run it at the low range (30), you'll definitely be dosing every day cause the sun will burn it off quicker.

 

[NextGallon]

Dude! perfectly understandable question because you obviously don't understand the TFP method of pool care. Basically its all based on owner testing, adding ONLY the chemicals needed and nothing else. We use chemicals available at grocery stores, Lowes, Home Depot, and they're the exact chemicals pool stores sell. But at probably 1/3 the price.

We don't put anything in our pool we don't know what the result will be. We don't use anything we don't know what chemical it is and WHY we are using. We know how pool stores oversell "potions and lotions" that actually cause you trouble and then they sell you others to fix what they caused.

I test my pool maybe 2x week in summer. About 5 minutes twice a week. Thats it. I spend a total of about $100-150 a year on chemicals and testing reagent refills. How much do you spend? In 10 years of using TFP I've never once had algae. I leave my pool open year round. I can go on vacations to Europe and come back to a sparkling clean healthy pool. You?

We also learn nifty tricks from each other on best practices for pool care. Saves time and Money.

I have a robot that scrubs my pool and vacs up the schmutz that can fall in to it, and about once a week Skippy goes to empty and clean out the collection basket. So another 10 minutes, maybe?

Its all about learning the What/Where/Why/How of pool care. Many folks tell us they never knew their pool water could be so clear and sparkle so. How Clear is TFP Clear? Let's See (Pics Please).

Maddie

$3k a year for every other week. Mind blown. Danke. So I need to get dialed in. Where next?

 

[NextGallon]

Pool stores are notorious for being way off on their testing. That free test isn't really free if you have to walk out of there with $300 worth of chemicals. We have a term for that here. It's called "getting pool stored". You go home with all the potions they sold you, add them and wonder why they didn't fix the problem.

If you really want to cut down on your maintenance time, nothing beats having a salt water chlorine generator (SWG). Once you get to know your pool and dial in your settings on the SWG and your run time on your pump, it's very easy. I finally got one (SWG) last year after 5 years of dosing with liquid chlorine and couldn't believe how little time I had to spend on the pool. I would test the pH and FC about 2 times a week just to make sure nothing was funky, and would add a little muriatic acid to control the pH climb if I needed it. That pretty much was it. The rest of the summer was all swimming and laying out in the sun enjoying the pool.

Even if you dose manually with liquid chlorine, you can probably get away with doing it every other day as long as you top your FC off on the high side of the target range. A little higher stabilizer level (CYA) like 50 or 60 can also help slow down the FC burn off. If you run it at the low range (30), you'll definitely be dosing every day cause the sun will burn it off quicker.

From what I quickly read it sounds like it’s easier on everything. My son broke out after swimming after the pool company I fired added chemicals. Super not cool. Anything to look out for if I ask my builder about going swg?

 

[zea3]

If you used any natural stone in your pool build the builder may try to steer you away from a SWG. Some softer stones like sandstone will erode over time and can leave debris in the pool. Hopefully your equipment pad has enough room to add a SWG without having to re-plumb the entire pad. If you post a photo of your equipment pad area and your pool we may be better able to give you an idea what they may say. If for some reason a SWG is not for you, you may want to look into a stenner pump to automatically dose the pool with liquid chlorine.

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

@NextGallon , your auto-cover will greatly reduce your TFPC workload if you cover the pool when it's not in use. In the off season, I can get away with weekly water tests & chemical additions. During swim season, every other day is usually enough.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Bitte

First step is obtaininng one of the two test kits we endorse, either the TF-100/T-100pro (my fav) or the Taylor K 2006C. The "C" nominclature is important as that kit has volume of reagents most similar to the TF-100. Other K 2006 versions have smaller reagent bottles. Both use the same Taylor reagents but the TF-100 is cheaper and more in line in reagent quantities than the K2006C.

Send us a pic of your pool. What equipment do you have?

Maddie

 

[NextGallon]

@NextGallon , your auto-cover will greatly reduce your TFPC workload if you cover the pool when it's not in use. In the off season, I can get away with weekly water tests & chemical additions. During swim season, every other day is usually enough.

It’s always covered unless we are swimming. Or as I found out the hard way, you have to uncover when there are big storms.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Although you need to open it up every few days to let the pool "breath".

Does your autocover come with a cover pump to pump off rain water? What happened during a big storm?

Maddie

 

[NextGallon]

Yes. I have a pool cover pump that I use religiously. I also found out that my pool is 20,000 gallons. Going to get the test kit and already downloaded pool math and I have that going now too.

 

[mguzzy]

NextGallon! Howdy!
My German sucks so I won't be conversing in code with you and Skipsters...

1) I assume you have read all the educational materials here..yes? ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry ...blah blah blah etc

2) When you are ready for your SWG shopping adventure.. get one that is rated for twice the volume of your pool.. you have a 20k pool, get one rated for 40k... more on that when you are ready for it.

3) If you can find out what has been put in your pool, that would be useful. A lot of it we can figure out from your first set of test results. But some algaecides are nasty.. Did the original PB or one of the various pool service companies leave you with any chemicals? If so list them off or send a pic of them. We can tell you what to keep.

We got your back... We love easing new owners into enjoying their pools as they should be!

Oh and BTW.. your going to have to be a good deal more "blunt" to raise our hackles!

 

[Leebo]

I’ve got nothing major to add BUT i wanted to drop a big WELCOME your way!! Cannot wait to see your reaction once you see how simple pool care really can be.

 

[Newdude]

Another Welcome NG !!! Check the counter at the bottom of the page. We are over 1/4 million strong and getting stronger everyday.

More real world members makes the hive smarter. I’m sure you’ll have experiences to share too. We are glad to have you and we got you until you know it all backwards/forwards.

 

[PoolGate]

I test maybe once a week during the season, but sometimes that slips to once every other week. And that is just basic chlorine and pH (2 minutes). I might do a full test every month. But my pool is totally dialed in and with a SWG, I know what it does I never have any surprises. I also don't try to put as little chlorine as I can get away with I am comfortably within the safe chlorine zone and enough to handle whatever sanitation is required. Your pool can be as easy or as hard as you'd like it to be. Pool stores LOVE people that bring in their water for "free" testing. It is how they make money!

 

[cowboycasey]

Love this thread "just give me the facts" Welcome to TFP

Love me some SWG, if mine died today I would have one ordered an hour later... I also keep my CYA at 80 and my FC at 7 at all times.. I never worry about my FC dropping and test when I can.. I travel and I have to know it will work while I am gone...

My SWG is 3 times the size of my pool, right now with water temp at 65 degrees, covered with a solar cover I am running my SWG at 25% for 2 hours to keep my FC at 7

 

[NextGallon]

I went to a pool store today, since we are having a birthday party on Saturday (not mine), and I want to be sure the kiddos don't have a reaction or the pool looks like soup.

Pool store results were
Free Chlorine 0.16
Total Chlorine 0.79
PH 6.6
Total Alk 53
Calcium Hardness 175
CYA 58
Iron 0
Copper 0.2
Phosphates 2622
TDS 400

So they loaded me with 5lbs of Soda Ash, and 18lbs of hardness plus and told me not to do it on the same day. They also told me to shock and add chlorine both of which I have the big tubs of pucks and bags of shock from the big box store. I loaded in a couple of pucks of the clorox into the skimmer basket.

About a little less than 4 hours ago, I loaded in the soda ash.

I had a Taylor K1003 kit that the previous pool company gave me and if I took the readings right (just now), and still not sure I am confident in my abilities. This is what I got for results.
Total Chlorine 1
PH 6.8
TA 90

Any advice would be appreciated. Obviously, going to get the other kit, but I figured in the meantime I better get used to the process.

Pool math is saying add 7lbs of soda ash, Lower TA with acid and then aerate - not sure what aerate means.

 

[IceShadow]

NextGallon - we typically don't provide advice based on pool store tests because we've found them to be unreliable to the point of potentially harming people's pools if they're wrong (as they often are). Just look at your TA test vs theirs - 90 is fine, 58 is on the low side and could explain the lower pH.

If your pH is 6.8 raising it up a bit with baking soda to get it to 7.2 or so is a good idea. You don't want an acidic pool ruining pool finishes.

If the pool store FC is accurate (big if) then you need to add FC to your pool stat. If it's clear and no signs of algae, I would add about 2-3ppm of FC daily with liquid chlorine until your test kit comes in and you can start running your own tests. If the cover is on you can probably cut that down a bit to maybe 1-2ppm FC, but without knowing what your true FC and CYA are, it's hard to advise how much to add.

Acid + aeration means using acid to drop your pH down to 7.2 or so, then aerating the pool (create bubbles via aiming the jets at the surface, running any water features, or building a little waterfall feature) or just splashing around in it to raise the pH. Aeration reduces the CO2 in the pool, which raises the pH. But you don't need to worry about chasing TA too much - the pool will drift upward naturally if you're not using acidic additions (like pucks) and just chlorinating with liquid chlorine as recommended, and then you can use acid to bring it down, which will lower the TA a little when you do. Eventually most pools find a spot where the pH doesn't drift up so much and you don't need to add acid as often, so you can let it happen naturally unless you have some other driving reason to reduce the TA (like concern over a high CSI for scaling, etc.).

 

[mguzzy]

Lets get your own test results first.. but if those are correct. You need to get you FC up to 5ish follow this FC/CYA Levels... and add about a gallon of 10% liquid Cl. You can get it from Walmart. Stay away from the granular shock stuff it will raise your CYA most likely depending on what kind they gave you.. Take a look at this for your recommended levels:
Recommended Levels
and this for your recommended pool chemicals.. Most of this you can get at the grocery store.. save yourself from Pool Store prices,.

Recommended Pool Chemicals

Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.

www.troublefreepool.com

I think your TA is fine until you get your test kit. But you do need Chlorine based on your own K1003 test.

 

[NextGallon]

Thanks guys. So should I totally ditch the shock and hockey pucks I bought? I have barely used any so far, so I kind of hate wasting money, but if they are not good, then obviously switching over to the stuff outlined above I am willing to do it. Obviously going forward that is what I will do, just asking if I should dump them entirely.

Should I return the 18lbs of hardness plus since I have not used that yet?

Sorry for all the noob questions, and thanks for all your advice.

Also, can I just run my polaris to Aerate?