Recent content by Darth Gator

So, I guess I need to get approximately 1 pound of ascorbic acid crystals (Walgreens or Walmart). I'm to fill up a cup and sprinkle it in the pool, and then let it circulate for a half hour. If stains remain, repeat the process. Hopefully, the stain issue will be dealt with. Then I have to...

Just getting back from the new house (lots of painting and landscaping - 46 sprinkler heads!!). Results are in. No change with the chlorine puck. Slight, but definite, change with the crushed vitamin c. I'll start my research on the whys and what fors. But what's next?

Ok, so we're trying to identify the cause of the discoloration? If the chlorine removes the stains then it's organic in nature and if the vitamin c removes them then it's metallic in nature, correct? On the way over shortly with a chlorine in tow.

I feel much more confident about the test results today (second time's a charm)> today: pH = 7.5 CL = 5 (+?) FC = 17 CC = 1 CH = 300 TA = 90 CYA = 50 I still have what I'll call a light greenish-brown band of what I think is algae in the spa and a few places in the pool (previous picture shows...

Not sure why the FC is so high. I was adding half a gallon of bleach to the pool while we were waiting to close, and probably did that for two weeks. I know that the previous owners made some last minute effort at pool maintenance, but I'm not sure what they did. Our realtor expressed our...

Okay, so the kit is in and the first test results are too. (Not totally confident that administered the tests correctly, but I think I did.) FC = 37ppm CC = 1ppm Calcium hardness = 425ppm TA = 90 CYA = 70 I'll check back here to listen to advice, but now I'll take my results and review pool...

Thank you Kim!

This is the state of the pool today (minus chemistry numbers, of course). As you can see, there is a small band of light green algae around the bottom of the hot tub. It's also in other areas of the pool, always near the bottom. I've been bleaching regularly (as advised). I've tried to...

Pool school and pool math will be explored in short order.

Well, we own it now. The test kit will be here in the next couple of days, and then I'll post some numbers. I know that I'm going to have to dig deep with the information on the site, and I will.

We're going to move slowly, over the course of about three weeks. We have the lease on our current home through August, so why not? Going to paint first. About half of the exterior and all bedrooms are getting new coats (and colors). In short order I'll start figuring out what I want to do...

I just ordered the TF-100 with the XL option just now. We close on the house tomorrow. I have been continuing the half bottle of bleach a day for some time now, and the water looks visibly better as a result (I think, lol). It looks fresh and clear. And now we get to move. Lots and lots of...

We take ownership in a couple of weeks! Woohoo! I've just started following advice from this thread, and have begun dumping half a bottle of bleach daily (starter Wednesday). The water is clear - I can see the bottom without difficulty. The problem is that an algae outbreak has taken hold on...

Okay, so the home is plumbed for natural gas but I cannot find a line near the pool area. It appears that it just runs inside the home. I've never lived in a home with natural gas as so know next to nothing about it. How expensive would it likely be to have a NG line installed? Am I looking at...

Would a propane heater be a thing to consider? A buddy of mine was adamant that I would be better off going that route (I'm just not sure he knows what he's talking about). The plan going in is to use the hot tub with some frequency. - - - Updated - - - Go Gators!!