Recent content by Mike Stevens

Note: I was just notified that the instructions were not included in my kit. So, no, I'm not a complete moron. I have them now as a PDF.

Thanks Patrick! I've only been adding 12 oz and levels are on the lower end of OK or questionable, so I'll try more.

Oh, duh. I guess it's magnetic or something? Well, this is what happens when something comes without instructions! I was turning it on and expecting the pad to vibrate.

The Smart Stir device I just tried for the first time doesn't work. Light comes on when pressing either button, but there is no vibration or any other movement with or without a vial of liquid on it. How do I return it?

Must be either a lot of retired people on here, or people loafing at work (I'd be the latter but look forward to the former).

Steve-D: Love the mad-doctor avatar. Huge fan of the old Warner Bros. cartoons....Merrie Melodies, Looney Tunes. They don't make 'em like they used to!

I'm amazed how quick and helpful people are on these forums! So, I have to turn the Smart Stir off myself? How do I know how long to let it mix?

So it will turn off by itself? What is the difference between the light bulb button and the power button? .... The "label" with the buttons on it is lifting off on one side, out of the box. Just feels cheap and worth about $5 but if it works, it works.

So I got the test kit and the Smart Stir thing. No instructions with the Smart Stir. What is the small plastic "X" for? How long do I keep it on? I'm a little disappointed, it looks kinda cheap and is already coming apart on one side. Buyer's remorse...

I see. This way it shows what to add to reach the final target, vs. the "effects of adding" which shows how much it raises the level the pool already has. Good info.

Ah, okay! Thanks!

I do have the Pool Math app and have my info in there (other than the latest levels since I am waiting for the test kit to arrive) but I don't find anything there about how to figure out parts per million.

I guess this is a dumb question but how do you determine parts per million? (BTW, wasn't a full drain but pretty close.)

Waiting to get my test kit any day now, until then I am still using test strips and occasionally the Leslies's test. Both methods have shown that lately my CYA is very high--the test strips showed 300! So this past weekend I replaced water in the pool and got the CYA down to less than 30. Oddly...

Well, when my pool (fiberglass) was installed last spring they told me the pump needs to run year-round (though not as long per day) to keep it clean. Also, the pump is set to come on if the water gets to be a certain low temp (not sure what offhand, maybe 38 degrees F) to keep the water moving...