Recent content by mskillens

I had a quick question about SLAM as I start it this week, when I do the loss tests every evening and morning to see if my pool passes, do I need to spend extra money on muriatic acid to keep the pH down for the tests to read accurately? Especially since I’m using liquid chlorine for shocking...

Okay gotcha. I didn't test Calcium but when I did several months ago, it was high. I mean, from my understanding, there's not much I can do about that since our water is always going to be too hard. If there's something out there for managing hard water, let me know hahah If anything, I'm...

Hey everyone! I'm getting my pool ready as it's getting warmer now in southern California and I ran a CYA dot test this afternoon from my test kit. The dot never faded away so I assume my conditioner/stabilizer levels are below 30PPM. I intend to take care of this conditioner deficiency before...

Hey everyone! So I'm ready for pool season and I did my own testing today to see what the status of my pool is. Chlorine: 6 PPM PH: 7.4 TA: 60 PPM - I usually try to get it to at least 80 but it's been a little low the past few weeks. CH: 460 PPM, I'm assuming this is on the higher end of the...

I agree with others, raccoons poop in so many water sources that humans swim in every year and yet there aren’t many reports of illnesses associated with the round worm eggs found in raccoon scat. My theory is the CDC needs to inform the person of the most 100 percent fail proof solution to...

Hey guys so tested my own water w/ Taylor 2006 and got FC 10.5 CC 0 pH 8.2 TA 110 CYA 80 (last checked in July w/kit) Cal Hardness 320 (last checked in July) Water Temp: 84 F I know pH ideally should be 7.2-7.8 but does it matter if it’s 8.2 for today? I am too busy swimming to add muriatic acid.

I hate Leslie’s so much! I remember going in there before I had a test kit and them telling me my FC was at 30 and therefore illegal and that I absolutely must get this powdered stuff to get rid of the active chlorine otherwise they’d tell on me. They also said my CYA was 35 and I shouldn’t...

I just bought one because of the brand and the strength. I have tried other "doughnut" floaters but they get hit by the wind or the water or whatever and they deflat. This one made for a river is best. Is it okay to put a river-run made floater into a pool?

Thanks Jim, I might actually take your advice with the valve settings. It makes perfect sense.

Thanks Jim! The pipe on the very left is specifically the cleaner suction pipe. I just did what you told and turned it off for 3 minutes and noticed the barracuda wasn't really moving. I guess my last question is if there's a correct way of having these suction pipes open. I know the spa...

Hey guys, So, I want to label my equipment and I need to just know what is happening in these pipes. I have pictured both suction and return pipes. I know the return pipes well because there's one going left and one going right. I have a pool that has a raised overflowing spa so return pipe to...

To tell you the truth, there wasn't a rice grain in my pool, it was actually a clear visual of a small ground spider just standing there on the bottom surface of the water for some reason, I used a net to scoop it up. I also had a large grasshopper-like insect at the bottom of my deep end main...

Hey guys just a quick update! I spent the afternoon adding liquid chlorine to the pool and my last reading shortly after sunset was FC: 7.0. I understand that the recommended levels for CYA:80 water is going to be a little higher in the 9-11 range but at least it isn't below 6. I'll have to buy...

Oh yeah, I using pool math everyday when I need to add chemicals. I'm also just using the chart in the Taylor kit booklet that has a wealth of information. I also just know my pool very well to the point that I know adding a quart of MA is going to bring the pH down a few numbers and etc. It's a...