I went to the pool store today with two objectives. I wanted to test my CYA and buy some acid. "Why don't you test the CYA yourself?," you ask. A few reasons actually... That particular test is the least fun one to do because it doesn't require my auto stirrer. I love my Taylor auto stirrer! So fun! I also have trouble convincing myself when I can no longer see the black dot. Those of you who test your own CYA know EXACTLY what I mean. As I needed get some acid anyway, I figured I would have the pool store test my water for free. Instead of getting some test results and basic chemicals, I got a whole lot of drama!
After the pool store guy tested my water and recognized my chlorine level was low, he asked me what I had my chlorinator set to. I didn't even want to talk about chlorine levels. I already knew it was low when I tested it earlier with my cool auto stirrer! I was literally going to home and add chlorine and acid. Anyway... "Here we go," I thought to myself as I calmly stated, "actually I'm just using liquid chlorine right now." I guess the words "liquid chlorine" triggered the pool store guy because he proceeded to lecture me about how bad liquid chlorine is for my pool. He went so far as to claim that liquid chlorine will raise my TDS levels to the point that the high TDS will render "all the chemicals in my pool ineffective." "We don't even sell liquid chlorine here because we cannot in good conscience recommend it," he exclaimed. Although I wasn't there for an argument, the pool store guy's aggressive nature made me feel compelled to explain myself. I calmly argued that I use mostly liquid chlorine and only use pucks to add CYA when it gets low. I explained that 100% use of pucks previously raised my CYA to up over 100ppm. I argued (very unsuccessfully) that the higher the CYA, the higher the chlorine has to be to maintain its effectiveness. I also explained that the only time I've ever had algae in my pool was when my CYA was over 100ppm and I was maintaining chlorine in the 2-4ppm. The pool store guy angrily responded by stating that CYA up to 200 ppm is completely fine and that his 30 years of experience proves him to be correct. He said TDS levels were much more important. He made a scene in the store, threw my test results on the floor, and said I was managing my pool completely backwards. He yelled, "You're managing your pool all backwards my friend!" Why do people call you their friend when they're trying to insult you? Pool store guys aren't my friends! Anyway, my "friend" then refused to sell me the chemicals I came in to buy. He was so frustrated that he passed me off to a co-worker to ring up the chemicals because he, "just couldn't deal with it." I didn't even want to get into a debate. I just wanted to see what my CYA was, buy some acid, and pick up some Torchy's Tacos next door. Lesson learned. Test your water yourself and don't over analyze the black dot!
Ok, so I know pool stores do not follow the TFP method. But are they now aggressively claiming that the method is flat out wrong and causing harm to your pool!? Is the industry angry at the TFP method because it reduces demand for profitable chemicals that aren't needed? Is this pool store guy so defensive because deep down he knows I'm right? Or is this guy just a bad employee who has happened to have been trained wrong for 30 years? Why is this CYA/Chlorine relationship so divisive in the industry? It's based on science, factual studies, and demonstrated results. I've had no algae, no need to SLAM, and no need to drain my pool for over four years now. Outside of politics, I've never seen so called "experts" deny factual information to such an extent. What is happening!?
After the pool store guy tested my water and recognized my chlorine level was low, he asked me what I had my chlorinator set to. I didn't even want to talk about chlorine levels. I already knew it was low when I tested it earlier with my cool auto stirrer! I was literally going to home and add chlorine and acid. Anyway... "Here we go," I thought to myself as I calmly stated, "actually I'm just using liquid chlorine right now." I guess the words "liquid chlorine" triggered the pool store guy because he proceeded to lecture me about how bad liquid chlorine is for my pool. He went so far as to claim that liquid chlorine will raise my TDS levels to the point that the high TDS will render "all the chemicals in my pool ineffective." "We don't even sell liquid chlorine here because we cannot in good conscience recommend it," he exclaimed. Although I wasn't there for an argument, the pool store guy's aggressive nature made me feel compelled to explain myself. I calmly argued that I use mostly liquid chlorine and only use pucks to add CYA when it gets low. I explained that 100% use of pucks previously raised my CYA to up over 100ppm. I argued (very unsuccessfully) that the higher the CYA, the higher the chlorine has to be to maintain its effectiveness. I also explained that the only time I've ever had algae in my pool was when my CYA was over 100ppm and I was maintaining chlorine in the 2-4ppm. The pool store guy angrily responded by stating that CYA up to 200 ppm is completely fine and that his 30 years of experience proves him to be correct. He said TDS levels were much more important. He made a scene in the store, threw my test results on the floor, and said I was managing my pool completely backwards. He yelled, "You're managing your pool all backwards my friend!" Why do people call you their friend when they're trying to insult you? Pool store guys aren't my friends! Anyway, my "friend" then refused to sell me the chemicals I came in to buy. He was so frustrated that he passed me off to a co-worker to ring up the chemicals because he, "just couldn't deal with it." I didn't even want to get into a debate. I just wanted to see what my CYA was, buy some acid, and pick up some Torchy's Tacos next door. Lesson learned. Test your water yourself and don't over analyze the black dot!
Ok, so I know pool stores do not follow the TFP method. But are they now aggressively claiming that the method is flat out wrong and causing harm to your pool!? Is the industry angry at the TFP method because it reduces demand for profitable chemicals that aren't needed? Is this pool store guy so defensive because deep down he knows I'm right? Or is this guy just a bad employee who has happened to have been trained wrong for 30 years? Why is this CYA/Chlorine relationship so divisive in the industry? It's based on science, factual studies, and demonstrated results. I've had no algae, no need to SLAM, and no need to drain my pool for over four years now. Outside of politics, I've never seen so called "experts" deny factual information to such an extent. What is happening!?
outlined.
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