I was going to just test the CYA using last night’s water sample. Then I’ll test everything else with a new (cold) sample right after. I’m adding borates to my pool today so I’ll definitely be testing the pH/TA with a new sample here shortly. I despise the CYA test and the cold water temps just make it more annoying lol. The bottle has been sitting since yesterday evening, so it should be plenty warm. No rain or anything since then.
I never use poly. The thought of letting the FC drop to half SLAM level and then adding Polyquat which will eat up even MORE chlorine would have my anxiety very high, especially with how unseasonably warm our winter was. I close really late, too — early November.
Just fill the little squirty bottle & put the cap on then stick it in your pocket for a little bit. Presto! body temp sample.
No offense to anyone who does use it, but I don’t really see the point or how it’s extra insurance? Waiting until mid to late fall when the water gets cold and bringing FC to SLAM before covering and opening (early) is pretty much a guarantee for clear water if everything was clean/balanced at closing. I bought Polyquat years ago and ended up giving it away (unopened) to someone on here.
Omg! I never would’ve thought of that. I have those cheap hand warmers also. I bet that would work well?
I don’t see why not although probably not necessary.
Many close early and the PQ lasts longer than chlorine. So for them it makes sense because the FC was never going to last long enough anyway.
Ohhhh I see. I’ll never be able to relate to closing early lol
I fill a large cup with hot water. I put sample cup in that water and warm it up to 70. Then test.You have a beautiful pool! My water was a little over 55 degrees F when I opened. I’m curious….since your water temp is so low, did you just let your water sample warm up inside before testing CYA? I wanted to test mine again yesterday but the water was only 53 so I let the sample sit overnight. Wondering if it’s still good for testing?I should know this by now lol
Yah I close so late and open so early I don’t sweat it at all.
Horrible cloudy water on opening. Shame. Shame. Should have opened 2 months earlier. Lol
Even when I close close to slam level with all the rain we get and the water I take out I still dose liquid 1-2 times in winter to keep it clear. Just in case. I throw my pump in the deep end with a 4 foot hose. Let it whip and pour liquid over it. That stirs it up in 2 hours throughout the pool. Nice and easy. Little bit of extra insurance if it’s a warmer winter.
I KNOW. I'll have to bite my tongue the 53 times somebody is blaming their mesh cover this spring. They won't want to hear that their approach is the problem. So I don't even try anymore.
I started hanging the pump in bucket to drain more of the rain water up top. It really helped retain some chemicals at the bottom. Previously I pumped from the bottom and was mostly zeroed out in the spring and this year I was only down 1/3 for salt and CYA.
Interesting. Interesting that is very hard core. When I pump out water I put it on my bench seat in deep end which is what maybe 17 inches deep from bottom of tile. I zero out every single winter if I didn’t add. Cause when I measure in winter I’m always like 2 or under by Jan ish.
It takes 2 mins to set up and I carry all the needed things out there in the bucket. (Rolled up flat hose, string, extension cord and pump). After draining a foot and assuming there was a decent amount of top mixing, the top water still tested 0 FC and 0 salt so it was still all rain or stratified water.
Not a stupid question at all!! What are your water test results? We can go from there.
