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I have two related problems. First my pool needs to be replastered. Second black algae started this winter. The black spots disappear after treatment with trichlor. The poor condition of the white plaster may have allowed the algae a place to start. Our pool is about 23 years old and I...

When I tested my pool water for Cl on Friday night I determined that the Cl was too low. I checked the SWG and found that the filter pump was on and the Autopilot Check System light was blinking. The display was not working properly; the display showed only vertical lines. No error messages...

My water chemistry: FC = 5 TA = 80 CH = 230 Borates = 20 CYA = 65 When I use the Pool Calculator I get the result that to change the pH from 8.0 to 7.6 I need to add 57 oz of MA. To change the pH from 7.4 to 7.0 I need to add 78 oz of MA. In the first case a decrease of the pH of .4 requires...

Our Polaris 380 is connected to a return near the south east corner of our pool. When the feed hose has no tangles or kinks the Polaris runs from the shallow end to the deep end. When the Polaris reaches the deep end near the north west corner of the pool the Polaris climbs the wall and turns...

This week I had to add salt to the pool because my salt level had fallen to 2,800 ppm. I increased the salt level to 3,400 ppm. I noticed that the reported voltage had changed. At a salt level of 2,800 the control unit reported 24 volts. At a salt level of 3,400 the control unit reported 22...

I need to reduce my TA level. The best return for me to use to build a fountain/shower to aerate the water is near my SWG. If I aerate the water while the SWG is operating will the Cl gas dissipate into the air?

I am considering buying a battery operated spot cleaner. We have vacuum hose and a Polaris but there are days I would like to clean one or two spots on the bottom of our pool. The vacuum hose takes time to set up and the Polaris can run for hours and avoid the dirt you wanted it to pickup...

What is the advantage of wiring the Autopilot so that the SWG is powered only when the pump is on?

It has been hot (over 100) and dry in Texas. We plan to take a one week vacation. At first I thought that with a SWG we would not have a problem leaving the pool. However, I am not sure that we can go a week without adding fill water to the pool. Last night I read user reviews of the Marpac...

How many amp-hours is an AutoPilot DIG-220 with a SC-60 rated to last. The previous year my SWG operated 5,400 amp-hours. Can my cell life expectancy be estimated if I maintain the same rate of SWG use?

The last 12 months have been hot and dry. Since our fill water has 217 ppm CaCO3 my TA has been increasing. I want to decrease the TA and add more Borax. My current water test results are: FC = 4.0 TC = 4.0 pH = 7.6 TA = 170 CYA = 65 Borates = 20 CH = 230 Salt = 3,400 The water is crystal...

I have had a Pool Pilot installed for approximately 1 year 1 month. The installation was smooth without any problems. Last summer I was able to maintain a 4 ppm FC by running the Pool Pilot about 3 hours per day. Early this spring the SWG was maintaining the Cl level. About two weeks ago I...

I installed a Pool Pilot Digital one year ago. I checked the condition of the cells for calcium build up or scale monthly during the summer. When I opened the pool this spring I again checked the cells and on every check the cells still appear clean and new. It has never been necessary to...

I have a PoolSkim installed in my pool. It is a value in keeping the surface of the pool clean. :-D The PoolSkim is installed on a standard 1 ½ inlet return. I hand tighten the connecting ring nut as tight as I can. Over a period of several days the body of the PoolSkim rises too high...

Last fall when my pool water temperature was in the 80s my salt reading from the Pool Pilot confirmed with Aquachek salt test strips was 3,400. My water temperature is now 55 degrees. The Pool Pilot is now reporting a salt reading of 2,800. I have not drained and replaced water. I still have...

Each spring I decide to try something different next fall to make the Spring start up easier. One Spring I left the winter cover on until April; I opened to green algae. The next year I decided to open earlier while the water was still cold enough to prevent algae. My pool is surrounded by...

I believe that my current sand filter pressure gauge is not showing the correct pressure. I am considering purchasing a new pressure gauge. However, how can you determine if a pressure gauge is working correctly? While it is not critical for a gauge to be exact if it does not measure pressure...

I have not seen a discussion of the number of hours each day a pool owner should run their pump. Pool stores have told me that a pump should run 8 to 12 hours per day. Or I have been told you should have one complete turnover of the water each day. But nobody has said why! Or how this was...

We changed our method of opening the pool this year. We did not go to the pool store to have our water tested nor to buy chemicals. The result: my wife said that she could not believe how much better the process went this year. Less money spent, less effort, less time required to have a...

I am in the process of installing a Pool Pilot Digital. Perhaps Sean and other experienced users can help with a few questions. My current water chemistry is as follows: FC 4 TA 70 CYA 30 CH 200 pH 7.5 Borates 50 Salt 3,000 1. I am bringing my CYA level up. My pool is in the shade...

In previous posts readers have been advised in testing calcium that you need to keep swirling the vial for 20 to 30 seconds to mix thoroughly between drops. If your calcium level is near 300 ppm then the test would require 10 to 15 minutes. Are there any valid means to speed up the test and...

As a soon to be new SWG user I am trying to understand and balance my water before I start my SWG. After I plug the recommended values from the "Water Balance for SWGs" into the Pool Calculator I find a Calcite Saturation Index of -.58 to -.2. The advice is to reduce the pH to 7.5 when the pH...

When I removed my winter cover I found, as expected, green algae. My initial water test results were FC = 0 pH = 7.2 TA = 70 CYA = 0 I decided last night to purchase CYA so that I could add some in the morning. I hit the pool hard with bleach last night starting at 5:00 pm. While I knew...

We have the chemicals to eliminate copper staining in our pool. We have added a poly quant 60 algaecide to the pool. Our current pool chemistry is: Free Chlorine: 2.0 Combined Chlorine: 0.0 pH: 7.6 Total Alkalinity: 70 Cyanuric Acid: 60 Calcium Hardness 230...

When we closed on our house we discovered that the previous owners stopped pool maintenance when they accepted our purchase offer. We inherited a pool with mustard algae; however as pool newbies we did not know that. We brushed the pool until our arms fell off. My wife was convinced that our...