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Yea... I did the same back when I started - got 4 boxes of Borax and several of Washing Soda that I've never used. It's not that big a deal since it was so cheap but I haven't need them. On a somewhat related note, if you (or anyone else reading this) needs some Jack's Magic Pink Stuff for...

Don't worry, it won't be too hard to correct. You will need the actual test results from your new kit before we can tell you exactly how to fix it. It's not your fault you've been mislead by the pool stores. The simplified solution is phosphates are a non-issue. They are technically "food"...

I don't worry about it. There are tons of germs from all kinds of sources that regularly enter the pool - that's why we use chlorine in the first place. I did run across this from the CDC though: If the CDC says "don't worry about it" then you know it's not big deal, lol. They say 2 ppm...

This post was moved from Just Getting Started to the Coffee Bar. This probably isn't the best place for this but I didn't know where else to post it where the most people would see it... If you live in the Midwest near a Menards store, they have their 1 gallon 12.5% Liquid Shock on sale for...

Yea it sounds like you are good to drain then. The only other thing I know of to look at is to make sure the ground that was backfilled around the pool is stable and won't be "pushing in" on the walls, otherwise it could collapse the sides once the outward pressure of the water is gone. We...

If I were in your position I would drain as well - so long as you understand the risks and can manage any groundwater that could disrupt the empty fiberglass shell. The last thing you want is a $10,000 bill to put the pool back in the ground! As far as the mineral system, it sounds like...

The phosphate remover and calcium they sold you was wasted money AND probably had messed up your water. This is why we dislike pool stores. :( Phosphates mean nothing, it's just something extra for the pool stores to sell. Calcium is only an issue in plaster pools. Fiberglass and vinyl pools...

Like jbizzle said, there's just no way around it. Clogging is good! It means the stuff that used to be in the pool is now trapped in the filter and can be rinsed out. Either patiently filter it out or drain and start over. Draining costs $$$ for new water and chemicals though. You'll just...

Good deal! Well you have another project while you wait on the test kit... fix that plumbing! :) Just keep at it, especially getting as much gunk out as you can. You can add bleach, no problem, it's just that without accurate free chlorine and CYA test results it's hard to say how much is...

I haven't had the same problem but I've had similar ones. The maple seeds, then the catalpa seeds, then the cottonwood seeds... I don't have a cover, I just got a skimmer sock and let the skimmer do it's job. Empty it once or twice a day and just skim off the top when I wanted to swim. I...

Unfortunately, you'll have to wait for a mail order test kit unless you can find a Taylor K-2006 somewhere locally. The test kits you find at pool stores and big box stores don't test for the chemicals you'll need to know about if you want that algae gone and to keep it away. Fortunately the...

I didn't see your signature where it said 7,700 gallon. My 22,000 gallon took just over 48 hours to fill with one hose. If we have the same water pressure it should take you only 16 hours with just one hose. Probably 10-12 hours with two (less water pressure on the second one). In that time...

You'll want to have the CYA in an old sock in front of a return jet which can only be done once the pump is running. It takes a while to dissolve so if you add it when you start filling it's likely to all still be there by the time it's full! People regularly run into the hundreds of ppm CYA...

I was told by a pool store employee, when I mentioned I was looking for sideways return jets to improve circulation to the skimmer, that the problem could be simply solved by pointing the returns down, and to the left. The moon's tidal forces are far stronger than the wind which is blowing my...

Pool "shock" is (for all intents and purposes) bleach, it's just in a higher concentration. Sodium Hypochlorate is the chlorine-containing chemical in both bleach and shock. There is less sodium hypochlorate in bleach so you use more to get the same effect. Bleach is just cheaper (sometimes)...

If you have one, make sure that the "Air Relief Tube" with the little screen on it is actually attached to the hole on the return side PVC pipe under the sand. Ask me how I know about this. :p

Yes. Pool stores' testing is notoriously inaccurate. You can (and some members here have) take the same water to different stores and get conflicting results. You can't know what and how much to add to your pool when you can't trust the measurements you use to make that decision. For...

I just got done refilling mine a couple months ago. It was a bit colder then, so I just let mine fill fully before adding anything. How much longer do you expect the fill to take? I filled my 22,000 gallons in just over 48 hours with the garden hose. You can start adding liquid bleach but...

Well you should start by getting as much junk out manually as possible. Do you have a leaf rake? You'll also need a good test kit if you want to follow the advice here. Standard test kits don't have everything you need and pool store water testing is so unreliable it's not worth doing. You...

You are getting bad advice and letting someone else test your water. Pool stores are notoriously bad at testing water, oddly enough. Did you order your TF-100 test kit yet? You NEED that, it's not really optional. Without it you are relying on adjusting your chemical levels based on readings...

I agree with duraleigh, no reason to use the cellulose or DE right now. You can get perfectly clear water using just the sand filter. DE and cellulose just help you get perfectly clear water later on. I had a lot of plaster dust from doing an acid wash this spring. The sand filter, along...

Interesting! Although, I don't have any symptoms like this after non-water exercise... Last night I floated around with no physical exertion log enough to get sunburned but had no problems breathing afterward.

Another member from Indiana! :cheers: Check out Menards in Muncie. They have 12.5% "Liquid Shock" (http://www.menards.com/main/p-2272458-c-10137.htm) for $3.99/jug. That's equivalent to finding a 121oz jug of regular bleach for $1.88 - if my math checks out. They had a sale until the 11th...

Haha I see this got moved to 'The Skimmer Basket' the... 'catch all' for other topics... clever! :) I don't think I noticed that before. I'll just have to do some "research" tonight and see if the symptoms occur after only laying around in the water. Normal breathing, no exercise - just being...

Water was 72-73F and the air was 85-90F. I didn't really do much in the way of odd breathing... as far as I know... I just laid around on the floaty chair. I'll keep at it though and see if I can find any connection between anything.

I can't seem to find anything at all about it on the internet. It's always been a problem for myself and others that I know as well. After being in the water for an hour or so it starts... Taking any more than a shallow breath is uncomfortable and usually makes me cough. It will last for a...

I have the Nautilus and it seems to do a good job. Can't comment on the other one.

Thanks! I'm glad you are doing the research for yourself. That's the first step in taking control of your pool! :) I don't think a pathogen test is possible. Fortunately, if you have your Free Chlorine at the recommended levels on the FC/CYA chart jblizzle linked you have very little to...

This was my Dolphin's haul (on just the one side of filters!) after out last rainstorm... I'll leave this as a link for those not wishing to see wormageddon.... :) http://imgur.com/TCLqlAU

Maybe it's my chance to help! I had this same problem and was about to empty the sand to check the laterals when I found out I made a stupid and very easy to correct mistake... I went to do a deep cleaning of the sand and while unscrewing the diffuser, also pulled out the black tube with the...