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After using the typical do-whatever-Leslie’s-says method to care for a previous pool, I have been using the methods taught about and espoused on this site since I first built my current pool. While it does require one to put in some time and to pay fairly close attention to their pool on a more-or-less continuous basis, the rewards are worth it. I use only two chemicals on a regular basis, both of which I purchase at Lowe’s (and pay Lowe’s prices for instead of pool store prices). My pool has never been green. I have never had to shock it. The water is crystal clear, feels great, and never smells like chlorine. It is always ready to swim in.
Now I have to admit, I caught myself feeling a little bit envious a week or so ago when I was at a friend’s house and he mentioned that all he does is add a few pounds of tabs once a week or so (his pool looks good too). Then today, I popped into the local pool store to look for a cleaner part, and was reminded why I (we) do this. A guy, kids-in-tow, was there to get his water tested and to get help with an algae problem. His chlorine was “fine” at 2 ppm (his CYA was “nice and high” at 90) and the pool store guy mused aloud that algae shouldn’t be growing but surmised that it might be due to the low pH of 7. I couldn’t help myself and blurted out “you’re using trichlor tabs, aren’t you?” I got a puzzled look, followed by an annoyed look, from both, so I shut up. The pool store guy went on to recommend soda ash, followed by copper algaecide, followed by an obscene amount of powdered shock, followed by a flocculant, which the guy purchased even after the pool store guy added, “but you really might have to drain it anyway.” As he walked out, >$100 lighter, I heard him tell his kids, “Sorry guys, I don’t think you’re going to be able to swim for a while.”
THIS makes the five minutes a day I spend on pool maintenance totally worth it.