I'm still new to this site, and it fascinates me. This year I want to learn how to better maintain our inground pool. My husband has the pool store test and then he buys whatever they recommend. It's killing us! We've been in our house for 5 years and we're still learning about maintenance. Tonight I went in with a water sample and the sales clerk was shocked at the results and couldn't believe what the printout said. She asked me to talk with my husband about what he's added lately so we can figure out why the numbers are so high. I did a search on this site, and there's plenty to learn about chemistry, and I need to start somewhere (quickly). The water looks fine, but I know that I need to stay ahead of this. Info you might need: We're in Iowa. Plaster pool with fiberglass panel sidewalls. Built in 1986. 3' - 10' deep. 46,000 gallons (we think). It's been opened just over a week. He added a lot of salt when he opened the pool. I don't know exactly how much but he hauled many bags of salt to the back yard. Polaris AutoClear Plus SWG. Gas heater that we only use occasionally at night on the spa side. Here's the results and their recommendation:
Adj. Total Alk.: 165
Total Hardness: 243
Minerals: 800
Total Chlorine: .2
Free Chlorine: 0
pH: 8.7
Recommendations: Add 1012 labs of Mineral Springs Beginnings (I don't remember that we ever used this in the past...but then again we do whatever they say)
Add 9 pts Muriatic Acid for 7 days.
Add 9.3 pts Muriatic Acid
Use Sanitizer Boost Setting or Add 4.5 lbs of Super Soluble
Use Mineral Springs Cell Cleaner
Can these numbers actually be right? I thought have a chlorine generator mean spending less on chemicals. We've owned this unit for two seasons and we're spending just as much on chemicals. Any ideas for us?
Adj. Total Alk.: 165
Total Hardness: 243
Minerals: 800
Total Chlorine: .2
Free Chlorine: 0
pH: 8.7
Recommendations: Add 1012 labs of Mineral Springs Beginnings (I don't remember that we ever used this in the past...but then again we do whatever they say)
Add 9 pts Muriatic Acid for 7 days.
Add 9.3 pts Muriatic Acid
Use Sanitizer Boost Setting or Add 4.5 lbs of Super Soluble
Use Mineral Springs Cell Cleaner
Can these numbers actually be right? I thought have a chlorine generator mean spending less on chemicals. We've owned this unit for two seasons and we're spending just as much on chemicals. Any ideas for us?