Is my Pool Supply Store honest with me?

[TGMcCallie]

My Pool Supply Store told me I needed to add 17 lbs of Calcium to my inground pool. My pool is fiberglass sides with concrete / plastered
bottom.

I asked her why and told her that I have never in 37 years added Calcium to my pool. She said that it would keep my vinyl liner from cracking. I told her that I did not have a liner pool. Then another person there told her that I did not need it in my pool since I said I never added it before.

My pool is 18 x 36 3 ft to 9 1/2 feet.

Do I need it and if so why?

I have your Trouble Free Pool testing kit. How do I test it myself for calcium level?

She said everything else in my pool was fine.

Thanks
Tom

 

[JasonLion]

If part of your pool exposed to the water is plaster, then yes you need some calcium in the water. Otherwise the water will etch calcium out of the plaster, shortening it's lifetime and making the surface rough.

If you have a vinyl liner there is no point in adding calcium. Though apparently that does not apply here.

 

[duraleigh]

I have your Trouble Free Pool testing kit. How do I test it myself for calcium level?

Go to the laminated instruction card and follow the directions for "calcium hardness test"

 

[TGMcCallie]

If part of your pool exposed to the water is plaster, then yes you need some calcium in the water. Otherwise the water will etch calcium out of the plaster, shortening it's lifetime and making the surface rough.

If you have a vinyl liner there is no point in adding calcium. Though apparently that does not apply here.

Thanks to both of you for your answer. I will check my calcium hardness and correct the calcium if the test shows that I need it.

I think I do because my bottom was just done 2 years ago and it is getting rough feeling, in fact my grandchildren scratched their toes on the bottom today.