Got it....okay so not to trust the store and to test my self. Going to do that right now.
Before I start, let my just say you have been given good advice by several folks. But, as someone new to this game it can be confusing having several folks "talking" at the same time. You might think it would be better for just one person to answer your questions, but generally it's not. The one person answering may be away form the computer for hours/days after answering and we don't want to see you left hanging. Just stay calm and work your way through this.
Now, on to my comments.
As you have read around here you have seen that not much credence is given to pool store testing. While you would think that a "professional" would be the best, unfortunately in most cases it is quite the opposite. Between employees who blindly trust the word of chemical sales representatives and high school kids working in the pool store for the summer you end up with poor results from their testing.
To follow the pool care methods taught here you need to arm yourself with the knowledge and tools necessary to care for your pool.
The knowledge is condensed in the
Pool School link at the top of every page. It is a great community here, but we do ask that you read and try to understand the information being taught. Questions are always welcome and folks will try to direct you and teach you the methods.
The tools are not limited to the brushes, vacuum hoses and other stuff you use around the pool, but include the most important item - one of the recommended test kits. The problem you have is that one company in Canada has a exclusive on the Taylor chemicals all the test kits are based on, thus making them extremly expensive north of the border.
Read this thread for information on companies that sell via E-Bay to Canada. To effectively practice the TFPC methods, the FAS/DPD chlorine test is essential. All the kits on the list contain that test while very few other kits do. The kits sold at the pool store or given by pool builders generally won't won't cut it, but be careful pool store employees are known to say “it's the same thing”. Generally it's not! Think of it this way, do you see a doctor blindly prescribing drugs without seeing the patient or having tests run? Here at TFP we are going to ask for photos so we can see the condition of the water and are going to ask for a full set of test results.
It is going to seem frustrating to you that folks keep asking for test results. Pool water changes quickly and sometimes you will be testing multiple times a day as you work through issues. As and example, what many folks don't really understand is that chlorine is a consumable item. Just that your chlorine keeps going away is not an accurate symptom, but some times we need to know how fast it is going away.
Just understand, trying to mix pool store advice and our advice won't work! You will have to decide which path to follow. No one here financially gains from recommendations given, and they will even try to tell you the least expensive way to go.
Sorry if this seems long winded, but welcome to TFP!!
