This is a a largely academic discussion because my phosphates test at zero....
However that was not the case several months ago...(they were at 3500)
I would like to understand some 'detail' behind this issue apart from the standard answer I see of of don't worry about it....because TFP doesn't consider it important.... I am not trying to start an argument, merely furthering my understanding....
What causes phosphates in the water?
My understanding is that it could be anything that infiltrates the pool... Fertilizer, large amounts of soil or mulch, or organics such as leaves and flowers, etc.... I have read some 'studies' that say none of these sources are significant and that large amounts must come from chemicals such as a stain remover. I have a hard time believing that is the only source as my pool has never had that and yet I was at 3500 parts per billion. I do not know what gets classified as 'large amounts'. Perhaps 3500 is not 'large amounts'?
What do phosphates in the pool do?
In *my* case they seemed to be consuming all of the chlorine as I couldn't keep any in the pool. One explanation perhaps is that I had clear algae ? And the phosphates were feeding that ? And until I got rid of the algae, I couldn't keep chlorine in there ? But by removing the phosphates I got rid of the algae without knowing what I was really treating and trying to kill?
At what point should one treat a high level of phosphates?
Now perhaps in the answer is never, and the reason is that phosphates are simply a food source and if you don't have anything that is actually eating it, then it doesn't matter if the food is there? And if you do have something eating the food source, you kill it and not the food source?
Again, I'm simply curious about this issue, especially reading a number of posts which are 'dismissive' of the topic in general. Would simply like to be more educated so I understand the basis for not worrying about this particular issue.....
Thank you in advance for reasoned responses...
However that was not the case several months ago...(they were at 3500)
I would like to understand some 'detail' behind this issue apart from the standard answer I see of of don't worry about it....because TFP doesn't consider it important.... I am not trying to start an argument, merely furthering my understanding....
What causes phosphates in the water?
My understanding is that it could be anything that infiltrates the pool... Fertilizer, large amounts of soil or mulch, or organics such as leaves and flowers, etc.... I have read some 'studies' that say none of these sources are significant and that large amounts must come from chemicals such as a stain remover. I have a hard time believing that is the only source as my pool has never had that and yet I was at 3500 parts per billion. I do not know what gets classified as 'large amounts'. Perhaps 3500 is not 'large amounts'?
What do phosphates in the pool do?
In *my* case they seemed to be consuming all of the chlorine as I couldn't keep any in the pool. One explanation perhaps is that I had clear algae ? And the phosphates were feeding that ? And until I got rid of the algae, I couldn't keep chlorine in there ? But by removing the phosphates I got rid of the algae without knowing what I was really treating and trying to kill?
At what point should one treat a high level of phosphates?
Now perhaps in the answer is never, and the reason is that phosphates are simply a food source and if you don't have anything that is actually eating it, then it doesn't matter if the food is there? And if you do have something eating the food source, you kill it and not the food source?
Again, I'm simply curious about this issue, especially reading a number of posts which are 'dismissive' of the topic in general. Would simply like to be more educated so I understand the basis for not worrying about this particular issue.....
Thank you in advance for reasoned responses...