I'd like say first off, this forum is awesome. I live in Southern California
After reading a few threads regarding UV sanitation, you guys saved me $1500 on that unnecessary tech for our home. So I decided to make an account. Thank you.
A bit of background, we've lived at this house for 20 years, and have always had a poolman to take care of our pool needs. I personally have never once given our pool, or how our pool works, the time of day in my life until recently.
But the most important things to understand is no one in our house ever uses the pool for the last 5 years, it's a pure luxury at this point to just sits around looking pretty.
Long story short, our pool man left the state unnoticed, and he was our primary source for maintaining the chlorine levels in our pool. A month went by, no one noticed he never came to do his work, and our pool turned pure green.
We brought in another guy and he told us we needed to empty the pool, acid wash the pool, and refill the pool.
After this entire ordeal, I decided it was a complete waste money to keep paying a poolman anymore, since no one uses the pool. So i started to do some research. I want you to keep in mind, I a complete idiot when it comes to this stuff, so bare with me. And My primary goal is not to keep the pool 100% perfect, but GOOD ENOUGH that algae doesn't grow back again.
From what I understand there are 5 tests you need to preform
Free Chlorine Test
pH Test -> Acid Demand and Base Demand
Alkalinity Test
Calcium Hardness Test
Conditioner Test
I've figured out that our pool is 22,000 gallons and the spa is 720 gallons. I asked our current poolman we have now, what is the condition of our filter, and he assured me it was at 50% of it's life. So still in working order.
First question is: How often do I have to do these tests? Please keep in mind that the pool is VERY rarely used if ever at all. Second: How long Am I supposed to leave our water pump running per day? I don't know how fast our water pump runs. I looked all over the equipment to figure it out and never saw the figure.
Everywhere I look, everyone is constantly recommending the Taylor K-2006 kit. It's not that i'm not willing to get it because I can't figure out how to use it, but more of the fact that it seems more for a professional than someone that just wants keep algae away. I have a feeling that most of you guys are going to simply say if you're going to do anything, you might as do it right. Yes, I firmly believe in this notion if the "something" is something that has a purpose to spend money on. The other thing I read is that the kit only last 1 year before it expires.
Other questions, if I were to get the kit.
What products would you recommend I use if the Chlorine levels are too low or too high?
What products would you recommend I use if the ph is too low or too high?
'' Alkalinity is too low or high?
'' Calcium hardness is too low or too high?
'' Condtioner level '' ?
I have more questions, but ill leave those till another time until I get a better foundation first.
Thanks
After reading a few threads regarding UV sanitation, you guys saved me $1500 on that unnecessary tech for our home. So I decided to make an account. Thank you.
A bit of background, we've lived at this house for 20 years, and have always had a poolman to take care of our pool needs. I personally have never once given our pool, or how our pool works, the time of day in my life until recently.
But the most important things to understand is no one in our house ever uses the pool for the last 5 years, it's a pure luxury at this point to just sits around looking pretty.
Long story short, our pool man left the state unnoticed, and he was our primary source for maintaining the chlorine levels in our pool. A month went by, no one noticed he never came to do his work, and our pool turned pure green.
We brought in another guy and he told us we needed to empty the pool, acid wash the pool, and refill the pool.
After this entire ordeal, I decided it was a complete waste money to keep paying a poolman anymore, since no one uses the pool. So i started to do some research. I want you to keep in mind, I a complete idiot when it comes to this stuff, so bare with me. And My primary goal is not to keep the pool 100% perfect, but GOOD ENOUGH that algae doesn't grow back again.
From what I understand there are 5 tests you need to preform
Free Chlorine Test
pH Test -> Acid Demand and Base Demand
Alkalinity Test
Calcium Hardness Test
Conditioner Test
I've figured out that our pool is 22,000 gallons and the spa is 720 gallons. I asked our current poolman we have now, what is the condition of our filter, and he assured me it was at 50% of it's life. So still in working order.
First question is: How often do I have to do these tests? Please keep in mind that the pool is VERY rarely used if ever at all. Second: How long Am I supposed to leave our water pump running per day? I don't know how fast our water pump runs. I looked all over the equipment to figure it out and never saw the figure.
Everywhere I look, everyone is constantly recommending the Taylor K-2006 kit. It's not that i'm not willing to get it because I can't figure out how to use it, but more of the fact that it seems more for a professional than someone that just wants keep algae away. I have a feeling that most of you guys are going to simply say if you're going to do anything, you might as do it right. Yes, I firmly believe in this notion if the "something" is something that has a purpose to spend money on. The other thing I read is that the kit only last 1 year before it expires.
Other questions, if I were to get the kit.
What products would you recommend I use if the Chlorine levels are too low or too high?
What products would you recommend I use if the ph is too low or too high?
'' Alkalinity is too low or high?
'' Calcium hardness is too low or too high?
'' Condtioner level '' ?
I have more questions, but ill leave those till another time until I get a better foundation first.
Thanks
