Hi everyone, I have an 11k gallon in-ground pebbletech pool. Live in Phoenix, AZ.
I can't keep chlorine in my pool the last couple of months, even during the recent cooler weeks (90 degree days). All chemicals are balanced and I keep chlorine tabs filled in a floater at all times. I am having to add shock at least once a week and in a couple of days it's gone, even with the tabs in the floater filled (using In The Swim tabs). Something is eating my chlorine and since it's not too hot lately it must be algae? Even though there is no sign of it at all.
Every Friday I add Super Algecide, Super Blue, and Pool Perfect +PhosFree. I also scrub all walls and steps. There is no sign of algae, water is super clear and everything generally looks nice.
Full disclosure, I ran low on chlorine one week during the summer and my phosphates skyrocketed but very minimal algae was seen. I had to add a bunch of Phos Free and shock. I also cleaned the filters multiple times. Since then though my phosphates are at proper levels.
The only thing that is high are my total disolved solids. Could this be what is eating up my chlorine? I drain and refill every two years and am due to do it this next season. Should I just do it now?
See below for my readings:
* Cyanuric acid - 80ppm
* Total Alcalinity - 100ppm
* pH - 7.2
* Copper - 0
* Iron - 0
* Phosphates - 100 (was all the way up to 1500 when I ran out on chlorine. Added Phos Free and shock to get levels back down)
* Total Disolved Solids - I don't have the reading in front of me but it was quite high. This is the only thing that is off besides the chlorine of course.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am leaning toward just draining and refilling, however I'd like to get through the winter with the pool as is and do the drain/refill next season if possible.
One last thought, my cartridge filters are about 3 1/2 years old (4 of them in a Pentair unit). How often should they be changed generally? I wash them multiple times a year and they clean up nicely.
Thanks!
I can't keep chlorine in my pool the last couple of months, even during the recent cooler weeks (90 degree days). All chemicals are balanced and I keep chlorine tabs filled in a floater at all times. I am having to add shock at least once a week and in a couple of days it's gone, even with the tabs in the floater filled (using In The Swim tabs). Something is eating my chlorine and since it's not too hot lately it must be algae? Even though there is no sign of it at all.
Every Friday I add Super Algecide, Super Blue, and Pool Perfect +PhosFree. I also scrub all walls and steps. There is no sign of algae, water is super clear and everything generally looks nice.
Full disclosure, I ran low on chlorine one week during the summer and my phosphates skyrocketed but very minimal algae was seen. I had to add a bunch of Phos Free and shock. I also cleaned the filters multiple times. Since then though my phosphates are at proper levels.
The only thing that is high are my total disolved solids. Could this be what is eating up my chlorine? I drain and refill every two years and am due to do it this next season. Should I just do it now?
See below for my readings:
* Cyanuric acid - 80ppm
* Total Alcalinity - 100ppm
* pH - 7.2
* Copper - 0
* Iron - 0
* Phosphates - 100 (was all the way up to 1500 when I ran out on chlorine. Added Phos Free and shock to get levels back down)
* Total Disolved Solids - I don't have the reading in front of me but it was quite high. This is the only thing that is off besides the chlorine of course.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am leaning toward just draining and refilling, however I'd like to get through the winter with the pool as is and do the drain/refill next season if possible.
One last thought, my cartridge filters are about 3 1/2 years old (4 of them in a Pentair unit). How often should they be changed generally? I wash them multiple times a year and they clean up nicely.
Thanks!