Looking at posts about the test kits, most comments were to buy the TF-100, so that is what I ordered, with the FastStie.Buckey,
What your pool guy told you is a load of Bull Feathers..
The truth is that pool guys just dump in all kinds of stuff that we don't recommend and some of it does not go away.. But you can't tell just by looking at the pool, you have to test the water to see what "balance" it is in. This is really what TFP is all about. We teach pool owners how to test their water and let the pool owners decide what the pool needs and more importantly what the pool does not need.
If your pool guy has been using chlorine tablets to sanitize your pool, it is quite possible that the CYA (Stabilizer) could be very high. The higher the CYA the harder it is to keep the right amount of chlorine in the pool.
The only way to know is to test the water. If you test, you want the testing to be accurate and we find that test strip and pool store testing leaves a lot to be desired.
I suggest that you buy your own test kit.. Either a TF-Pro from TFTestkits.net or a Taylor K2206C. The "C" is important, so don't buy one without it.
No matter what you do, I suggest that you don't drain the pool until you have some kind of testing done.
Most IntelliFlo pump manuals have a "Menus" page.. I find it is easier to understand how the pump works by looking at the Menu page in the manual first. It kind of gives you an overview of what goes where. If you use the Menu page you can look at what setting are already in the pump.
As far as your valves go, I'd leave them as they are for now. I am not a big fan of In Floor Cleaning Systems (IFCS) and if this were my pool I'd most likely shut it off. That said, this is your pool and you should evaluate how well the cleaner is working first. If you think it is doing a great job, just leave it on..
Thanks,
Jim R.
Equipment Help & Saving Money
- Thread starter BuckeyeMan
- Start date
Buckey,
That will be fine. The TF-Pro is new and comes in a nice carrying case, but what is inside is basically the same as the TF-100.
To follow up on the "stale water" idea... I have three saltwater pools. One has had the same water for the past 11 years, the one at my house has the original water from when it was built about 7 years ago, and the last one got replastered about 4 or 5 years ago and still has that water.
One problem that you might have because you are in AZ is that your Calcium Hardness (CH) may be off the charts. CH does not go away and if your fill water is high in CH, like a lot of AZ towns, then it just adds to what is already in your pool.
Just want to be clear.. You may end up having to drain your pool, but deciding if you need to drain, should be based on science, and your test finding, and not on a calendar.
Thanks,
Jim R.
But in the future he can start to add water due to evaporation via a water softener so he won't keep adding CH
Pucks are not necessarily bad. They absolutely have their use IMO. You just have to be aware of what they do in addition to chlorinating your pool.
If you haven’t already, I suggest reading this article which will explain the effects of long term puck and shock use much better than I could.
How to Chlorinate Your Pool
Before chlorinating your pool, you should know these simple tips. Learn the best way to add chlorine to your pool.
www.troublefreepool.com
Also might want to read this article. Pool school is an incredible resource.
Non-Recommended Pool Chemicals
These pool chemicals should not be added to your pool. Save your money and frustration and avoid these chemicals!
www.troublefreepool.com
kul
Bronze Supporter
- Oct 1, 2021
- 1,437
- Pool Size
- 15000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
To learn more about setting up your variable speed pump, I recommend YouTube videos which were what helped me. Just type in name of your system and something like “setting up schedule.” Then do some positive self talk and give it a try. 
Thanks everyone. Should be getting test kit here in a day or two. Will post results to see what everyone thinks. Was talking to pool guy today, and wanted to tell me that the pop ups work, but some are coming up slow. That would sound like a pressure thing.
Buckey,
One thing that you might want to think about is an automation system. This would allow you to automate your pump speed and valve movements. The system could then send all the water to the IFCS and run the pump at a higher speed that makes the IFCS works the best, but just for a couple of hours a day. The rest of the time the automation would shut off the IFCS and send all the water to your pool returns. This would be done with the pump working at a very low RPM. In my tiny mind this would be the best way to operate your pool and IFCS.
Thanks,
Jim R.
One thing that you might want to think about is an automation system. This would allow you to automate your pump speed and valve movements. The system could then send all the water to the IFCS and run the pump at a higher speed that makes the IFCS works the best, but just for a couple of hours a day. The rest of the time the automation would shut off the IFCS and send all the water to your pool returns. This would be done with the pump working at a very low RPM. In my tiny mind this would be the best way to operate your pool and IFCS.
Thanks,
Jim R.
I’m sure that would be an expensive upgrade. I will only be taking care of this for 5-6 months at a time, then pool guy will have to watch the other times we are not here.