So, my saga started last summer we purchased a home with a 24' above ground pool. Having watched several neighbors struggle with keeping their pools clear while spending many dollars at the pool store I figured there must be a better way and my research led me to this site. Closed on the house and moved in labor day weekend 2016 and since there was only about a month left, at most, in our swim season (being in upstate NY) I "white knuckled" it with test strips and bleach. Managed to get through the season and properly close the pool.
Fast forward to 2017 and opened to a clear pool. Haven't decided to go all in on the TFP method, I had already purchased a Taylor K2006 and started off employing all the techniques I had read about on this site. Needless to say, I have been algae free and had a beautiful pool all season long. So what, you may ask could I possibly have issues with? Well, I have 3 main "complaints" that I will outline below.
1. TFP Clarity. As you can see, I have several very mature trees just behind my pool in my neighbors yard, with the prevailing winds always blowing tree stuff directly into my pool. Using the TFP method my water is so crystal clear I see every little piece of dirt and debris and am constantly having to clean it out of my pool so it doesn't make me crazy.
2. TFP Sparkle. My pool sparkles so much in the sunshine it makes it virtually impossible to vacuum up all of the dirt on my pool floor. Even with my very expensive polarized prescription sunglasses I can't see through the glare to properly see and vacuum the bottom. Unfortunately, the water is so clear (see issue #1) that in the odd moments the sun is not sparkling off my water I see each and every speck of dirt.
3. FPSMP. What may is ask is this. Well, it is "Fear of Pool Store Managed Pools" of course. Like me, I'm sure all of you had your skin crawl a little at the thought of getting into someone elses cloudy pool store managed pool water.
Of course I could always fix issues 1 and 2 by simply taking water for a free analysis at my local pool store and then using whatever they recommend to "fix" my water problems, but then my wallet would be much lighter and I'd have issue 3 to deal with.
Anyway, thanks for the awesome site and giving me an easy science based approach to handling my first pool. You guys are awesome!
Fast forward to 2017 and opened to a clear pool. Haven't decided to go all in on the TFP method, I had already purchased a Taylor K2006 and started off employing all the techniques I had read about on this site. Needless to say, I have been algae free and had a beautiful pool all season long. So what, you may ask could I possibly have issues with? Well, I have 3 main "complaints" that I will outline below.
1. TFP Clarity. As you can see, I have several very mature trees just behind my pool in my neighbors yard, with the prevailing winds always blowing tree stuff directly into my pool. Using the TFP method my water is so crystal clear I see every little piece of dirt and debris and am constantly having to clean it out of my pool so it doesn't make me crazy.
2. TFP Sparkle. My pool sparkles so much in the sunshine it makes it virtually impossible to vacuum up all of the dirt on my pool floor. Even with my very expensive polarized prescription sunglasses I can't see through the glare to properly see and vacuum the bottom. Unfortunately, the water is so clear (see issue #1) that in the odd moments the sun is not sparkling off my water I see each and every speck of dirt.
3. FPSMP. What may is ask is this. Well, it is "Fear of Pool Store Managed Pools" of course. Like me, I'm sure all of you had your skin crawl a little at the thought of getting into someone elses cloudy pool store managed pool water.
Of course I could always fix issues 1 and 2 by simply taking water for a free analysis at my local pool store and then using whatever they recommend to "fix" my water problems, but then my wallet would be much lighter and I'd have issue 3 to deal with.
Anyway, thanks for the awesome site and giving me an easy science based approach to handling my first pool. You guys are awesome!
