Definitely will be doing a TF100 from tftestkits.com as recommended throughout this forum. My message above more clearly states my concern on which test. Sorry for the vague first response.
Im drowning and I cant get it right
- Thread starter SeanThePoolFreshman
- Start date
No need to test for phosphates as we don't care about them. TFPers keep their pool's chlorine at a level that phosphates aren't a food for non-existent algae.
TDS= not important. It includes everything in your water. Salt, chlorine, calcium, blah, blah, blah.
Borates- some use these to help stabilize pH and alter water feel. Not to be used prematurely before pH/TA very stable.
TDS= not important. It includes everything in your water. Salt, chlorine, calcium, blah, blah, blah.
Borates- some use these to help stabilize pH and alter water feel. Not to be used prematurely before pH/TA very stable.
I’m a huge fan of the TF-Pro (salt) as it includes the smartstir and a beautiful and sturdy case.
Highly recommend the smartstir to make testing more convenient and consistent.
Highly recommend the smartstir to make testing more convenient and consistent.
If I get the TF-Pro now, even though I am currently using pucks, I can use this for the remainder of this year and continue to use it when I convert to SWG next year? If so I am going to go ahead and order this now.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,109
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Yes - be sure to store your kit in a cool,dry,dark place & your reagents should last 2 years or possibly longer.
Personally, i would hold off on the salt test if ypur swcg conversion is over a year out. Reagents have a shelf life and can cause inaccurate results after they expire. Ask me how I know.
All of this brings up another question. I have been told DO NOT USE liquid Chlorine in the pool because it is Gunite and because the sun will just destroy it before it is useful. However, reading through all of the stuff on TFP even if I am using powders they should be premixed in a 5 gallon bucket and poured evenly around the walls of the pool, the powder itself should not just be dumped into the pool.
Feels like I have 'learned' so many bad habits and am now unlearned and retraining myself to use proper technique and application habits.
I know many of the questions bouncing around in my head won't be able to be answered until I get the test kit and run the numbers, but oh boy do I have sooo many questions.
Feels like I have 'learned' so many bad habits and am now unlearned and retraining myself to use proper technique and application habits.
I know many of the questions bouncing around in my head won't be able to be answered until I get the test kit and run the numbers, but oh boy do I have sooo many questions.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,109
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I believe the tfpro & the tfpro salt cases are the same - so u could always just go w/ the tfpro now & add the k1766 salt test later & the bottles will fit in your kit.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,109
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
If u have no cya (sunscreen for chlorine) then any type of chlorine u add to the pool will be pretty much burned off by the sun.
If maintaining Recommended Levels this is not a concern.
Liquid chlorine/bleach is perfectly safe to use with any pool finish so long as you pour it slowly in front of a running return & brush the area. Dissolving chems in a bucket is just another chance for them to be spilled somewhere you don’t want them to be.
Liquid chlorine is the chlorine of choice, second only to that of an SWCG. You need CYA to protect the chlorine. It will not burn off right after adding it. You can add cya separately and get the same effect of chlorine protection as the pucks without the nasty side effects.
Orion7319
Bronze Supporter
- Jul 1, 2020
- 1,442
- Pool Size
- 19775
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Pretty much, but you will see it’s not that hard at all. Way easier then what you are doing now.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,109
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
This article outlines the recommended pool chemicals & how to safely put them in your pool
www.troublefreepool.com
Recommended Pool Chemicals
Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.
www.troublefreepool.com
Whoever told you to not use LC in the pool is WRONG. That's the reason we have stabiizers in the water- to hold on to chlorine for use.
The only chemical you should pre-mix is the calcium, and it should be added on a day you don't add anything else. Calcium gets hot in water (its exothermic) and can cloud up the water for a day or so. It will clear up.
Pool Stores don't want you to buy the best chlorine product because the bad ones provide more profit.
Maddie
The only chemical you should pre-mix is the calcium, and it should be added on a day you don't add anything else. Calcium gets hot in water (its exothermic) and can cloud up the water for a day or so. It will clear up.
Pool Stores don't want you to buy the best chlorine product because the bad ones provide more profit.
Maddie
- Jun 24, 2021
- 16,607
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
You could do either. Re-agents typically last 2 years, so toss up on which one to get. If you get salt now, you would likely have next pool season salt test already. Or buy the one without and add the salt test next year.
- Jun 8, 2019
- 4,581
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Worth pointing out the salt test portion can be bought separately later as needed. You don't need to replace the entire kit.
@Leebo How would this poster check for bacqua product in their pool? The previous owner seemed to mix and match chlorine & bacqua products- The Sanitizer/Algaecide in particular?
Most of the other products could be purchased cheaper, or not at all effective.
Most of the other products could be purchased cheaper, or not at all effective.
This last one concerns me but I can’t remember for sure what it is. I think it’s a polyquat, which is good, but can’t remember for sure. Do you have a bottle by any chance?
Either way the end answer is the same, CHLORINE……and lots of it! That said, how expensive is water in your area?
Welcome to TFP, Sean. You are not going to believe how easy this pool boy job can be, once armed with good information and an amazing support network. In less time than you think possible, you may even forget how to get to the pool store! While you await your test kit, please continue to read and ask questions (nope; there's no dumb ones!) about what you've read on this site. It's much preferred that you ask a question, rather than do something that will cost you time and money to fix.
BTW, you mentioned something about not having a clue about doing your own testing with the TF-100 kit. Somewhere on this forum, Newdude has a rib-splitting step-by-step instruction session for the uninitiated newbie testers. Maybe he can re-post it for your benefit. If so, enjoy!
Referencing your list of chemicals purchased from the pool store in the last three years, if the Baquacil products were purchased more than a year or two ago, my guess is that there's not much, if any left. When we ran our pool on Baq, anything we put in was pretty much gone the next day! Seriously, we ran up until closing on Baquacil, and then converted to chlorine upon opening in the spring. We didn't have a huge amount of residual Baquacil left.
Seems if your chlorine additions (via pucks) were added to a pure Baquacil pool, the sudden drastic appearance of all the pretty colors would have had you already using the boom sticks and/or the cement truck.
As several have said, you are in the right place. There's a busload of help just waiting to get their hands on your pool! LOL
BTW, you mentioned something about not having a clue about doing your own testing with the TF-100 kit. Somewhere on this forum, Newdude has a rib-splitting step-by-step instruction session for the uninitiated newbie testers. Maybe he can re-post it for your benefit. If so, enjoy!
Referencing your list of chemicals purchased from the pool store in the last three years, if the Baquacil products were purchased more than a year or two ago, my guess is that there's not much, if any left. When we ran our pool on Baq, anything we put in was pretty much gone the next day! Seriously, we ran up until closing on Baquacil, and then converted to chlorine upon opening in the spring. We didn't have a huge amount of residual Baquacil left.
Seems if your chlorine additions (via pucks) were added to a pure Baquacil pool, the sudden drastic appearance of all the pretty colors would have had you already using the boom sticks and/or the cement truck.
As several have said, you are in the right place. There's a busload of help just waiting to get their hands on your pool! LOL
Sometimes it's nice to chat with folks instead of a search bar. Other times the last thread doesn't quite have your exact details or setup.will try to use the search features before asking questions because the forum has a plethora of information and thankfully a lot of people just like me
Feel free to ask your own question anytime. It also gives us something to do so we aren' just sitting around bored.