Is phosphate treatment my final answer???

FYI, you should be able to find a phosphate test at any fish store or pet store that sells fish. It's one of the more common tests for fishkeeping.
 
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Ok y’all - I went to the pool store for “fun” to see the phosphate reading and I’m pretty sure PST (pool store trauma) is a real thing and I am still recovering…

As soon as I reviewed their results, I started questioning everything I’ve learned. It took me a few minutes to remember that MY results are the accurate results. I’ve attached their analysis and you can see how different it is than mine below especially when it comes to TA and CYA!

My results using Taylor kit:

FC 10
PH 7.8
TA - 110 (PS said 80)
CYA - 60 (PS said 90!)
CH - 330
Salt - 3600
CSI - 0.17

Anyway…won’t be going in there again anytime soon.

That said! I think the PR did it’s job and now it’s on to the next step.

@ajw22 I read your suggested course of action but wanted to get your thoughts on maybe holding off for a day? Forecast today is pretty gloomy and FC is at 10ppm so I don’t anticipate losing much. Does FC need to drop a little more or do we let the SWG rip at 100% this evening?

Thanks!
 

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Your phosphates went down to negligible levels just as expected. So the treatment did what was expected.

No rush in cranking up the SWG. Anytime it works for you. With a CYA of 60 you have plenty of room for your FC to rise from the SWG before it gets to SLAM levels.

Just remember that your pH test is not valid once FC is above 10 so don;t try adjusting pH until the testing is over and FC is back down.

Your PS tests are not that far off. Their TA is probably an "adjusted TA". And CYA is subjective enough that it is what yous ay it is.
 
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Ok y’all - I went to the pool store for “fun” to see the phosphate reading and I’m pretty sure PST (pool store trauma) is a real thing and I am still recovering…

As soon as I reviewed their results, I started questioning everything I’ve learned. It took me a few minutes to remember that MY results are the accurate results. I’ve attached their analysis and you can see how different it is than mine below especially when it comes to TA and CYA!

My results using Taylor kit:

FC 10
PH 7.8
TA - 110 (PS said 80)
CYA - 60 (PS said 90!)
CH - 330
Salt - 3600
CSI - 0.17

Anyway…won’t be going in there again anytime soon.

That said! I think the PR did it’s job and now it’s on to the next step.

@ajw22 I read your suggested course of action but wanted to get your thoughts on maybe holding off for a day? Forecast today is pretty gloomy and FC is at 10ppm so I don’t anticipate losing much. Does FC need to drop a little more or do we let the SWG rip at 100% this evening?

Thanks!
I’m glad you got the test done as it documents the reduction in the phosphates. If your salt cell starts working now, it would have just been an assumption that the phosphates dropped. The more data the better.
 
So what do I do about all the phosphate funk in my yard?? Will it damage the lawn or eventually just wash away with the next rainfall? Tried getting a photo but it’s too big for upload and I don’t know how to adjust that.
 
So what do I do about all the phosphate funk in my yard?? Will it damage the lawn or eventually just wash away with the next rainfall? Tried getting a photo but it’s too big for upload and I don’t know how to adjust that.
Ehhh that’s all the stuff that would have fallen into your yard anyway if it hadn’t fallen into the pool…. Your grass might soon be greener now, free fertilizer! I would probably try to dilute it with the garden hose though :)
 
So what do I do about all the phosphate funk in my yard?? Will it damage the lawn or eventually just wash away with the next rainfall?

Phosphates are actually good fertilizer. A good rain will take care of it.

Tried getting a photo but it’s too big for upload and I don’t know how to adjust that.

 
Phosphates are actually good fertilizer. A good rain will take care of it.



Hey now! It worked. Free fertilizer, you say? This dark corner of the backyard clearly needs it haha.
 

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Your phosphates went down to negligible levels just as expected. So the treatment did what was expected.

No rush in cranking up the SWG. Anytime it works for you. With a CYA of 60 you have plenty of room for your FC to rise from the SWG before it gets to SLAM levels.

Just remember that your pH test is not valid once FC is above 10 so don;t try adjusting pH until the testing is over and FC is back down.

Your PS tests are not that far off. Their TA is probably an "adjusted TA". And CYA is subjective enough that it is what yous ay it is.
Word. Looks like a little sun may peak through later this afternoon so I’ll test FC after sunset and then phase 2 of this experiment begins!
 
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Evening update:

I have somewhere to be around 7pm so I just took my levels at 5:30pm - FC is 8.8. With there only being a couple hours of daylight left and it not being super sunny today anyway, that should give us a good enough idea (only lost 1.2ppm all day anyway).

SWG has officially been kicked back on and set to 100% output.

Tomorrow morning is the big reveal! Thank you all for hanging around with me through the process.
 
So are you ready to "pay the price" for all of this help? Yeah you became a supporter and we THANK YOU for that but what really love is pictures of cute things like ...............say that cutie in your arms LOL Does he love the pool. I bet he sleeps REALY good after being in it!

Kim:kim:
 
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So are you ready to "pay the price" for all of this help? Yeah you became a supporter and we THANK YOU for that but what really love is pictures of cute things like ...............say that cutie in your arms LOL Does he love the pool. I bet he sleeps REALY good after being in it!

Kim:kim:
Oh @kimkats … you don’t have to ask twice. This guy LOVES his pool! And with all the wealth of knowledge you all have FREELY given…had to show my support!
 

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Results are in!!!!

FC at 5:30pm - 8.8
FC at 6:00am - 8

This SWG is D-E-A-D. I’m glad I trusted the instincts of the experts of TFP as well as my own because…new IC40 arrives on Friday 😎 Would have been super exciting if for some reason this experiment went the other way, but alas…

I’d like to thank you all for hanging in there with me. It’s been quite the adventure. But, at least in the case of Meghanfoss, phosphates did NOT have an impact on my cell. It was just her time…and may she RIP.

Up next: learning the proper care of my new SWG and getting that dialed in for a long life!
 
Would have been super exciting if for some reason this experiment went the other way, but alas
It was worth it for the peace of mind. You would have had 5-6 years to ponder if you should have tried the $40 fix.

When mine died i spent a week fiddling with it. I casually told the CFO that I was almost certain it was done and was going to give it one last chance. She had become such a fan of the 'salt pool' she demanded to know why i hadn't replaced it yet. Well, thanks sweetie. Your approval of funds is touching. But *I'm* not ready to let it go yet.
Up next: learning the proper care of my new SWG and getting that dialed in for a long life
That we can do. No Hail Mary's. Just good old fashioned collective knowledge and science. Easy peasy. :)
 

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