Found TFP via Google, and after 30 minutes of perusing the advice, I had to sign up. You folks seriously know your stuff.
I have owned my pool since I moved to this house 15 years ago. It's plaster, 50 years old and, at 36,000 gallons ("lazy Z" shape, 10 feet deep) is one of the largest private pools in the area. I had a complete overhaul done 10 years ago (new plaster, tile and coping), so everything is in great shape. All hardware (pump, DE filter) has been replaced within the last 3 years. I have relied on several pool stores over the years and have never been super-serious about my water chemistry--relying on test strips and pool store tests. While the manager at my Leslie's store is fantastic, her workers are less so. A few weeks ago I took 3 water samples to 3 different stores....the results varied so ridiculously I decided to get serious and went out and purchased the Taylor K-2006 kit. The other thing that got me off my old rear end was a nasty case of algae that cost quite a bit of money to fix. Somehow, 3 days after getting perfect numbers back from the pool store (nope, NOT the manager), I woke up to a green algae-covered pool--the day before a 40-person birthday party.
Once my kit arrives, I'll post numbers. Time to grow up and take control.
I have owned my pool since I moved to this house 15 years ago. It's plaster, 50 years old and, at 36,000 gallons ("lazy Z" shape, 10 feet deep) is one of the largest private pools in the area. I had a complete overhaul done 10 years ago (new plaster, tile and coping), so everything is in great shape. All hardware (pump, DE filter) has been replaced within the last 3 years. I have relied on several pool stores over the years and have never been super-serious about my water chemistry--relying on test strips and pool store tests. While the manager at my Leslie's store is fantastic, her workers are less so. A few weeks ago I took 3 water samples to 3 different stores....the results varied so ridiculously I decided to get serious and went out and purchased the Taylor K-2006 kit. The other thing that got me off my old rear end was a nasty case of algae that cost quite a bit of money to fix. Somehow, 3 days after getting perfect numbers back from the pool store (nope, NOT the manager), I woke up to a green algae-covered pool--the day before a 40-person birthday party.
Once my kit arrives, I'll post numbers. Time to grow up and take control.