Little introduction/backstory- Last year, wife drug home a small Intex from Wal-Mart. It was fine. We decided we liked being summer-time pool people. We bought a floater and a bucket of chlorine tabs and let 1 tab a week float around, and that was fine and dandy. Had a net for skimming out leaves, dead bugs, etc. No problem. Added a 21" sand filter w/ 1.5HP pump to replace that stock cartridge filter that comes with the cheap AGPs. A year later, our child has grown and we wanted a bigger/deeper pool for all the neighborhood kids, relatives, friends that come around to be able to play/swim/float whatever. This year, got an Intex 32x16. Same sand filter/pump. Filled our new pool with the garden hose from city water for 2 days (approx 14,000 gallons). We are looking to swim until September, after that, probably time to start winding down.
July 5th, took 1st water sample to pool store to see what I needed to do to have our pool be nice and clean for the summer. They sold me everything I needed. Gave me a print-out from BioGuard, with a weekly plan and all kinds of good stuff. Sunday, I added my shock, clarifier and algaecide. Monday, took a sample in and they told me I had too much CL, not enough TA.... So, bought more stuff (12lb bag of baking soda, BioGuard Chem-Out) to fix all that. Now, after studying on TFP, I realize my CL level was fine for my CYA level of 63.
So, today, I did a water test, using my Exact EZ photometer. CYA was 79, CL was 2.75. Added TFP given amount of bleach to get FC up to reccomended range.
Part of what is frustrating me, is all the different "reccomended" water parameters. BioGuard, from my pool store says my water should be 1 way, I see Leslie's print-outs online for other owners with different parameters. The TFP app on my phone is telling me something totally different.
Questions I have now: do I need to shock the pool weekly? Should I have my 3" chlorine tab floating in the pool to keep FC levels above my CYA minimum? Our Intex return has an aerator built into it. We let our pump run 24/7 so the water is constantly being aerated. Is that bad?
For now, I am done with the pool store and just going to use the TFP app on my phone to get my water where it says to be.
If you read through all of that and got to this part- Thank you! Sometimes you just need to vent!
July 5th, took 1st water sample to pool store to see what I needed to do to have our pool be nice and clean for the summer. They sold me everything I needed. Gave me a print-out from BioGuard, with a weekly plan and all kinds of good stuff. Sunday, I added my shock, clarifier and algaecide. Monday, took a sample in and they told me I had too much CL, not enough TA.... So, bought more stuff (12lb bag of baking soda, BioGuard Chem-Out) to fix all that. Now, after studying on TFP, I realize my CL level was fine for my CYA level of 63.
So, today, I did a water test, using my Exact EZ photometer. CYA was 79, CL was 2.75. Added TFP given amount of bleach to get FC up to reccomended range.
Part of what is frustrating me, is all the different "reccomended" water parameters. BioGuard, from my pool store says my water should be 1 way, I see Leslie's print-outs online for other owners with different parameters. The TFP app on my phone is telling me something totally different.
Questions I have now: do I need to shock the pool weekly? Should I have my 3" chlorine tab floating in the pool to keep FC levels above my CYA minimum? Our Intex return has an aerator built into it. We let our pump run 24/7 so the water is constantly being aerated. Is that bad?
For now, I am done with the pool store and just going to use the TFP app on my phone to get my water where it says to be.
If you read through all of that and got to this part- Thank you! Sometimes you just need to vent!
Cutting the cord from the pool store, their over-priced product, poor testing, and bad advice, all starts with one thing - your own proper water testing. You must have your own TF-100 link in my signature) or Taylor K-2006C test kit. Everything you need to fix your water starts with accurate results. Once you obtain one, post a full set of test results and we'll be happy to coach you through anything. Lots of folks here to help.
