Hello all. Thanks for having me. I put up a little inflatable intex pool during covid so my wife had someplace to cool off after gardening. I always thought that nobody with a full-time job also wanted a pool (unless there was a pool guy!) That pool moved around in different positions and eventually became a 4ft high, 15 ft round Intex pool. I fumbled around with the chemistry for a while, sometimes getting lucky and sometimes needing lots of help. I found one pool store that was pretty good and somehow helped make my pool clear and swimmable. But i was always confused by their explanations and couldnt really understand certain questions. But they had every product I needed to make my pool great. So great that I volunteered my self to re-open the neighbor's 24ft pool because it hadnt been open in 2 years.
I found out thatthe DE filter was left out over the winter and had cracks and broken parts, but they bought the parts and I rebuilt it with the sons helping and learning. I had to SLAM it without knowing what that was. I just super-chlorinated it and kept cleaning the sludge out of the fingers of the filter. Since then, I used the same pool store to get the chemistry right enough for swimming and they are enjoying it every day. The kids are inviting their freinds over and splashing around.
As I began to spend more money, and compare my stick tests to the pool store's tests, I still could not figure out what was going on. I even had examples from my pool and their pool so I could see what different corrections were prescribed. A few times, my pool got slimey right at the surface, and I cleaned and added chlorine based on my stick test, and the pool store test. Then I found TFP! Thank goodness.
Now I have bought a TF-100, and I am learning from the videos and the forum questions. I'm not sure if I can really read the CYA test with the dot, or if I am accurately readong some of these tests. I think it will take some practice. Today, I read TA to be 290-300. I think the pH was just off the scale, so 8.2? I had some lo n slo here so i dumped in 2 cups of that. I also tested fro the FC and got no pink at all, so I added a gallon.
I started up the pump that has an aerator. I will test again in about an hour or two to see how it goes. I am looking forward to learning how to make this easy and accurate. I know that this is the inrto page. Perhaps I sjhould have started another thread.
Thanks again.
I found out thatthe DE filter was left out over the winter and had cracks and broken parts, but they bought the parts and I rebuilt it with the sons helping and learning. I had to SLAM it without knowing what that was. I just super-chlorinated it and kept cleaning the sludge out of the fingers of the filter. Since then, I used the same pool store to get the chemistry right enough for swimming and they are enjoying it every day. The kids are inviting their freinds over and splashing around.
As I began to spend more money, and compare my stick tests to the pool store's tests, I still could not figure out what was going on. I even had examples from my pool and their pool so I could see what different corrections were prescribed. A few times, my pool got slimey right at the surface, and I cleaned and added chlorine based on my stick test, and the pool store test. Then I found TFP! Thank goodness.
Now I have bought a TF-100, and I am learning from the videos and the forum questions. I'm not sure if I can really read the CYA test with the dot, or if I am accurately readong some of these tests. I think it will take some practice. Today, I read TA to be 290-300. I think the pH was just off the scale, so 8.2? I had some lo n slo here so i dumped in 2 cups of that. I also tested fro the FC and got no pink at all, so I added a gallon.
I started up the pump that has an aerator. I will test again in about an hour or two to see how it goes. I am looking forward to learning how to make this easy and accurate. I know that this is the inrto page. Perhaps I sjhould have started another thread.
Thanks again.
Testing your own water with a TF-100 is fantastic way to take control of your water. Good choice. 