After a bad experience at our LPS that I have frequented the past several years, I decided to search for a pool forum. Glad I found this site and have a lot to learn. I just opened our pool (concrete with pebble tec finish) about 17,000. It is now about 4.5 years old. I have been having our water tested at the LGS and have been using Bioguard products since it was built. Like I said, this last visit left me frustrated at the push to purchase more products. I have a number of questions.
So prior to opening the pool, I drained about 3/4 of the water and refilled with fresh water. I did this since the LPS said my TDS were too high last year and suggested doing so prior to opening this year. Actually they said it was a good thing to do every 4-5 years. Is this true? A couple of other notes, our pool receives just about full sun all day long. I use the 3" silk tabs. Pool water is crystal clear.
I have not yet purchased a test kit, but will be ordering one later today. My initial measurements and the LPS suggested levels are as follows:
CYA 23 suggested range 30-200
Total Chlorine .4 range 1-3
FC 0 range 1-3
PH 8 range 7.4-7.6
TA 89
Adjusted TA 82 range 125-150
Tot Hardness 139 range 175-225
Borates 13 range 30-35
Question? the ranges suggested by the LPS are different than what I am reading on TFP? is that a regional thing?
They suggested I add 13.5 pounds of Balance Pak 100. I had almost 7 pounds from last year and added to the pool. my test strips seem to indicate that the TA is fine so I did not add more.
They then suggested adding 2.3 pints of acid which I did. I saw no noticeable change in the test strip measurement.
I then added 4 gallons of Champion liquid pool shock before going calling it a night.
This morning, all measurements look ok except for the CYA. I assume that the tabs will help in that regard.
Question, 13.5 pounds of PB 100 seems like a lot for my size pool but that is when I noticed their suggested TA range is far higher than TFP?
lastly they suggested Optimizer which I have not added. I have done so in prior years and from what I have read, it is a good thing. is there an equivalent lower priced convenient alternative to the bioguard optimizer?
thanks in advance
So prior to opening the pool, I drained about 3/4 of the water and refilled with fresh water. I did this since the LPS said my TDS were too high last year and suggested doing so prior to opening this year. Actually they said it was a good thing to do every 4-5 years. Is this true? A couple of other notes, our pool receives just about full sun all day long. I use the 3" silk tabs. Pool water is crystal clear.
I have not yet purchased a test kit, but will be ordering one later today. My initial measurements and the LPS suggested levels are as follows:
CYA 23 suggested range 30-200
Total Chlorine .4 range 1-3
FC 0 range 1-3
PH 8 range 7.4-7.6
TA 89
Adjusted TA 82 range 125-150
Tot Hardness 139 range 175-225
Borates 13 range 30-35
Question? the ranges suggested by the LPS are different than what I am reading on TFP? is that a regional thing?
They suggested I add 13.5 pounds of Balance Pak 100. I had almost 7 pounds from last year and added to the pool. my test strips seem to indicate that the TA is fine so I did not add more.
They then suggested adding 2.3 pints of acid which I did. I saw no noticeable change in the test strip measurement.
I then added 4 gallons of Champion liquid pool shock before going calling it a night.
This morning, all measurements look ok except for the CYA. I assume that the tabs will help in that regard.
Question, 13.5 pounds of PB 100 seems like a lot for my size pool but that is when I noticed their suggested TA range is far higher than TFP?
lastly they suggested Optimizer which I have not added. I have done so in prior years and from what I have read, it is a good thing. is there an equivalent lower priced convenient alternative to the bioguard optimizer?
thanks in advance