Phosphates Level

[pool512]

After going through an initial, uninformed setup of my pool last year using pool store advice and chemicals, I switched quickly to TFP/PoolMath advice and have been enjoying clean, clear water since. After installing a SWG a couple weeks ago, I've been testing heavily and trying to get everything where it should be again, so I brought a sample to the pool store to test against my numbers (using Taylor K-2006 kit) and check a few things I can't (like metals).

The one number that was really high was phosphates (340, with their ideal of 0-100ppb). Early on I was advised here to ignore the phosphates and by following PoolMath recommendations everything would fall into place. While that has been true for the most part, this sticks out to me... any suggestions for addressing, and/or for why this would be high when everything else is good?

Thanks!

 

[tim5055]

I switched quickly to TFP/PoolMath advice and have been enjoying clean, clear water since.

I was advised here to ignore the phosphates and by following PoolMath recommendations everything would fall into place.

Ignore phosphates. It is a problem made up by pool stores to sell you stuff to eliminate it. If your chlorine is where it should be you will be fine.

 

[pool512]

Ignore phosphates. It is a problem made up by pool stores to sell you stuff to eliminate it. If your chlorine is where it should be you will be fine.

Great. Thanks!

 

[Sunnydaze]

My phosphates were 2000ppb and i had no issues with algae as long as I kept my chlorine level in line with the FC/CYA Levels. I did opt to remove phosphates as added insurance for when i go on longer trips and have no one to add chlorine. But it certainly wasn't necessary for when I'm able to keep an eye on chlorine levels.

 

[jeffchap]

Phosphates are simply food for algae. With sufficient chlorine, you'll have no algae. Therefore it doesn't matter if there's food available for it or not. That's why we don't care about phosphates.

 

[Donldson]

340 is not even high. Not unless the person testing it has a product they're trying to sell, that is...

Avoid the sales pitches. We will never say "yeah, your reading is wrong and the pool store is probably right" so there's nothing to gain from letting them touch your water.