Second season with new saltwater inground pool

jvogeler114

Member
May 20, 2025
6
elizabeth city nc
Pool Size
20000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite Pro (T-15)
Hi, I’m Jenn I live in coastal NC my first time having a pool. I have a 16x36 salt water in ground pool last year was a huge learning experiment managing pool chemicals. I have a great pool store that does not push a lot of chemicals on you. I have been battling yellow steps and 4-5 yellow/green spots on my blue liner (in the deep end same area but not touching, 2 appeared end of last season , 3 this season) which is still early we have only had several days in the 90’s. My chemicals per the pool store are good with my chlorine a little high as I had shocked and several days later super chlorinated, then had salt cell at 50% she told me to lower to 25% for a week, which is this coming Friday (5/23/25) I magic erased my steps and it helped but I feel like some is reappearing. My pool is clear I had some brownish plumes when brushing I’m assuming algae I brushed it for several days when I shocked it and super chlorinated, and now that has stopped. My pool store lady does not think it’s mustard algae but I’m concerned about the steps and the spots?
 
Although I appreciate needing a good test kit, I have test strips, and I know from reading people’s comments that they are not necessarily reliable, but I take my water sample to a pool store weekly and they are saying everything is okay save my chlorine was at 10 ppm so we lowered salt cell to 25%
Ph 8 ppm
Alkalinity 90 ppm
Stabilizer 40 ppm
Does this help?
 
Let's be honest: your pool store is telling you everything is good and in fact telling you to lower your chlorine production while you deal with algae. With advice that poor do you really think we trust their testing?

Without test data we can trust, we can't do much to help.
 
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They have been great they don’t push chemicals for no reason, and she stated she was not sure it was algae and from what I’ve read it can be something else so I came on in for ideas? They have been in business for 30 years so yes I believe them
 
You really need your own reliable test kit.
Test Kits Compared

Pool stores rely on old, outdated industry standards that haven't been updated for over 30 years.
TFP relies on science and the proven FC/CYA relationship, among over newer pool care methods.

We don't offer advise without good test data from one of the recommended test kits.
 

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My pool store people are the nicest folks but like others said, they are telling you to lower your FC levels when you have evidence of algae....Whether they sell you something or not is irrelevant. They have zero skin in the game.
 
How about this :

Their way is as you've seen, needing to seek other opinions.

Our way only works if you *actually do it our way* We'd be delighted to show you how.

And Welcome to TFP. :wave:
 
The TF100 from the same place is about $80 and has 2.7X the supplies of the comparable priced K2006 (no C).

We highly recommend the stirrer which is included in the Pro kit but can be purchased separately. Swirling by hand gets old and the stirrer really makes a difference for consistency and accuracy.

You want the salt version of the TF100 (forgot that part). The cell isnt as accurate as it uses conductivity to determine salinity and you don't want to dose from a guess. Salt doesnt come out easily if you over do it.