Hello TFP Members! I am questioning everything about our pool and how it is maintained. I will try and make this post concise so that answers and recommendations can be easily offered. I have already done much reading here and have concluded that most of what I have been doing in maintaining my pool DON'T work and were sold to me by the pool installer to secure future business from me! I have already purchased the TFP pro test kit with smart stir. I have not Slammed the pool. I feel overwhelmed by that process!
Current situation:
*We live in Michigan, so cold winters.
*My main struggle this year has been with alkalinity and PH. I have literally put in 10 gallons of MA over the course of the summer and have never gotten the alkalinity to budge below even 120 and it's mostly sat near 180. started the spring at 280! PH has not really fluctuated much but is slightly high at 7.8. I've been expecting it to drop with all the MA I've added.
*Pentair VS pump with Cristal Flow II filter with glass media. (This was highly suggested by the pool installer) I don't know now, as I question everything I was told!
Pump runs at the following schedule:
Daytime run is at 1850 for 6 hours. Evening is at 1700 for 8 hours. Overnight is at 2200 for 10 hours. My hunch is that if I had my chemistry regulated and was using the TFP protocol, I could probably change those speeds and save a ton of money on electricity.
*Frog Leap twin that uses a mineral pack and chlorine torpedo packs. My plan is to discontinue this and remove from the set up and continue with the TFP protcols for water chemistry and maintenance. I am considering an SWG, but haven't researched the cost to install yet, so I need to do that over the winter and make a decision.
I am sick and tired of the whole thing right about now and was considering closing the pool this weekend because the water temp has cooled enough that no one is using it anyway. I decided not to after watching a video on TFP You Tube, talking about waiting until the water temp is near 60 degrees. It's at about 76 right now. Also, because my chemistry is off, this will give me time to correct that before closing it.
So, the simple yet complex question is.....where should I start? If MA isn't affecting the alkalinity, what should I do? I should mention that we have well water straight from the hose, or softened if I use our garage faucet to add water.
I could go on with other questions, but maybe there is enough here for now that the answers I get will likely solve some of the other things I'm frustrated with.
So have at me.....with suggestions and advice! Thank you so much!

Current situation:
*We live in Michigan, so cold winters.
*My main struggle this year has been with alkalinity and PH. I have literally put in 10 gallons of MA over the course of the summer and have never gotten the alkalinity to budge below even 120 and it's mostly sat near 180. started the spring at 280! PH has not really fluctuated much but is slightly high at 7.8. I've been expecting it to drop with all the MA I've added.
*Pentair VS pump with Cristal Flow II filter with glass media. (This was highly suggested by the pool installer) I don't know now, as I question everything I was told!

Pump runs at the following schedule:
Daytime run is at 1850 for 6 hours. Evening is at 1700 for 8 hours. Overnight is at 2200 for 10 hours. My hunch is that if I had my chemistry regulated and was using the TFP protocol, I could probably change those speeds and save a ton of money on electricity.
*Frog Leap twin that uses a mineral pack and chlorine torpedo packs. My plan is to discontinue this and remove from the set up and continue with the TFP protcols for water chemistry and maintenance. I am considering an SWG, but haven't researched the cost to install yet, so I need to do that over the winter and make a decision.
I am sick and tired of the whole thing right about now and was considering closing the pool this weekend because the water temp has cooled enough that no one is using it anyway. I decided not to after watching a video on TFP You Tube, talking about waiting until the water temp is near 60 degrees. It's at about 76 right now. Also, because my chemistry is off, this will give me time to correct that before closing it.
So, the simple yet complex question is.....where should I start? If MA isn't affecting the alkalinity, what should I do? I should mention that we have well water straight from the hose, or softened if I use our garage faucet to add water.
I could go on with other questions, but maybe there is enough here for now that the answers I get will likely solve some of the other things I'm frustrated with.
So have at me.....with suggestions and advice! Thank you so much!