domino
07-23-2012, 03:42 PM
Hello
About two years ago we bought a house with an inground 12,000 gallon concrete outdoor pool which had been put in by the previous owners and used for about 8-10 years. I live in Puerto Rico so our pools do not have a spring startup because they do not get closed for the winter. These two years have been touch and go as to pool care, to say the least. Sometimes the pool is fine (usually in the cooler and drier winter months) and sometimes we get recurring algae problems (usually in the more humid and warmer summer months).
I have read some posts in the forum as a non member and have read the tips at pool solutions. Finding the Taylor 2006 test kit has been a pain down here (the 2005 is readily available) and I'm just going to order it online (or the TF-100 probably).
After reading a lot I have concluded that I need to stop using trichlor tabs because they keep lowering my ph and I can't keep raising it with sodium carbonate because my alkalinity, which is at 150 now, will go through the roof. Running the filter 24/7 with the two fountain-like water inputs we have isn't really an option because electricity costs are prohibitive down here (running them for 10 hours seems to keep ph levels steady but is still more than I'd like to).
The recurring algae problem may or may not be due to CYA levels (the pool store people said they were low but after reading here I don't trust them) and in any case the blooms happen more in the summer.
I want to start using Borax in my pool to see if I can simplify maintenance but I can't find 20 Mule Team in Puerto Rico. I called The Dial Corp, which manufactures it, and they said they no longer bring it down here due to previously poor sales. I have read that Proteam Supreme, Bioguard Optimizer Plus, Poolife Endure, Guardex Maximizer are all similar products (although more expensive). I'm having trouble finding those as well. Can you post all the brands that are basically the same?
Thank you for any help.
About two years ago we bought a house with an inground 12,000 gallon concrete outdoor pool which had been put in by the previous owners and used for about 8-10 years. I live in Puerto Rico so our pools do not have a spring startup because they do not get closed for the winter. These two years have been touch and go as to pool care, to say the least. Sometimes the pool is fine (usually in the cooler and drier winter months) and sometimes we get recurring algae problems (usually in the more humid and warmer summer months).
I have read some posts in the forum as a non member and have read the tips at pool solutions. Finding the Taylor 2006 test kit has been a pain down here (the 2005 is readily available) and I'm just going to order it online (or the TF-100 probably).
After reading a lot I have concluded that I need to stop using trichlor tabs because they keep lowering my ph and I can't keep raising it with sodium carbonate because my alkalinity, which is at 150 now, will go through the roof. Running the filter 24/7 with the two fountain-like water inputs we have isn't really an option because electricity costs are prohibitive down here (running them for 10 hours seems to keep ph levels steady but is still more than I'd like to).
The recurring algae problem may or may not be due to CYA levels (the pool store people said they were low but after reading here I don't trust them) and in any case the blooms happen more in the summer.
I want to start using Borax in my pool to see if I can simplify maintenance but I can't find 20 Mule Team in Puerto Rico. I called The Dial Corp, which manufactures it, and they said they no longer bring it down here due to previously poor sales. I have read that Proteam Supreme, Bioguard Optimizer Plus, Poolife Endure, Guardex Maximizer are all similar products (although more expensive). I'm having trouble finding those as well. Can you post all the brands that are basically the same?
Thank you for any help.