Is it my imagination....

[graciec]

or is it more expensive if you get 'behind' in testing?
It seems like i've just bought a ton of bleach/chlorine but i have learned my lesson??? It's cheaper to do tests everyday even if one is not swimming;water is clearing as I type!

[chrisexv6]

Eventually you'll get good enough at the pool thing that you can look at your water, predict what it needs, test it and find out your predictions were correct :)

I *over* tested my pool when we first started it up after moving into the house (once a day, no joke, a drop-count chlorine test, pH test, and alkalinity test). Now I only really test it during startup, and maybe one/week thereafter (and the once/week tests are just with the mini-PS230 kit).

My experience in my area is that once the pH and alkalinity is set, it doesnt really go anywhere. After that its just a matter of adding chlorine to keep the level decent.

-Chris

[tmmort]

...
My experience in my area is that once the pH and alkalinity is set, it doesnt really go anywhere. After that its just a matter of adding chlorine to keep the level decent.

That's my experience as well, which is another one of the benefits of using only bleach to chlorinate: no build up of CYA (from pucks), no build up of calcium (from "shock", i.e., cal. hypochlorite). Only very slight upward pH drift from bleach and fill water.

[prh129]

CarlD's signature says it all:

Stay ahead of your water!
Take 2 to 5 minutes every day for pool maintenance!

[graciec]

forwarned is forearmed!!!

[Watermom]

I test cl and ph everyday. The other tests once every few weeks or so.

[Henrys514]

It is absolutely true! You get behind in testing, and your pool sneaks up on you and BAM! the algae bloom from hell! Before I was tuned into this board, we killed algae that we had, but could have done it a lot cheaper and much more effectively. Now, I have Ben's kit coming and I check my pH and Cl everyday. So far, I've used 2 gallons of chlorine in 2 weeks, and the pool looks wonderful! Before, we were using 2.5 gallons a week doing the once a week pool store recommended shock.

I told my husband with my new knowledge and testing diligence, the pool will hardly be green. He doesn't believe me...yet;)