Just curious? I can't really know if I want to stick around in the threads I need are unavailable to me.
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Just curious? I can't really know if I want to stick around in the threads I need are unavailable to me.
You will be able to once your registration is completed and your posts are moved out into the regular classified sections of the forum. Until that time, if you log out, you'll be able to see the whole forum.
What brings you to the forum? Tell us about your pool, your questions, etc. and we will try and help you with the information you are looking for.
Welcome to the Pool Forum!
Thank you, I came across this forum on Monday, I believe. I can't remember now what the initial inquiry that led me here was because since I've absorbed quite a bit of knowledge that wasn't imparted to me by my pool builder or the guys down at the store. It's led me from one thing to another.
We had a gunite pool built in the spring of 2007. The pool company claims it's 20000 gallons. My best "questimate" is that it's probably a little closer to 17k. It's a SWCG system.
I'm on my 4th cell now. I blame the advice I've been given over the years for this. Luckily the warranty covered the last two cells and in retrospect should have covered it the first time. I was armed with very little knowledge about how to take care of the pool, clean the cell, and balance the chemistry and it's been trial and error and OJT for me to get to this point. I get a lot of mixed advice from the boys down at the warehouse, some has been contradictory.
Great forum. I've come across some great reading and advice. Some of the things that I've been looking into are:
I found the "Great Sodium Tetraborate Experiment" thread interesting because my builder tried to get me on the Mineral Springs system. I've always wanted to know what additional "minerals" were in that expensive bag and have been intrigued by it's claims but uninterested in dropping that much cash on it. I'm the kind of guy that tries to figure out how to do-it-myself. Last summer I was trying to formulate my own Frontline Plus for my poor flea ridden pug.
I've been interested in a DE filter for some time now and I'm inclined to try adding DE to my sand filter.
I'm one of those saltwater pool people that is constantly battling my rising pH. I know my TA is around 120-ish
I don't have a thorough enough pool chemistry tester to tell you my CYA levels but I'm now wondering if I need to adjust them. I've never messed with the CYA and as far as I know my pool builder didn't either.
I have more questions and curiosities but that all I can come up with.
I don't know a lot about the Mineral Springs unit, but I believe that of the "minerals" they add is copper, which is commonly used as an algaecide, but is also the culprit when you have green-stained pools, hair, and fingernails. That's why we don't recommend copper in any form around here, because it adds a whole other dimension to caring for your water chemistry, as it can't be removed once it's put in--except by staining something. It does not allow for equally sanitary water with less chlorine, as some people believe it does.
The other three mods sometimes add DE to their sand filters and say that they very much like the quality of the water. I personally don't, because I use zeo in my sand filter, and my understanding is that you can't use DE with it. Don't need to, anyway.
If you can drop your TA down to 80 or so, and only lower your pH to 7.6 instead of lower when adjusting pH only, then you might find that your pH doesn't rise so quickly. I'm not a SWCG person, but in studying the threads and responses from those that are, the consensus seems to be that you need to lower the TA to help stop pH from rising. If you want the chemical explanation, you can use the google link in my sig to search for chem geek or waterbear's posts on the subject...the "why" is above my head, but I know the "it works" is there. :)
You do need to test for your CYA levels--if the levels are too low, you can really shorten your cell life on your SWCG, and it won't work as efficiently--AND you run the risk of green water. WalMart sells a 6-way drop kit for about $20 that has a CYA test in it, but you could also have it tested at the pool store--just avoid all the junk they want to sell you, unless you need to raise your CYA (and even then, I get mine at WalMart).
Welcome to the forum, if you have other questions, ask away--somebody here will be able to help!!
Janet