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!
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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!
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
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by chrisexv6
CarlD's signature says it all:
Stay ahead of your water!
Take 2 to 5 minutes every day for pool maintenance!
forwarned is forearmed!!!
I test cl and ph everyday. The other tests once every few weeks or so.
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;)