Bromine Chemistry Question

Today I received my property tax bill (up over a thou to $15,000), got a voicemail from the pool installers saying I need a new heater ($2,800 -silly me, I was saving for an auto-cover pump), got a contract for the next school year with no raise for the 5th consecutive year, and my roof is leaking. I appreciate the life-story and the humor... Sell the dratted boat!

Sounds like you should consider solar panels instead....

Reminds me of the old story about farmer complaining about his barn roof leaking. The other man says "Why don't you fix it?"
He answers: "I can't. It's raining."
The other guy says: "So wait till it's not raining."
The farmer answers: "It doesn't leak then!"

(No criticism implied...just a stream of consciousness remembering.)

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Originally Posted by BromineUser

Today I received my property tax bill (up over a thou to $15,000)

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Sounds like you need to move to Georgia! (Not including Atlanta! Atlanta is not Georgia; it's San Francisco East!) Not many people working for school boards have properties with tax rates like that. And, given how far under the water Illinois (esp. Chicago) is, it's likely to get worse before it gets better.

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got a contract for the next school year with no raise for the 5th consecutive year

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Being in Georgia wouldn't help there: my wife (elementary teacher) is getting 'furloughed' 3 days next year, but that's an improvement for 5 this year, and 9 (I think) the year before.

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and my roof is leaking.

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Dark pool covers make MUCH better temporary roof fixes, then blue tarps, if you are going to have to wait a few months.

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Originally Posted by PoolDoc

Sounds like you need to move to Georgia!

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Haha! I lived for one school year in Ringgold back when it was a sleepy little town. I taught in Dalton and "city-ed" in Chattanooga.

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Originally Posted by PoolDoc

Dark pool covers make MUCH better temporary roof fixes, then blue tarps...

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And THAT is really, really funny, Ben!!! I know just where to find one!

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Originally Posted by BromineUser

Haha! I lived for one school year in Ringgold back when it was a sleepy little town.

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Last time I was there, it was *still* a sleepy little town. Not quite as sleepy as Chickamauga where I grew up, but still pretty sleepy.

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Originally Posted by PoolDoc

1. Test your pool's pH each evening. If it's above 7.2, add 1/2 gallon of MA. Make sure the pump runs for at least 4 hours after.

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Is it okay if I test pH in the morning ALSO and if it's above 7.2 add more acid per instructions? My aeration is really effective in getting the pH back up.

Sure, it's OK. But...it's possible to test/adjust too often. Daily for almost anything is plenty.
Breathe. Relax. You're doing great.

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OFFICIAL instructions for BromineUser from PoolDoc:

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Originally Posted by PoolDoc

1. Test your pool's pH each evening and ONLY THEN. If it's above 7.2, add 1/2 gallon of MA. Make sure the pump runs for at least 4 hours after. Do NOT test TA or CH during these 3 days!!! Continue to aerate, using whatever approach you've chosen.

2. After 3 evenings of testing pH and adding MA **as needed**, the following (fourth!) day test the TA.
==> If the TA is <150, do not add acid for 3 days. Do *NOT* test the TA again for 3 days. Discontinue acid additions during this period.
==> If the TA is > 150, recycle to #1 above.

3. After waiting 3 days (after a TA reading < 150 ppm), retest both pH and TA, and report results here. Do NOT test either pH or TA during the 3 days you wait.

OK?

Under NO conditions should you ("BromineUser") test TA more than 2x per week.

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Also, do NOT test the pH more than 1x per day.

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I'M GLAD YOU ARE THERE, Ben !!!

The only other question I can think of before you get my <150 results is:

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Originally Posted by PoolDoc

3. After waiting 3 days (after a TA reading < 150 ppm), retest both pH and TA, and report results here. Do NOT test either pH or TA during the 3 days you wait.

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I know I can't test pH, so I am wondering how I know when to stop aerating.

When it gets below 150, tell us.

Don't worry about over-aerating -- but don't do anything extreme either. (Like hooking up a blower or shop vac.)