The definition of insanity

[SalemCastles]

Doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result. Every night I test the water ...FC 5.5 PH 7.6. Pour in 96 oz of bleach.

[AnnaK]

Ahhh . . . but if you have a BBB pool you're not really expecting a different result, are you? 'Fess up: if your results were indeed different, you'd be surprised, wouldn't you?

[SalemCastles]

I'm thinking I'll just test every third day now that I've found the daily consumption average.

[waste]

Start with every other day

Also, remember that chlorine demand depends on temp, use and the amount of 'crud' that enters the pool

[SalemCastles]

I like to live on the edge ..maybe I'll go once a week.

[AnnaK]

Or you could really live dangerously, like so: I test pH, FC, CC daily but I only record it in the database when it's different from yesterday. Every now and then I add some rows and use autofill to complete the entries. The silly games people play . . .

[aylad]

I like to live on the edge ..maybe I'll go once a week.

Ah,, and that's how we stay in business!!

[SalemCastles]

The silly games we play ...I have a water timer that has 8 programs a day ..I have it set to run my garden hose into the pool every half hour for 1 minute ( the minimum setting) staring at noon when the sun starts heating the water in the hose. It cost me 15 bucks ... I can run my gas heater for 7 hours for that False economies are the boss!

aylad ..I didn't say I wouldn't keep the chlorine level up I said I wouldn't test it every day. If you know your pool load and LOOK at and FEEL the water why bother. I really think there is too much scaremongering on all sides.

Perhaps we should visit the China Shop?

[AnnaK]

The silly games we play ...I have a water timer that has 8 programs a day ..I have it set to run my garden hose into the pool every half hour for 1 minute ( the minimum setting) staring at noon when the sun starts heating the water in the hose. It cost me 15 bucks ... I can run my gas heater for 7 hours for that

But where's the fun in that?

I refill from a well that has sulfur producing bacteria in it. Bad smell! We treat it with a chlorine injection and misting system and filter the Cl out via a carbon filter. But I use straight well water to top off the pool. Some days the sulfides are worse than others, especially after a heavy rain. The Cl in the pool neutralizes the stink from the new water, of course. My game is to guess how much additional Cl I have to add to stay at my target level. How much water did I put in? How bad is the smell today? How much chlorine was in the pool when I started? I overshot only the one time when I had a cold and couldn't smell anything.

aylad ..I didn't say I wouldn't keep the chlorine level up I said I wouldn't test it every day. If you know your pool load and LOOK at and FEEL the water why bother. I really think there is too much scaremongering on all sides.

Not sure about the scaremongering. I think it needs to be "do as I say, not as I do" when we try to help new owners solve their pool problems. There was a time when I was hugely intimidated by CYA and TA because I simply did not understand the role they played in pool water chemistry. Then it clicked. Janet said that CYA is 'like sun screen for your FC' and someone else mentioned TA being a buffer for pH. That's when I had one of those DUH! moments, put it together with all components having ranges rather than being absolutes, and I was finally able to relax into getting to know my pool.

Swimmer load, weather, sun exposure, backwashing, refilling, dust in the air, time of year . . . and testing the basics, pH/FC/CC, every so often. I don't test daily but I do touch and look at my water every day and I know how it's been treated since the day before.

A good test kit, knowing how to manage the results it gives you, and knowing your pool will get you clean and safe water season after season.

[aylad]

. If you know your pool load and LOOK at and FEEL the water why bother. I really think there is too much scaremongering on all sides.

Because many times the problems are there WAY before they show themselves......no need for the China Shop, it's a no-brainer!

Janet