I left the guy at Leslie's pool speechless with my water test results...

[famousdavis]

Since coming to this forum, I only go to the pool stores to buy salt or muriatic acid. For kicks, though, last week I took water samples to the two pool stores nearest my home. Earlier this summer, I learned that their methods and tools weren't better than my Taylor K-2006, and their advice wasn't better than what I found in this forum.

So Pool Store #1 gave out readings which, surprisingly, matched pretty closely to my own readings except calcium hardness -- they read my water at 375 (my weekly tests show CH is 260). Then, next day, Pool Store #2 gave me their readings which, surprisingly, matched pretty closely to my own except calcium hardness -- they read my water at 175, telling me I need to buy stuff to increase the CH.

So, my CH = 375, 175, or 260.

Wanna guess which number I trusted to be the correct reading? ;-)

[BigDave]

Salt from the pool store? Is it cheaper than Solar Salt or better?

[famousdavis]

BigDave, I didn't even know what Solar Salt was until I Googled it (Morton's Solar Salt, yes?). I don't know whether it's cheaper or better. The salt I get from the local pool store comes in 40lbs bags and sells for $7 or $10, depending on whether you get pellets or fine granules. It doesn't have YPS (non-caking agent not recommended by Jandy).

[CarlD]

Good Job! I'd be much happier to patronize pool stores if they weren't always trying to get you to buy what you don't need, or if you do, at 3 or 4x what it costs at the grocery store. Only Liquid chlorine, here in NJ, is a good deal at the pool stores.

Carl