Quote Originally Posted by MountainStone View Post
lemme ask: with my high calcium level, will adding cal hypo cause any problems? It is my understanding cal hypo adds calcium, and my level is currently 600ppm and rising weekly due to desert evaporation and high fill water calcium.
Ironically, the answer is, "No, it will probably reduce your calcium levels!"

But that's true ONLY if you do it as I describe -- adding it via the skimmer, and gradually raising your pH. If you add it to the pool, it will make a mess. Added through the skimmer, it will STILL make a mess, but on your filter. That's why you'll need to clean more. But, on your filter, the 'mess' should just be an easy-to-wash-off calcium powder.

However, it's precisely this 'mess' that will both capture calcium from your water AND metals like copper and iron. That's why you do NOT want to allow the pH to drop -- and redissolve calcium or iron -- while you're using the cal hypo. Instead, you want to gradually and steadily RAISE the pH to around 8.0, maybe a month after you first start using cal hypo.

Just remember, till it's dissolved, cal hypo reacts badly with almost everything, including other forms of chlorine. Do NOT allow it to contact any other chemical. (Borax is an exception, and is OK. In fact, I may end up having you add cal hypo and IMMEDIATELY follow it with small borax doses.)


Also, how would you like me to document the process/results?!
Ideally, a daily log, or at least, a log of each day where you test or add + plus photos of the stains, if that's possible. (May not help -- hard to photo the stains through the water, as you know.)