Evil Phosphates

[cambobros]

Over the last month, I have learned a ton since reading information you-all have provided on this website. I've had an IG pool for seven years now and expect the algae problems I've experienced over the last three have been due to my high CYA level, and I've been buying tons of chemicals to fix the problem, tbut the problem has never gone away.

Before finding this forum I bought several of the Phos-Free products (and I have alot left over). Very expensive and clouds the pool for a day or two but have no idea if it is doing what it says. I can't seem to find in the forum if you-all think using this product acually helps in eliminating the phosphates, and if eliminating the phosphates actually helps in reducing algae or not (I did see that this type of treatment increases chlorine demand, but don't know if it is worth it).

And maybe the borax treatment does the same thing? I'm sure the answer is in here, I just have not been able to find it.

Thanks for the information and knowledge you are providing to the rest of us.

[PoolDoc]

Borax does NOT work the same way, but it DOES inhibit algae IF you get borate levels above 50 ppm. (Some effects occur at lower levels)

Read this: http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?9755; your privilege status when I update your membership is dependent on that info.

And, by the time your upgraded, I'll have finished revising the new borates guide.

[JimK]

..... I'll have finished revising the new borates guide.

I'm looking forward to reading that. Where will it be posted?

[PoolDoc]

It's here:
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?18597

[JimK]

It's here:
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?18597

Thanks.

On a completely unrelated note, I noticed below my user name it says "weir watcher". What is that for?

[kelemvor]

Watching wiers, of course! I, on the other hand have weaved a widget.

Seriously though, I think it's a ranking based on the number of posts we've made based on what I've seen on other forums.

[PoolDoc]

means you've posted a lot, but not as much as me.

(Quark inspectors are rather rare, which is not surprising, given how few people know what they are, or where to look for them, much less how to inspect them!)

((Physics humor: "What is the call of a quantum duck? . . ." ))

[cambobros]

It's here:
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?18597

Thanks for the info. This is excellent.

[kelemvor]

Over the last month, I have learned a ton since reading information you-all have provided on this website. I've had an IG pool for seven years now and expect the algae problems I've experienced over the last three have been due to my high CYA level, and I've been buying tons of chemicals to fix the problem, tbut the problem has never gone away.

If you maintain a proper chlorine level (read the "best guess" link in pooldoc's signature) then the presence of phosphates will be rendered irrelevant. So the least expensive and least frustrating course of action is to get a good test kit (Taylor K2006) if you don't already have one, and test your water yourself. Once you know your CYA (cyanuric acid) level you can determine your target chlorine level. This works even if you still have really high CYA - you just have to maintain chlorine levels at a correspondingly high level. Do you have a set of test results that you can post already available?

I bought my house with a pool just over two years ago, and I've been using this method to care for my pool ever since. It works, and once you get it down it's easy to do. Other than one time when I went on vacation and the person watching my house turned off my pump and swcg while I was gone I haven't had any problems to speak of the whole time.

[PoolDoc]

thanks, kelemvor.