Pool company recommends weird levels with my UV sanitizer

[chem geek]

Aquafinesse has surfactants for biofilm removal. The aluminum potassium salt dodecahydrate is for adding aluminum as with an alum floc. The sulfuric acid is to lower the pH while the sodium carbonate raises it and TA -- the combo causes carbon dioxide bubbling. Sodium silicate is similarly used as a coagulant/flocculant. Where did you see that these are the ingredients for Aquafinesse? They look more like ingredients for a different product. None of this is necessary in a properly chlorinated outdoor residential pool.

The TA recommendation is too high if you are going to be using a hypochlorite source of chlorine -- it should be more like 80 ppm (or 70 ppm if using a saltwater chlorine generator). Otherwise, the pH will tend to rise over time from carbon dioxide outgassing.

[BigDave]

PG13,
I, respectfully, diasgree with the notion that there is no harm from the UV sanitizer. The UV it emits breaks down the chlorine in the water. The harm is that you pay for the chlorine and the electricity to run the UV unit.

If the pool is indoors or otherwise shielded from the sun's UV it may be necessary to run a UV unit to break down combined chlorine. If the pool is exposed to the sun it gets plenty.

Please don't think I'm swinging a wet noodle - I usually just float on them.

[poolgal13]

Thanks, everyone, I've been off my computer for the last week or so. I will skip the Aquafinesse. (I found the ingredients listed when I searched for the MDS sheet). I'm so made about the UV sanitizer--it never even occurred to me that it's also breaking down my chlorine!! DUH!! I feel like I was taken for a ride because even though it was "part of the package" I know I paid for it somehow!!!! Sigh. I can always unplug it:-(

[BigDave]

Maybe ebay?