Using tablets as a supplement for granular?

[Watermom]

You have a vinyl pool. No worries about low calcium. Pool stores are notorious for trying to selling people calcium when they don't need it.

Yes, just wait on your kit.

[Bosch232]

This is a good question and one ive been wondering about myself. I am strictly a granular user, hth from walmart. Iv'e noticed my ph starting to rise and was wondering if tabs could help me with that. i may try some.

[Watermom]

Bosch, be sure you test your CYA first to make sure you have room for any increase since those trichlor tabs have CYA in them.

[Bosch232]

Oh yes, for sure. I do know that my cya isn't very high, about 40.

[Racker]

Hi, sorry for the delayed response, I just did the testing with my 2006C kit today. Here are the results I got:

FC: 4.0 ppm

CC ~2ppm

7.3 PH

60ppm TA

no calcium hardness

50ppm CYA

The high CC level is a result of me not realizing the significance of CC until I read through the manual that came with the kit. What type of shock would be recommended considering these results? Hopefully they at least make sense since this is my first time using the kit.

Thanks!

[Watermom]

Do you have algae or have you recently? If not, I am suspecting a testing error in regards to your CC reading. Can you explain how you did the chlorine test so we can verify that you did it correctly?

[Racker]

I followed the instructions in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa8iq8htR-s


I did have a small algae problem about...one and a half weeks ago, I think. I let the DE filter (a Hayward Perflex) go too long without a backwash (since opening the pool in early June). I noticed some algae buildup beginning to accumulate on the bottom, and then noticed a slightly green cloud come from the return line after starting the pump one day.

I backwashed the filter, and the way I do it is I let the majority of the waste run out of the filter, then I disassemble the filter and clean out the tub and the filter 'fingers' completely with a gentle hosing. So when I put it back together it's entirely fresh DE in the filter (although the main reason I do this is because it causes less of a mess than blasting the dirty DE out via the back line, which is a problem because I have poor drainage in my yard). So I did that, vacuumed and the algae was gone within a day or so, but it was very slight to begin with.

The pool is currently pristine, although some people have complained that the water makes their eyes burn slightly. I've noticed it as well, though it is very slight and I don't know if it's out of the normal range for a pool. This has caused me some concern regarding CC levels.

That all said, my brother redid the test today, after not chlorinating yesterday. He found FC levels to be 2.5ppm and no CC.