I am 'fortunate' (?) enough to have four pool stores within 6 miles of my house. Today I took a water sample in to three of them. Here are the results:


Total Chlorine 3.0, 4.0, 5.49

pH 7.4, 7.55, 7.7

Tot. Alkalinity 98, 100, 125

CYA <40, 69, 100

Hardness levels were all similar.

I hope everyone understands that advice in this forum is given in good faith based on test results that you post.

However, if your pool store tells you, for instance, that your CYA level is 100 when in reality it is 40, it's not possible for the experts here to give you advice except that which is based on your seriously faulty readings.

If you can possibly afford it, order Ben's test kit so you'll know what's really going on with your pool. I did, and, if I understand correctly, it should have been shipped yesterday. Can't wait to get it!