New Directions for PoolForum in 2018 (in revision)

[waterbear]

However, I'd be interested in your opinions, either here or in email, about some things:

1. Virtually everything useful that I (or you or Chem Geek) has to say about pool chemistry has ALREADY been said here.
I have to agree and it was usually said here FIRST. For example, the first info on Borate in pools with SWCGs was done here in the The China Shop many years ago. Now that info can be found all over the 'net.
2. There is no clear answer -- simple enough to be applicable by pool owners -- on a number of topics. This is particularly true of stain control & removal. (As far as I know, no one ever completely followed my stain process.)
Not totally true, I HAVE completely followed your stain removal process. (Maybe I'm the only one ) Used to have a seasonal staining issue with iron in my fiberglass pool, never added calcium and my fill water was soft. Haven't had a problem since I started bumping up my CH to around 250 or higher about 9 or 10 years ago. I know it anecdotal but it's been working for me and for some others that I know. Stain removal is a difficult process for most pool owners, IMHO, and most will not have the patience to follow through. I would say put up the instructions, give a disclaimer that it MUST be followed exactly and that results are not guaranteed, and leave it at that. My experience with pool owners from when I worked in a pool store was that they would not follow directions on treating their pool after water testing because:
A) It was too much work
B) It cost too much (probably valid at pool store prices for some of the products needed)
C) It took too much time (too many pool owners want a 'quick fix' and a 'magic potion' to pour in the pool and make it perfect and we all know that does't exist!)
D) It was really beyond their ability (Stain removal and black spot algae come to mind)
E) It goes against 'common knowledge' about pools that we know is often wrong. (Example, simple fix of running higher FC when the CYA is high and switching from trichlor to bleach or cal ypo instead of doing the 'drain and refill' dance.
3. Electronics are the BANE of online advice giving. Even physically identical pumps or controls can operate differently, because of different software.
True! Because of this I would tend to stay away from dealing with this in the forum other than very general advice with the disclaimer that because of possible software or programming differences it might be different for the poster.
4. I know HOW to improve piping and valving of pools, and HOW to design / install hydraulically optimized pool systems. But I have no idea HOW to deliver that information, short of selling pre-fab pump/filter/piping platforms coupled with a "like-this" pool piping drawing and owner inspection check sheet.
It's not a do it yourself project anyway, IMHO. Unless you are being contracted to do the work don't even see a reason for trying in a forum.
5. It's impossible for most pool guys to be really good at what they do: few people have the opportunity and and IQ to learn wiring / controls / piping / hydraulics / structure / finishes / chemistry on their own, and there is no decent training available.
Preaching to the choir here! True story, I was working at a resort condo with a 60k pool, a 55k pool, two 1k hot tubs, and a 1k splash 'playground' with underground water tank for the kids, all chlorine (dosing pumps for liquid chlorine and acid, DE filter pits for the pools, tank DE filters for the hot tubs and splash area). Had one CPO that kept recording a daily FC of 3.6 using a K2005. Could not understand how he kept getting that reading since the test does not have that much precision. One day our shifts overlapped and I asked him. He got the comparator and pointed to the 3 ppm on the chlorine scale and the 6 ppm on the bromine scale. He didn't realize that there were two separate scales on the comparator! I spoke to the boss about this and convinced him to switch to FAS-DPD testing. He did, had me train everyone on how to properly test the water, and problem solved.
Anyhow, I'd really like to see your thoughts.[/QUOTE]
Hope this is helpful.