Hello, all! We have a 16,000-gallon pool in central Florida with a Hayward AquaRite salt chlorine generator. We seldom use the pool and the AquaRite seems to keep the water crystal clear. Every couple of weeks, I take a water sample to our local Pinch a Penny and, after they test the sample, buy whatever they say we need.

On the last three visits -- July 3, July 23, and July 26 -- they have told us (on each visit) we have zero total chlorine, zero free chlorine, high pH, high acid demand, low total alkalinity, low calcium hardness, low stabilizer, and low salt. I trust the Pinch a Penny guys, and even went to a second nearby store to get a second opinion, and got the same results.

The AquaRite is reading 3,400; I'm told it should be about 2,700.

My confusion stems from this: Our water is crystal-clear. If we have zero chlorine, high pH, high acid demand, and the other results listed above, wouldn't our pool be loaded with algae?

Would greatly appreciate anyone's / everyone's feedback.

Thanks in advance!