Quote Originally Posted by jnorris View Post
Thanks for the reassurance. I'll keep doing what I'm doing. By the way, he also told me that the sticks provide just the right amount of stabilizer for the chlorine in them to use up! How can someone who has been in the business of building pools for so many years not understand the chemical stuff? Is that because they believe what the pool chemical manufacturers tell them?

By the way, he said EVERYONE he knows had a terrible problem with mustard algae this year. Guess so, since he's teaching them to run their pools with high CYA/low Chlorine levels. He seemed really skeptical when I told him I had eliminated my little bit of mustard with high Chlorine levels for several days in a row.
Judy, I believe you're right, on both counts. My boss has a pool and he treats it the same way he tells all his cusomers to treat theirs (he's at least intellectually honest). I am a faithful follower of this forum's advice and know he's not caring for his pool as well as he could. However, he checks his water daily and adjusts the chems when needed. (as per Carl's advice)
The 'pool guys' aren't neccessarily selling BS when they give thier advice, it's what they've been taught and what has worked for many people for many years. They aren't chemists nor (usually) college educated (at least with a degree pertenant to pools), they go with what the 'old-timers' told them, or what they learn from the NSPI. What is great about this site is that Ben took a step back and saw that all that info wasn't working and applied himself to finding out what would work. His results are the basis for this forum, a better way to care for a pool, which is also less expensive. I believe that most 'pool dudes' aren't malicious when they give their recommendations, just 'clueless' and acting on 'autopilot' from their experience and what they were taught.
What you may want to do is turn your pool guy onto www.poolsolutions.com and see if he's willing to change his ways.