Ideal Levels

[chem geek]

Only one minor comment I have. Even though you have a vinyl pool and the higher TA with lower CH is OK for water balance, your SWG will cause a lot of pH rise if you have a higher TA so I would stick with a TA of no more than 100 and probably 80 is best (if you have a CYA of 60-80). You really only need a higher TA when you use an acidic source of chlorine (like Trichlor) and you won't be using that.

Richard

[iwannapool]

Thanks for all the help and recommendations. I do have a whole house water softener but the outside faucets are not connected to it since it would overload the system when used for outside watering and such.

I guess I could connect a hose to the house water heater drain to get soft water to the pool and spa. I would need to make sure that any calcium/lime that's in the bottom of the tank is cleaned out really well before putting that water in the pool.

Thanks again for the help.

[Sardian]

You could hook up a hose to the cold side of your washing machine hook up and get water there and not put the strain on your water heater. Or, pick up a good Y connector from the lawn and garden dept at one of the Big Box stores (one that has the built in ball valves) and hook it up to your wm connector. This way you wouldn't have to disconnect your WM when you need to fill the pool.

It was just an idea. I guess it all depends on where your WM is. I know my wife wouldn't want a hose dragged through the house every time I filled the pool ;-)

I guess I could connect a hose to the house water heater drain to get soft water to the pool and spa. I would need to make sure that any calcium/lime that's in the bottom of the tank is cleaned out really well before putting that water in the pool.

Thanks again for the help.

[iwannapool]

You could hook up a hose to the cold side of your washing machine hook up and get water there and not put the strain on your water heater. Or, pick up a good Y connector from the lawn and garden dept at one of the Big Box stores (one that has the built in ball valves) and hook it up to your wm connector. This way you wouldn't have to disconnect your WM when you need to fill the pool.

It was just an idea. I guess it all depends on where your WM is. I know my wife wouldn't want a hose dragged through the house every time I filled the pool ;-)

That's a great idea, I hadn't thought about that. Our washing machine is just inside the door from the garage so I could run the hose out though the garage to the pool without having the Mrs. getting too cranky.

Thanks for the suggestion.