Calcium???

[cleancloths]

I recall seeing a report from a vinyl manufacturer that explained that calcium in the water is important because the liner contains calcium fillers and it will tend to leach out of the plastic if there is none in the water. That said, I have never added calcium to my pool in the 8 years I have had it and can see no harm to the liner, metal or heatpump.

[waste]

Thanks for the responses!! (I'm trying not to be one of those ' I got the answer and you won't hear from me until the next problem' posters

[AnnaK]

My test strips (AquaChem) test total hardness with a value at 0 presently. I just came back from Leslie's. Their test says 80 ppm calcium hardness and he wants me to add 18 (!) pounds of Hardness Plus. I said, I thought hardness didn't matter so much in a vinyl-lined AG pool and he said, oh yes it does because the water "wants to be hard and will leech what it can out of your liner, and stretch it".

But then, reading here on the Forum, I'm left with the impression that I really don't have to worry about hardness as long as the rest of my values are balanced, which they are.

If it were your pool, would you add Ca?

[CarlD]

There is one compelling reason for carefully maintaining calcium levels in a vinyl pool with either an SWG or a heater:

This is, of course, if the manufacturer's warranty of the heater or SWG requires that a certain calcium level be maintained.

[AnnaK]

This sure is a good place to come for information.

My issue with hardness is settled. I have neither a SWG nor a heater and I'm not adding 18 pounds of something I don't need to otherwise nicely balanced and clear water.

[CarlD]

This sure is a good place to come for information.

My issue with hardness is settled. I have neither a SWG nor a heater and I'm not adding 18 pounds of something I don't need to otherwise nicely balanced and clear water.

Why not? Just because the ONLY reason to do it is to transfer funds from your account to the pool store's?

Aren't you being a bit unreasonable?

[AnnaK]

It's all your fault, Carl. You taught me well.