Intex SWG.

[sunNfun]

Thank you for prompt and detailed response! I appreciate it.
Wondering, do I need to lower my hardness level and if so, how?
Also, since I can't just run out and purchase a Taylor K2006 test kit, will have to wait for it to ship, should I treat according to the test strips? Should I wait? Can we swim in the mean time? Or do you recommend waiting until correct levels are achieved?

I did find a pool store near us that carries a Bioguard Test Kit for $28.95. Would this be better than the test strips until I can get a Taylor K2006? Or don't waste my money?

Thanks again!!

[aylad]

The only way you're going to be able to lower the hardness is to drain some water and refill with water with a lower hardness level. You would need to test your fill water and see if it's worth that to lower it. If the hardness of your fill water is 400, though, you'd be wasting your time. Just don't use any cal-hypo products, and keep your TA and pH on the low side, if you can, to prevent milky water issues.

If the Bioguard kit is a drop-based kit, then it's going to be better than the strips that you're using--but at least the strips are better than nothing. If the pool is clean and clear, and you get your chlorine levels up to the 3-6 range, then there's really no reason why you can't swim--but I would go ahead and drop that pH as soon as you can because pH above 8.0 is hard on a vinyl liner.

You might also check with the owner's manual of your SWCG--most recommend a CYA level higher than that for optimal cell life. You can add CYA by itself--I get mine at WalMart--to get to the level that your manual recommends.

Janet

[Watermom]

To help you determine how much bleach to add when you test, with a volume of 8260, each quart of 6% bleach will add about 1.8ppm of chlorine to the pool.

The only way to lower calcium hardness is to do a partial drain and refill. As long as you don't use anything which will take it any higher and as long as you aren't having cloudy water problems, I wouldn't worry about it right now. But, you do need to get that alk down. For this small pool, I'd probably use 1 cup of muriatic acid at a time. Be careful with that stuff!

I'd probably just live with the strips you currently have until the kit comes.

Add some muriatic acid. A half hour later, add some bleach -- enough to get up to about 6ppm.. A half hour later, GO SWIM!! When you get out of the pool tonight, test cl and pH again and add more acid if still high. Make sure you run your pump for several hours after adding.

[sunNfun]

Just wanted to say THANK YOU!! We add some bleach and muriatic acid and are well on our way to getting the levels corrected. At present, the water looks crystal clear - beautiful. The test strips are still showing the PH too high, so we'll keeping working at it, slowly. Order the test kit as you suggested, hopefully it will be here by the end of the week. The kids went swimming last night and have been in and out all day!! So much fun already : ) It's a little cold for me yet, but I have put my feet in. Again THANK YOU for all the advice.

Oh, still don't know any thing about the copper ion strips...anyone?