Just opened pool for spring, test result questions

[Beachnut_PA]

The pool store test results were similar to mine except pH and Alk. His test showed pH = 8.0 and Alk = 80. His recommendation was to put over 13 pounds of stuff in the water (pH down and some type of stabilizer) to fix this "problem". I pulled out the test kit as soon as I got home from work yesterday and verified that my pH = 7.2 and Alk = 100 (down slightly). The fact that this guy could give me these bogus recommendations with a straight face really sucks.

I was skeptical of the advice given on this site when I first got here last year, but it's true. I still have a hard time believing these pool store folks can be so underhanded about something that is such a large investment for most of us.

Thanks for the advice Dave - sorry no time to help with your liner this weekend.

And good luck to mizzouguy and conductor.

[duraleigh]

Yeah, I was somewhat skeptical at first...as I am of almost everything nowadays. (I know that's not a word ). The "common sense" quotient on this forum is just to dominant to ignore, tho.

I would like to think the pool store folks are not devious, but sloppy. I think they're careless with their tests and, of course, erring on the side of selling you something works out to their advantage as well.

[conductor500]

I have looked at a couple differant pool stores and no luck on finding the CYA reagent. I am going to order the kit off this site since I have been attending school here. The one store stopped short of telling me that the CYA was not important (maybe I was just reading too uch into it.) It would seem a "pool store" would have all supplies on hand this time of year. Anyway,since my pool has been exposed for 24 hrs. my ch. is dropping ( istill havent added anything as of yet) Ph stable at 7.2 and alk is still at 120. My next "Q" is I will leaving for 4 weeks and I am going to put the solar cover on untill I get back and wanted to know how much I should raise my Ch. before I leave?
My wife will be here to keep check on it while I am gone. Since I don't know my CYA levels will this be a problem?
Hey Dave, about that liner. If you live in Atlanta I will be there for 4 weeks come monday
Thanks for the schooling guys.
Tim
P.S. My pool is a 27' AG. Is that 16,500 gal? Need to know for use of the handy dandy bleach cal.

[conductor500]

Ok, Just got my CYA from the pool store.
Here are my readins..

CL. 3
Ph 7.4
alk. 110
CYA 90

I found this pool store owner very helpful. She did say my CYA was a little higher than it should be and that the only way to lower it was to drain a little and add more water. But she didn't seem overly concerned about it.

[Watermom]

Your cya reading is higher than I like and like the pool lady said, the only way to lower it is to do a partial drain. I like my cya reading to be between 30-40. If you decide not to do a partial drain, you can live with cya of 90, but you'll just have to run higher than normal chlorine levels as a result to avoid an algae bloom. See the chart at the following link. Ph and alk look good.

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=365

Watermom

[conductor500]

One thing the pool lady said was that CYA at high levels has been known to possibly cause some health effects. Any truth to that? I live in Ky and supposedly the public pools are not allowed to use the stabilizer. CYA

Tim

[aylad]

With a CYA of 90, a chlorine level of 3 isn't going to be enough--you need to up it to at least 5.

Janet

[bmgo]

I am also am amazed at the bogus advice given but the POOL GUYS.
Even "Dumb Luck" seems better