Seahunt

Nope, just plain old chlorine (trichlor and liquid chlorine). Thanks again!

Awesome! Thanks!

I understand you should soak the cartridge filters in a cleaning solution to remove oils, lotions, etc. The cartridge cleaning solutions sold in my area are pretty expensive and to get enough to do my filters would cost quite a bit of money. Is there a generic or homemade solution that does the same thing as the pool store cartridge cleaners? Thanks!

The pool is closed now but I can tell you what I generally do. I use trichlor pucks until the CYA gets to around 60 then I switch to liquid chlorine. While using trichlor pucks the TA is up around 100 -120. From you guys I understand that the trichlor is acidic so it brings the PH down so the TA a little on the higher end is not bad. (I hope that is right) With liquid chlorine the TA was at about 60-70 because, again from you guys, I came to understand the PH would drift up a little. I use muritic acid to bring it down when it gets around 7.8. Here is the weird thing, the effluence is really bad when I take the cover off in the spring. The water is kept below the tile all winter to avoid cracking it. However, there is a pretty good amount of crystals on the tile. It was really bad last spring.

I check the PH at least a few times per month. it's usually around 7.7 and I lower it a little when it gets to 7.8.

My pool tile is suffering from grout effluence. In the spring, when I uncover it, ther are large crystallized "drips" on the tile. I am able to remove them with muriatic acid. However, I am beginning to see gaps behind the tile where the grout is dissapearing. My understanding is this can not be stopped. In the last couple of years I have raised the Calium Hardness from about 150 to 250 in hopes of stopping the grout affluence. It is a plaster pool using chlorine (e.g, not a SWG). As one service tech told me, "they don't build pools like they used to." The pool is coming up to it's 10th year. My question is, my brother is really good with tile. Is there any reason we can't re-tile it or is pool tile a different animal then kitchen tile, for example? If we can do it, what recommendations for grout so this doesn't happen again? Can the old tile be re-used? Thanks.

Without getting into the ammonia thing and keeping it simple, your CYA is too high. CYA helps keep chlorine from breaking down in sunlight but also reduces chlorine's effectiveness (double edged sword). Again, keeping it simple, FC should be about 10% of CYA (not less then 7.5%). Therefore, your FC needs to be about 10. Yes, that is a high chlorine amount. Unfortunately, the only way to reduce CYA is partial drain and refill. If you don't want to drain you can shock to kill the algae then keep a lower chorine level (maybe 6 or 7) but you will have to use a regular dose of algeacide. I recommend a partial drain and refill if possible. Either way, follow these instruction on getting rid of the algae: http://www.troublefreepool.com/pool-school/defeating_algae As you will see by the above link, if you keep the CYA at the current level, the shock level to kill the algea is going to be around 40ppm. Oh, and switch today to regular uncented bleach or liquid chlorine. It does not add CYA which, ideally, should be around 50. You can go to http://www.poolcalculator.com/ to figure out how much liquid chorine to add to get to the correct levels. It can also show you what percentage of water to drain to get the CYA down. Good luck!

Ya know, I'm wondering....when they were building my pool, 8 years ago, the deck guy was grading with a small bob cat. I heard him grousing about something and looked out and it looked like he had nicked the conduit or wires (black looking chords) that go to the light. He proceeded to fix it with duct tape. He was murmuring about "why don't these guys mark this stuff or bury it better." My pool was built by a bunch of independent contractors. At the time I didn't think much about it. However, with age I have started to realize how things like that can come back to bite you. Do you think this is related?

I would say one out of 10 times that I turn the light on, it actually works. Thanks.

My pool light works occasionally. Someone mentioned it may be a loose bulb. I have a 22gal in-ground plaster pool. Do you just unscrew the cover and tighten it like a normal light bulb. Don't want to get shocked Thanks.

Wow. Awesome, you are right. I added 96oz Chlorox and two hours later my chlorine had gone up 2.5ppm (basically what the pool calculator said it would). Thanks for the help. Now if I could just get my automatic chlorinator set correctly, I wouldn't have to play these games . Oh well, keeps me off the streets. Thanks again.

I know the answer depends on several factors. I am trying to get my chlorine level right using liquid chlorine. How long after I add it can a get an accurate chlorine reading? 22k Gallons Plaster pool 1HP pump with two return jets, two skimmers and two deep end floor drains Added the chlorine slowly over the deeep end return jet. Thanks!

I have an 8 year old Whisperflo (1hp) that is making a little more noise then usual. I had a pool company (Leslie's) come out and look at it. He said if it is pumping fine (which it is) and is not leaking water (seal is bad) to let it go. He said the Whisperflo pump shaft often warps as they age. This is the reason for a little more noise. I'm just providing you the info I got for my $90 service call (new pump would have been $750 installed). Good luck!

To reach the impellor on my Whisperflow I remove the lid and the strainer basket. Then reach your hand in toward the pump and you will hit the impellor. Mine has been so clogged it has pretty much reduced the pressure to zero. I now regularly reach my hand in and remove anything from the impellor. I also shoot the hose in to get anything I can't get with my hand. Having said that, if it is automatically shutting off, there may be something else going on. How old is the pump?

I think that is your best bet. I add liquid chorine over the winter and stir by hand as the pump is winterized. Hopefully, it will make clean-up when the pump gets going a little easier. Good luck!

I had a service tech come out. He said the Whisperflow pump shafts normal wear includes some slight warping that is why the extra noise. He said it is pumping fine and as long as it is pumping, not leaking, and I can stand the extra nosie, he would just let it go...and so I did.

Thank you all. I now have a Hayward chlorine tower up and running.

Thanks. It turns out the directions that came with it were very vague and only said "Don't Overtighten." I finally found them on the side of the unit itself and it said to tighten 1-1.5 turns after hand tighening. Turns out it was not tight enough.

I just intalled it new and it is leaking both where it goes into and exits the chlorine feeder (fittings). It said use teflon tape in the fittings and I did. I don't want to tighten it too much to break the inlet or exit (with checkvalve) fitting. Any recimmendations? THanks!

I am thinking about getting a new pump (22k gal inground plaster). I have an 8 year old Whisperflo and it is starting to make some noise. I would like a quiet one and some have said the efficiency of a new one over the 8 year old Whisperflo (1hp) could pay for itself in 2 years. Several have recommended the Intelliflo. However, they state: "So I recommend that you work with a local, well informed, service professional to get you the appropriate pump and controller configuration as well as properly set up the pump so that you are not flowing too much water (unsafe and inefficient)." My questions are: What do you think of the Intelliflo to replace the Whisperflow? How do you find a good service company? I have not been impressed with the pool builder I used or the couple of pool service companies I have worked with. I live in Annapolis Maryland. Thanks as always!

You can try a couple different configurations (e.g., an X or Grid pattern). See below: http://www.ehow.com/how_2188801_keep-birds-out-swimming-pools.html Also, you could also tie streamers to the line. Another good source is to search google for keeping birds of boats. They have all kinds of ideas and products as it is a common problem. Good luck!

My neighbors ran some crossing lines overhead (about 15 feet above the pool). The birds stay away as they don't want their wings to get caught.

Thanks. I'll see if I can tighten it. Thanks again.

The light in my inground plaster pool (8 years old) works about 25% of the time. Sometime it is turned on, doesn't work, then comes on later (e.g., I notice it on the next day). Overall, it only works about 25% of the time. Is this indicative of a bad or going bad bulb or is the electrical line bad (e.g., shorting)? Thanks.

Could it be yellow or mustard algae?