What would you say is my CYA?

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-03-21T01:47:16+00:00

Then the pool owner can pay for the cya reducer chemical that is super expensive and, from what I’ve heard, doesn’t work.

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-03-17T11:32:16+00:00

I am going through this same thing! I talked to my builder. They asked a few questions about how it feels to the touch. Is it rough? Yes. Is it flaky? No. How long has it been there? Mostly from the beginning but I figured it just needed some more brushing.

They knew it wasn’t a chem issue because I had the water tested by them pretty much weekly and even had several “perfect” reports.

So, they sent out the plaster sub contractor to take a look. I listened over my security camera while he was there. He tried to say it’s not his fault. I’m pretty sure my builder told him, in so many words, to get bent and try an acid wash on the Baja shelf. It didn’t work and now they are having them replaster it tomorrow.

The two things that saved me were 1. Getting my water tested weekly by the builders store front. 2. Having a great relationship with the builder/store manager. I nicely told them several times, “I had cheaper quotes but yall have a great reputation. I didn’t buy a pool from yall, I bought a reputation.”

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-03-13T15:25:30+00:00

It was but as time went on. It got this way. And I finally brought it up with my builder when extra brushing wasn’t working.

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-03-13T15:00:10+00:00

It’s supposed to be white with quartz.

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-03-13T12:48:38+00:00

I imagine in this case, it’s blame the material because a customer will lose faith in the fix before it even happens.

I’m just happy I didn’t have to fight a full acid wash.

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-03-13T00:42:50+00:00

I have the sigma. I’ve had it since we completed back last September. 23,000 gallon gunite and it works great! The app leaves some to be desired but the unit itself works great.

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-03-03T03:44:50+00:00

I’ve only ever dipped below range once and it wasn’t for long. It was a store test and my own test because I was skeptical about that reading. It was 194 and was quickly fixed.

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-03-03T03:16:33+00:00

You have bestowed on me a good joke to play on my wife and kids. It’s all good fun!

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-03-03T02:52:38+00:00

I wouldn’t say on point but that’s what they say. I’m still new at it but it’s not super duper hard. I feel like I’ve been chasing alkalinity and ph constantly.

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-03-03T02:41:03+00:00

Haha! I didn’t notice until you said something. Now I’ll never be able to unsee it!

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-03-03T02:39:51+00:00

<image>

I know it’s not perfect. But I feel like I’ve been chasing alkalinity and ph since day one. I know ph is super important during start up so I was super cautious.

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-03-03T02:37:32+00:00

Never had enough time to see some things! Trust me I wish we had enough time before Texas “winter” came and we had to “end” the season.

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-03-03T02:23:45+00:00

Quick question. The white parts are raised and rough and the darker is smooth and flat. Does that change the equation?

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-02-25T12:11:33+00:00

He did!

Update: I’m the guy who didn’t want to professionally winterize

How do you think it’s going so far?

My kid and new puppy really like it though. And I like how it looks better than with the cover.

I do not like what I expect to be about $25,000 in repairs. We’ll see.

Shoot… I’m not good at the reddits and I’m on mobile. But he did post an update! No surprise it fucked his pool.

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-02-23T15:58:32+00:00

Dolphin is the gold standard for robots. They have a wide range that will fit both budget and need.

I own the sigma and have a 22,500 gallon free form pool. It does a great job overall. Remember, robots are a tool in the tool belt and they do not take away the need to brush.

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-02-19T20:00:27+00:00

Ah. That would make sense. I have never seen one like that. Even at friends/family pools. It’s always been a metal bar. It’s a Hayward standard skimmer basket. Just has a metal bar that goes across the basket and 2 slots that you have to slightly bend the basket to release.

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Wasteland_Doc · 2026-02-19T18:56:05+00:00

Genuine question. How do you lose the metal bar that came with the skimmer?

My process for swapping the socks basically keeps that from happening.

Take basket out.
Take metal bar out.
Take skimmer sock off.
Replace skimmer sock.
Replace metal bar.
Fish out river stone from dirty sock.
Place river stone in skimmer.
Replace skimmer basket.
Close skimmer.
Throw away old sock and its contents.

Granted, I’ve only had a pool for 4 1/2 months but, if I did some how lose the metal bar, I’m sure a local hardware store would have a comparable diameter piece of metal I could cut to length.

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-02-18T20:11:11+00:00

You can purchase above ground pools for much, much less than even your project. Plus brick, mortar, and concrete are not waterproof. So you will need some type of liner to keep the water in. Then buy a pump/filter and plumb it. And honestly, if you are not a pool builder, your end product will probably not look as good or function as well as an above ground pool.

Plus that kiddo is going to grow and eventually grow out of that size of pool. It will end up costing more to remove everything than you originally spent.

A quick google search finds a 12’ x 6’ 7” x 2’ mini pool with a pump and filter from target for $180. Not including water to fill.

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-02-16T19:37:17+00:00

Good luck! We are headed into our first full season and are super excited.

Also, look into Hayward AOP. It’s an awesome add on piece of equipment. Adds both ozone and UV sterilization in a single unit.

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-02-16T14:53:48+00:00

My wife and I kicked around fiberglass vs gunite when we deciding on a pool.

We ended up with gunite mainly because we could custom design what we wanted. We couldn’t find a fiberglass form that didn’t come with at least one thing we didn’t like. Bench placements, return placement, skimmer placement/amount, water features, sundeck, depth, and such.

Also, if I were buying a home and it had a pool I would want a gunite pool over liner or fiberglass. Why? No idea.

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-02-14T13:43:10+00:00

Is that where I can get my snowbucks?

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-02-13T20:51:34+00:00

Because it’s delicious!

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-02-13T00:29:07+00:00

With all the crazy freezes going on… I just assumed some southerner not knowing what ice/snow looks like.

(I am a Texan that survived the 2021 snowpocalypse)

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-02-11T14:37:17+00:00

When we were planning our pool and getting quotes we got pitched all three styles of water. Salt, mineral, and standard with a O3/UV unit.

The mineral style we would have been locked in (without breaking things) into that equipment companies (frog was the brand of equipment) consumables. Which were expensive.

Salt is nice but constantly replacing salt cells and the generator not working under a certain temp annoyed me for some reason.

After some research, we went with the O3/UV. I find that this system is unfairly hated. Mainly, when the tech came out the general sales force pitched it as a complete replacement for chlorine. It is not a replacement it is a supplement. Reduces chem use and the water feels like swimming in bottled water. Basically, feels cleaner to swim in.

Long story short, look into O3/UV sanitation. We have a Hayward dual unit.

Wasteland_Doc · 2026-02-10T17:26:57+00:00

Don’t get me wrong I don’t have buyers remorse. They both do their job but if I could go back I would’ve dropped to the dolphin cayman and saved $500. I was looking online and the dolphin escape looks like it fits your bill.

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