Best of Basic Pool Care

Basic Pool Care

Once you have this down, you're going to be the envy of the neighborhood.

1. Check the levels of your swimming pool chlorine, pH, alkalinity, and hardness. Keep your pH levels between 7.6 and 7.8, not 7.2.  You'll use up too much acid to keep it that low.  Get your alkalinity in check, 80-100, then adjust your pH.

Try to not go over 8.0.   This will help with the water chemical balance and spa maintenance.

2. Test and maintain your chlorine between 1.0-3.0ppm. Most pool techs will tell you to keep your chlorine levels between 1.0-3.0ppm. This will help keep the pool algae away.

I choose to keep the chlorine at this level, 3.0ppm, because I want to have a buffer zone, especially when I'm expecting a large bather load.

Nothing eats up chlorine faster on a bright sunny day than having a large bather load with kids......who stay in the pool......for very long periods of time......and don't come out of the pool......for anything......and I mean ANYTHING.

3. Everyone needs to check their floaters with their chlorine tablets or swimming pool chemical feeders and keep it full at all times. NEVER put pool chlorine tablets in your skimmer.

When your pump turns off the tabs keep dissolving. When the pump turns back on your system will get a highly concentrated dose of acid and chlorinated water that will, over time, wreak havoc on your

If anyone tells you it's alright to put chlorine tablets in the swimming pool skimmer, just nod and smile, then walk away. They either don't know or understand proper swimming pool water maintenance, or they're trying to sell you something, like a new filtration system.

4. Use "No Mor Problems" from United Chemical Corp. I've seen its effectiveness and know how well it works. I like United Chemical's ideas on pool water maintenance and they have some really good swimming pool maintenance tips.

5. Empty the skimmer baskets and, using a wide-mouth and deep pocket leaf rake, remove leaves, insects and other debris from both the pool surface and the bottom. You'll need the right kinds of cleaning parts to pull this off. You may also want to invest in a brush that can easily remove the hard-to-reach debris that collects and sticks to the tile at the water line.

6. Brush the walls and steps weekly and vacuum the bottom when necessary. You may want to vacuum every other week but especially after a windy dust storm. Be sure to backwash your filter after you vacuum or after excessive sweeping of dirt and debris found on the bottom of the pool.

Vacuum as you would vacuum your carpet, beginning at the shallow end and work your way down.

Remember to go slowly as the dirt will seem to "fly up" and you'll get frustrated because more dirt is floating in the water than going into the filter.

7. Backwash once per month or when the pressure is too high, usually about 10-12psi.

8. Only use the water you need to keep your pool at its proper level, about 3" up from the bottom of the skimmer. You may want to invest in a automatic water-filler or just keep an eye on the hose while you're topping off the pool.

9. If you have an automatic pool cleaner, be sure it's in proper working condition. Check with your pool professional if there are signs of wear on your cleaner or it's simply not cleaning properly.

Now the big thing is the pH and alkalinity.  Without going into too much detail, I'll try to explain.

Most pool guys and pool shops will tell you to keep your pH around 7.2 and your alkalinity about 100-120ppm.  This is simply not right.  And here's why...

They get their infomation from an index call the "Langelier Index" which was originally used for public water systems and was introduced to pools in the mid 1950's because there simply was no other system.. 

It's a good system, but just the wrong application. 

The Hamilton Index was specifically designed for pools.  By using the Hamilton Index you will see an decrease in your chemical usage along with an increase in your wallett, and who couldn't use that?

I don't completely agree with the Hamilton Index, but it is closer to how a pool should be balanced than the other index. 

Having a great swimming pool your entire family can enjoy should be easy, once you know and understand basic pool care.  Remember not to over-think or over-complicate swimming pool care by adding this and that and the other thing.  Keep it simple, understand your chemicals, stick to the basics, and you're on your way to being the envy of the neighborhood.

Happy Swimming

Beautiful How Provide the Best Care for Your Koi Fish and Pond

How Provide the Best Care For Your Koi Fish and Pond

As any serious Koi keeper knows, care for Koi is not as simple as purchasing goldfish from a pet store and dumping them in a fish tank.

First of all, that fish tank should be a pond with enough room for Koi to grow in. The minimum recommended stocking rate for any Koi pond is one Koi per 250 gallons of water. However, for those who wish to care for Koi, particularly to ensure their proper body formation and maximum size potential, twice the amount of water per Koi is recommended.

As mentioned in a previous article, it is better to care for more Koi than less as the fish are "happier" in a populous environment. This of course, would require increasing your pond volume.

Depending on where in the world one resides, it is good to keep in mind that Koi construction should keep out predators such as birds and mammals. Shaded trees are thus a good idea to block the view of aerial predators. To keep water clean of leaves and debris, stringing nets or wires above the surface is also important. This is because care for Koi begins with care for its pond water.

Koi can thrive in water temperatures of 15-25 degrees C (59-77 degrees F). The optimal temperatures however are at 23-30 degrees C (73.4-86 degrees F).

Pond water should be cycled once an hour for filtration. It should maintain a pH level of 6.5-9 and measured to keep a 5% salinity at all times. It should be free of waste material and be non-chlorinated. Keeping low ammonia levels (due to fish waste) is also necessary for to care for Koi. An ammonia measurement of one part per million is considered harmful for the fish.

One of many environmental problems which arise in the care for Koi is that of green water caused by algal blooms. The nitrogen wastes and other chemicals in the pond nourish the growth of algae and cause the pond to darken or become green. This is not only toxic for the fish but for humans as well. Hence it is best to regularly test the water for chemicals and install proper mechanical and biological filtration and pump systems.

Care for Koi also includes a healthy Koi diet. Koi have evolved to be omnivorous fish with a high tendency towards the consumption of benthic organisms, such as water insects, worms, larvae and even Molluscs. Koi are also stimulated by the variety of eating fruit, shrimp or fish every so often.

Keeping this in mind, however, there are commercial Koi foods that come in pellets or rods for Koi to chew that make guesswork easy. Koi are known to eat more than necessary for their proper growth so feeding must be controlled. More food also means, more waste in the water. It is better to feed the Koi in short spurts several times a day than to give them one large feeding. For aesthetic purposes and in order to give Koi a physical check-up, it would be good to choose food that floats. When the fish come up to feed at the surface it is much easier to check them then for parasites and ulcers.

In countries where the weather above water drops below 10 degrees C (50 degrees F), it is advisable to slow down the feeding and eliminate protein from their diets. This is because their bodies cannot process food as much or as fast as in the warmth.

Care for Koi may initially seem a complicated task for first-time Koi owners. However, its rewards are found in nurturing the healthiest and happiest of these beautiful ornamental fish!

Elegant Organic Gardening - Tree Care

Organic Gardening - Tree Care

Trees are an essential part of your home's curb appeal and one of the most expensive investments in your landscape. Organic gardening techniques and maintenance can ensure that your investment stays healthy and anchors your organic garden for many years to come.

First, as always, ensure that the tree you choose is right for your region. Native trees or trees that have adapted well would be the best choice. Also check with your local nursery on the expected size and maintenance needed for the tree you want to plant. You don't want to plant a tree that will need to be removed someday because it grows too big and becomes a hazard to your home or your foundation. Additionally, you don't want to choose a tree that requires more water than your region and area can easily provide.

The most common mistake with trees comes next - planting the tree. Most trees are planted too deeply and this causes the roots to girdle around the base of the tree and eventually become diseased and die. You want to ensure that the flare at the base of the tree is visible just above the soil line. If the tree trunk goes straight into the soil, you've planted your tree too deeply.

So you've finished planted the tree and now you want to ring it with pretty plants. No problem - just give the tree at least 18 inches between the tree trunk and the plant's roots to ensure healthy trees and plants.

Tree care and maintenance is still needed as trees mature. Aeration of the soil and the grass around the tree helps the lawn and the trees. Adding Horticultural Cornmeal to the soil throughout the growing season keeps the tree healthy and looking good even in the hottest days of the year.

Your exposed tree flare can also become covered up over time with mulch, ground cover or soil added after planting. Check the base of your trees at the beginning of the growing season, later in summer and then at the start of fall to ensure the flare is exposed. You can move the soil by hand and cut back encroaching ground cover as needed.

Seaweed foliar spray can help minimize the impact of rust on the leaves, spider mites or other diseases but these only show up in trees that are stressed so it usually a symptom of a systemic issue that can be resolved by reviewing these steps and getting back to the basics of tree care in your organic garden.