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(More customer reviews)We tried "Pool Perfect with Phos Free" this year for the first time.We've had this pool for 30 years and it's NEVER BEEN THIS CLEAR! No doubt that Phos Free deserves much of the credit.
We also installed a Hayward/ Gold Line chlorine generator this year.(Hopefully I will find time to review that product too).That may deserve some of the credit.We like that product too, but if I had to choose which product to try, I would try the phos-free first.Why?Because it does not require an up-front capital investment, nor installation.You just add to your pool.
Let me tell you about our experience and what we've learned.
A clear understanding of how this product works will help you succeed with it.You pour a small amount of Phos-Free in your skimmer.It scavenges phosphorus from the water so that algae has no phosphorus.
Why phosphorus?Phosphorus is one of the essential macro-nutrients that plants need.That's why they put phosphorus in fertilizer.If you buy 5-10-5 fertilizer, it's got 10% phosphorus; the middle number refers to the amount of phosphorus.Somebody figured out that phosphorus is the easiest nutrient to remove - and starve the algae - and they created PhosFree to do the job.Their web site [...] has a lot of info about this. I found the web site to be informative and credible.I majored in chemistry in college so I'm pretty well prepared to judge its credibility.
Even some pool professionals don't understand this product.PhosFree can't kill algae. It can only prevent it from growing. Some pool guys told me that they had tried a phosphate scavenger once in a pool that was green, green, green, and chlorine would not fix it.They tried their brand of phosphate scavenger (not Phos Free) and the pool was still green.They might have had more success if they understood phosphate scavengers. They used a phosphate test kit and they swore that there was no phosphorus in the pool (the test kit can detect as little as 100 parts per BILLION).They did not understand that the phosphorus was already in the algae.So if you can vacuum away any algae (or leaves) before you start, that will help.Leaves (or grass, etc) can release phosphorus and other nutrients as they decay, feeding the algae.
The pool guys also might have had more success if they had used enzymes.This product also includes an enzyme that they call PoolPerfect. It breaks down organic matter, including dead algae, releasing the phosphate so that the PhosFree can scavenge it up.The pool guys might have had more success if they had used this combination product.
How did I use it?I bought a phosphorus test kit to monitor phosphorus levels so I could tell what's going on.I learned a lot.You can do this too, or you can just add a little bit every week.I noticed that as it scavenges phosphorus, it also raises the pressure in the sand filter.So I guess that the phosphorus is captured in the sand filter until it ultimately gets backwashed down the drain.Using PhosFree I could keep the phosphorus below 100 ppb.The aforementioned web site states that algae cannot divide with less than 125 ppb of phosphate in the water.
I have read everything on their web site [...].I've used the product for a full season, and our pool is CLEARER THAN EVER, even though we're using less chlorine, and we stopped using other algaecide completely.We like having less of that other junk in the water.
What about cost?We found that a maintenance dose of 4 to 8 ounces per week is sufficient for our 25,000 gallon pool.So a two liter bottle of "PoolPerfect plus PhosFree" lasted us more than 8 weeks.That comes down to about$5.00 per week or about $100 for the pool season.But we're saving money by using less chlorine, less algaecide, and running the filter for fewer hours per day.We like the fact that we don't have to handle as much chlorine and we've reduced our environmental impact.And we're using the pool more.
We'll definitely be using this product again next year.
Addendum (August 2010):Now in our third season using this product.Still happy with it.Still recommending it to friends.One thing that I've learned:use a paint stirrer stick.The phosphate scavenger settles to the bottom of the jug.Shaking doesn't stir the stuff off of the bottom because it makes too much foam.So I use a paint stirrer stick - like they give you when you buy a can of paint.This works well to stir the stuff from the bottom of the jug.Also:next year I plan to try a related product called Pool First Aid when I open the pool.One last thing: I called their tech support line and found them to be competent and helpful.
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Product Description:
No phosphates, no algae,no organics.Normal sanitizer levels will prevent algae growth.
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