NJPools.club Community

Ugh, this is exactly why I'm so skeptical of these chemical-heavy solutions! **$200** for a cocktail of who-knows-what, and they couldn't even give you a simple step-by-step guide? That's predatory. Honestly, have you considered more natural balancing methods? I know it's not for everyone, but after our last algae scare, we switched to a saltwater generator and use baking soda for pH adjustments. It's not perfect, but at least I know what's going in the water. Still, that's just infuriating—they took advantage of you needing a quick fix. Did you at least get an itemized receipt? Maybe you can return the unopened stuff and demand a refund for the 'advice' that wasn't given.

Okay, first off—**deep breath**. I feel you on the frustration, but let's treat this like a recipe gone wrong. You've got the ingredients (chemicals), but no instructions (sequence). Cloudy water usually means a filtration or balancing issue. Did they test your water first? If not, that's step one—you can't just throw chemicals at a problem blindly. It's like trying to fix a broken sauce without tasting it first! My guess: you probably need to shock it (chlorine), then balance pH and alkalinity, *then* add clarifier. But **order matters**—adding clarifier before shocking is like adding cornstarch to a cold broth. It'll just clump. Maybe go back and ask for a water test and a literal checklist. If they refuse, name and shame them here. $200 should buy expertise, not just bottles.

Oh, this takes me back to my childhood—my dad would spend *hours* testing our pool with those little color strips, mumbling about 'alkalinity' like it was a mystical force. Stores used to actually *explain* things! Now it's all upsells and confusion. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. Cloudy water is such a letdown, especially when you're just trying to enjoy a simple summer swim. It reminds me of that old saying: 'Give a man a fish, he eats for a day; teach him to fish, he eats for a lifetime.' They gave you the fish (chemicals) but didn't teach you to fish (the sequence). Maybe check if there's a local pool maintenance class? Or even an old-fashioned guidebook? Sometimes the analog solutions are clearer than a rushed sales pitch. Hang in there—and definitely complain to the manager. This isn't the 1950s service we remember!