Postby chem geek » Tue 10 Jul, 2007 20:45
Though the pool stores need to take some responsibility, most are just doing what the manufacturers tell them to do. It is some of the manufacturers of Trichlor and Dichlor (and algaecide and other specialty products) that tell the pool stores (and APSP that they sponsor) that CYA doesn't matter (at least not until 200 ppm, some of them say), that only 3 ppm FC is ever needed, etc. Or course they would be happy if you bought and used algaecide weekly and they recommend that and if everyone did that then their pools probably would not get algae -- so they aren't completely wrong, but they don't tell the whole truth either (i.e. that sufficient chlorine levels appropriate to CYA levels will also prevent algae).
So if you want to write a letter or E-mail someone, have it be the manufacturers of the products. I've tried contacting several directly and they just don't seem to want to consider facts that are inconsistent with what would maximize profit. Quite frankly, I think they are risking a lot if they just end up making too many consumers mad. Of course, it's not like *spamm* where cancer caused death -- no one died from getting pool algae (as far as I know).