Episode Details
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Phosphates, Salt Cells & the ‘Cloudy Test’ Myth (+ a quick AI cameo)
Description
Hosts: Andrea & Paulette
Cameo: Rudy with Joe Trusty (Pool Magazine / PoolMarketing.com)
Sponsor: Revvdup Apparel
Andrea and Paulette kick off with shop talk, cooler temps, and a spike in phosphate readings. They unpack the long-running “are phosphates a thing?” debate, why South Florida sees big swings, and how phosphates intersect with salt systems, algae control, and filter life. Mid-show, Rudy drops in a short interview with Joe Trusty on where AI is already helping pool pros. Back with the duo, you’ll get practical strategies: when to treat, what “weekly micro-dosing” looks like, why some removers cloud and others don’t, and a clear explanation of orthophosphates vs. organic phosphates. They wrap with listener Q&A vibes, contact info, and a shoutout to the sponsor.
Chapters & timestamps
- 00:00 – Cold open, shirts, rain, and “hey, are we talking phosphates?”
- 01:15 – Framing the debate: not a problem until it’s a problem
- 05:20 – 26:12 – AI mini-segment: Rudy x Joe Trusty on AI in service ops, comms/reporting, social content, and hardware touches
- 26:33 – Back to phosphates: why the industry split happened (’80s vs. ’90s, municipal dosing)
- 30:12 – Regional reality check (South FL vs. everywhere else)
- 32:16 – The “zero chlorine but everything else perfect” mystery → when to suspect phosphates
- 34:30 – Babies, bather load, rain, refill: organic load & demand
- 35:10 – Organic vs. orthophosphate (chelators/metal treatments vs. algae nutrient)
- 39:17 – Sources: leaves, soaps, fill water, golf course runoff, dogs/ducks, stain removers
- 41:40 – Salt cells & phosphates: coating plates, reduced output, shortened cell life
- 43:05 – SulfURic acid in salt pools? Why sulfates are a no for SWGs
- 46:10 – Builder sizing, why many SWGs can’t keep up when phosphates are high
- 47:26 – Lanthanum chloride 101 (all brands use it), treatment side-effects on filters
- 49:20 – Weekly micro-dosing via squirt bottle: fewer callbacks, less clouding, charge for it
- 53:18 – Cloudiness myth: it’s often carbonates reacting (alkalinity/calcium), not a “phosphate indicator”
- 58:35 – Why “cap tests” lead to over-treating; test properly or dose conservatively
- 1:03:48 – “Max” targets? Context matters: 100 ppb vs. up to 500+ workable (non-salt) if algae is controlled
- 1:05:18 – Alum (aluminum sulfate) as an option; when it’s a “whole process”
- 1:07:51 – No, liquid chlorine doesn’t contain phosphates (quick bench test story)
- 1:09:31 – Wrap, how to reach the team, revvdup swag update, contests
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