Episode Details

Algae that keeps coming back can make even great pool techs feel like they are chasing ghosts, especially when a customer says, “But we already added the mineral unit.” I’m joined by Fred Square from PoolRx to get brutally practical about what actually changes outcomes: correct sizing by gallons, clean filtration, smart placement, and pump run time that lets minerals dissolve the right way instead of dumping into the pool all at once. If you want clearer water with lower chlorine demand, the details in your install and maintenance routine matter more than another round of shock. 

We also tackle the question I hear nonstop: where do the minerals go, and do they “build up” as metal in the water? Fred explains how chelated minerals are protected through their useful life, then get used up and filtered out during normal operation and filter cleaning. From there we dig into a big misunderstanding around pool stains. PoolRx often gets blamed for stains that are really caused by existing metals like iron or copper already in the fill water, old plumbing, or a tired heater exchanger, and aggressive oxidation from shocking can make those stains appear suddenly. We lay out a clean workflow: test for metals first, remove them, retest, then install with confidence. 

Finally, we cover PoolRx compatibility with common pool systems and chemicals, including borates, enzymes, phosphate removers, salt pools, UV, ozone, and AOP. We also share the simple cal hypo bucket method that helps prevent those ugly black surface spots when granular shock sits on the floor. If you’re a pool service pro looking for fewer algae callbacks and a simple chlorine enhancer story you can explain to customers, this one will help. Subscribe, share this with a pool friend, and leave a review with the question you want answered next.

We talk with Fred Shweer from PoolRx about why mineral systems succeed or fail based on sizing, filtration, and install habits, and how to troubleshoot algae without guessing. We also dig into metals, staining myths, and the real-world compatibility rules that keep pool water clear and predictable.  
• sizing PoolRx correctly by gallons and keeping chemistry in range  
• cleaning and recharging filters properly, especially DE grids  
• placing the unit in the right spot for flow and safety  
• running the pump after install to prevent mineral dumping  
• understanding where minerals go as they get used up and filtered out  
• preventing stains by testing for iron and copper before adding minerals  
• removing trace metals with a skimmer or pump basket metal trap bag  
• ignoring inconsistent copper readings after installation due to chelation  
• knowing when to add a booster based on chlorine demand and water clarity 
• handling cal hypo safely by dissolving and diluting first  
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