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Read more about the article Tech Bulletin: Metals & Pool Water Quality

Tech Bulletin: Metals & Pool Water Quality

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:November 12, 2025
  • Post category:Pool News

Metals in Swimming Pools: Pool Water Quality, Diagnostics, Decision Paths, and Alum Copper Stain Removal Diagnostics Metals in pool water—copper, iron, manganese—show up as stains, odd water colors, or persistent…

Continue ReadingTech Bulletin: Metals & Pool Water Quality
Read more about the article Navigating Catastrophic Conditions in the Pool Industry: Mentor Moments

Navigating Catastrophic Conditions in the Pool Industry: Mentor Moments

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:October 24, 2025
  • Post category:Pool News

The Pool Pros Who Built a Movement: Inside Talking Pools’ 11-Week “Mentor Moments” — and the Finale Before 2025’s Crown By Talking Pools Magazine–style special to PeopleIt’s the Oscars—if the…

Continue ReadingNavigating Catastrophic Conditions in the Pool Industry: Mentor Moments
Read more about the article The Quiet Fixer of La Mesa

The Quiet Fixer of La Mesa

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:October 18, 2025
  • Post category:Pool News

The Quiet Fixer of La Mesa: How Pool Pro Ron Deloux Turned Wrenches into Second Chances On most mornings in La Mesa, California, the air is marine-cool and clean enough…

Continue ReadingThe Quiet Fixer of La Mesa
Read more about the article Technical Bulletin: Aluminum Sulfate Chemical Reduction of Cyanuric Acid

Technical Bulletin: Aluminum Sulfate Chemical Reduction of Cyanuric Acid

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:October 15, 2025
  • Post category:Pool News

Chemical Reduction of Cyanuric Acid in Swimming Pools Using Aluminum Sulfate- from the published research and field methods of Rudy Stankowitz, with independent confirmations from Service Industry News, PoolSharkH2O, and…

Continue ReadingTechnical Bulletin: Aluminum Sulfate Chemical Reduction of Cyanuric Acid
Read more about the article Haunted Pools and the Ghosts That Won’t Leave

Haunted Pools and the Ghosts That Won’t Leave

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:October 13, 2025
  • Post category:Pool News

When the Water Never Really Drains Anyone who knows me knows I’m a full-blown horror movie addict and a sucker for anything paranormal. So, when my friends over at WaterShapes…

Continue ReadingHaunted Pools and the Ghosts That Won’t Leave
Read more about the article Rich Gallo: We’ll bend over backward for our customers. We’re just not going to bend over forward.

Rich Gallo: We’ll bend over backward for our customers. We’re just not going to bend over forward.

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:October 12, 2025
  • Post category:Pool News

From rolling a Bobcat at 14 to building Los Angeles’ most concierge-level pool company, Pure Swim’s founder, Rich Gallo, has a mantra: bend over backward for people—and teach them to…

Continue ReadingRich Gallo: We’ll bend over backward for our customers. We’re just not going to bend over forward.
Read more about the article Tim Bolden: From Navy Life in Guam to Poolside Royalty in Atlanta

Tim Bolden: From Navy Life in Guam to Poolside Royalty in Atlanta

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:October 5, 2025
  • Post category:Pool News

  When you meet Tim Bolden, owner of The Pool Butler in Atlanta, you quickly realize this isn’t just another guy running a service company. He’s a Navy veteran, a…

Continue ReadingTim Bolden: From Navy Life in Guam to Poolside Royalty in Atlanta
Read more about the article Technical Bulletin: Sodium Carbonate vs. Sodium Bicarbonate

Technical Bulletin: Sodium Carbonate vs. Sodium Bicarbonate

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:September 30, 2025
  • Post category:Pool News

Sodium Carbonate (Soda Ash) vs. Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) in Swimming Pool Treatment Author: Compiled from research and field guidance by Rudy Stankowitz Purpose & Scope This bulletin consolidates Rudy…

Continue ReadingTechnical Bulletin: Sodium Carbonate vs. Sodium Bicarbonate
Read more about the article How A Florida Man Became the Heart of the Pool Industry

How A Florida Man Became the Heart of the Pool Industry

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:September 28, 2025
  • Post category:Pool News

When most people think about the pool industry, they imagine blue water and palm trees. What they don’t see are the people behind the scenes—the ones solving impossible problems, mentoring…

Continue ReadingHow A Florida Man Became the Heart of the Pool Industry
Read more about the article Technical Field Guide: Mustard Algae (Diatoms)

Technical Field Guide: Mustard Algae (Diatoms)

  • Post author:Rudy
  • Post published:September 6, 2025
  • Post category:Algae/Pool News

Mustard Algae (Diatoms) – Prevention and Cleanup Responding to the EPA Sodium Bromide Ban For Pool Pro Use Only: This guide is written specifically for professional pool service technicians. It…

Continue ReadingTechnical Field Guide: Mustard Algae (Diatoms)
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Read Rudy's Column in AQUA Magazine
Talking Pools Podcast
Talking Pools Podcast

Forget chasing chlorine headaches and battling algae wars alone. The Talking Pools Podcast is your weekly escape from pool purgatory, where 250+ years of combined pro wisdom explodes into actionable hacks, mind-blowing tips, and secrets so ancient they make Poseidon jealous.

Think of it as your weekly poolside braintrust, fueled by eight seasoned pros, each a rockstar in their own aquatic lane. Got a filtration fiasco? Chemical conundrum? Equipment enigma? No problem. We’ve got a host for that:

  • The Tech Titan: Unravels the mysteries of pumps, filters, and gizmos that make pools tick (without the electrical shocks).
  • The Chem Crusader: Your personal alchemist, whipping up potion-perfect water balance with a dash of science and a sprinkle of magic.
  • The Maintenance Maverick: From tile tricks to algae assassins, he’s got the lowdown on keeping your pool looking like a liquid emerald palace.
  • The Customer Calmer: Smooths ruffled feathers faster than a pool noodle bouquet, turning hangry homeowners into poolside pals.

But Talking Pools isn’t just about technical wizardry. It’s about camaraderie, the shared language of pool pros who’ve seen it all, from exploding filters to synchronized swimming squirrels (no, really, we had an episode!).

Every week, you’ll:

  • Steal game-changing secrets: Learn pro-grade hacks to make you the “Pool Whisperer” in your market
  • Laugh until you spit out your piña colada: These guys are as witty as they are wise, turning pool problems into poolside punchlines.
  • Get ahead of the curve: Stay on top of industry trends and tech before your competitors even smell the chlorine.
  • Feel the love (and the sunshine): Remember why you got into this business in the first place – the joy of creating backyard oases where memories are made.

So, ditch the Drano, grab your headphones, and dive into the Talking Pools Podcast. It’s your weekly dose of poolside wisdom, laughter, and community. We’ll see you on the flip side!

P.S. Subscribe now and you might just win a case of pool party essentials (floaties not included, sorry squirrels).

P.P.S. Tell your pool-loving friends – sharing knowledge is like sharing sunscreen, it protects everyone!

Specialty Chemicals: Making Chlorine Work Smarter, Not Harder with Jodi O’Grady
byRudy Stankowitz

Pool Pros text questions here

On this Talking Pools episode, host Natalie Hood, Director of Education and Network Development for The Grit Game, sits down with Jodi O’Grady, Director of Commercial Sales for API Water and long-time industry chemist, to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in pool care: specialty chemicals.

Chlorine gets all the attention, but oxidizers, enzymes, and flocculants quietly decide whether your water is comfortable, clear, and compliant—or a cloudy, smelly headache full of disinfection byproducts and complaints. Jodi draws on decades with Taylor Water Technologies and her work on PHTA’s Technical Advisory Council to bust myths, explain the science in plain language, and show how specialty products can support (not replace) chlorine to keep pools safer and easier to manage.

If you’ve ever wondered whether non-chlorine shock actually does anything, if enzymes are all “basically the same,” or what Flock It Friday is really about, this episode connects the dots.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Chlorine’s job vs. specialty chemicals’ job

  • Why chlorine (or bromine/PHMB) is irreplaceable as a sanitizer and must be EPA-registered to be counted as such.
  • The difference between sanitizing (killing pathogens like Pseudomonas and brain-eating amoeba in properly chlorinated water) and oxidizing (burning off non-living contaminants).
  • Why “chlorine can be replaced by specialty chemicals” is a myth—and how crypto is a different beast entirely.

Non-chlorine oxidizers: the quiet workhorse

Real-world impact of high chlorine levels

Enzymes: not “all the same”

Myth-busting with real stories

Flock It Friday and how flocculants actually work

Clarity as a safety standard, not a luxury

The payoff for pros and operators

Guest Info – Jodi O’Grady, API Water

  • Director of Commercial Sales, API Water
  • Nearly 30 years in the pool industry, starting with Taylor Water Technologies (a Fluidra brand)
  • Chemistry degree and long-time volunteer with PHTA, currently Vice Chair of the Technical Advisory Council, with prior work on the Recreational Water and Air Quality Committee.

Jodi is available for follow-up questions and industry conversations via LinkedIn and direct contact (details provided in the episode outro).

Host Info – Natalie Hood

Director of Education and Network Development, The Grit Game, and regular host on the Talking Pools Podcast, focused on education, professional development, and giving pool pros real-world tools they can use on deck tomorrow.

Support the show

Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:

  • Facebook
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  • Tik Tok

Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com

Specialty Chemicals: Making Chlorine Work Smarter, Not Harder with Jodi O’Grady
Specialty Chemicals: Making Chlorine Work Smarter, Not Harder with Jodi O’Grady
December 10, 2025
Rudy Stankowitz
Are They Pools, Ponds, or A GEN Z FAD?
December 9, 2025
Rudy Stankowitz
Kangaroos, Cows & Vinyl Liners: Modern Liner Tech with Jamie from Aquatec
December 8, 2025
Rudy Stankowitz
The Role of Calcium and TDS
December 5, 2025
Rudy Stankowitz
The Role of Weather in Swimming Pool Property Damage
December 4, 2025
Rudy Stankowitz
Mastering Pool Measurements: Essential Tools and Techniques
December 3, 2025
Rudy Stankowitz
Natural Pools: Healthier… or Just Trendier?
December 2, 2025
Rudy Stankowitz
Proactive Management: Pool Business
December 1, 2025
Rudy Stankowitz
Cyanuric Acid: The Most Misunderstood Chemical in Pools
November 28, 2025
Rudy Stankowitz
“How Do I Cover My Ass?” Protecting Your Pool Business When a Pool is Structurally Failing
November 27, 2025
Rudy Stankowitz
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