AFT&C news🗞️ - Page 6 of 18 - Aquatic Facility Training and Consultants

How Phosphate Removers work

Post author:Rudy
Post published:November 21, 2021
Post category:Chemicals

I'm continuing with the specialty chemical thing. Last week we talked about how enzymes work. This time it's how phosphate removers work. Sadly, this is not something that everyone has…

How enzymes work

Post author:Rudy
Post published:November 14, 2021
Post category:Chemicals Pool News

If you've been following along, I'm sure you've noticed that I've been spending a lot of time talking about specialty chemicals lately. That's because the availability of the critical disinfectants…

Muriatic Acid Alternatives

Post author:Rudy
Post published:July 30, 2021
Post category:Water Chemistry

I guess we can add muriatic acid to the list of pool products that are becoming impossible to find this year. The truth is it's been kind of scarce for…

Coronavirus vaccination record card. Protective mask divided into two parts.Concept of defeating Covid-19. High quality photo

Can your customer require proof of Vaccine?

Post author:Rudy
Post published:July 22, 2021
Post category:Pool News

This came up the other day because a peer was asked, so I thought I would snoop around. As we go through this, I am not a HIPAA Lawyer; I…

BIG POOLS IMMUNE TO CHLORINE CRISIS

Post author:Rudy
Post published:May 28, 2021
Post category:Pool News Pool Operator Talk News

Memorial Day weekend is here, and many pool owners continue to investigate alternative means of disinfecting water in hopes of salvaging what could have been the swimming pool season that…

CALCULATE POOL GALLONS CHEMICALLY

Post author:Rudy
Post published:May 8, 2021
Post category:Pool Service Tips

That's it! One method for calculating gallons will work in every pool, no matter what the shape or size. Rectangle, oval, or amoeba-shaped, you'll have greater accuracy if you calculate…

CMAHC’s Dewey Case Discusses Importance of Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act

Post author:Rudy
Post published:February 27, 2021
Post category:Pool Safety

Pool Pro Podcast and Ask the Masters' Podcast Spotlight Critical Requirements and Expiration Dates for Pool Service Professionals and Builders RALEIGH, N.C. – Dewey Case, technical director for the Council…

Public Pool Code Inspections

Post author:Rudy
Post published:February 19, 2021
Post category:Pool News

[responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Male" buttontext="Listen to Post"] Health Department Public Pool Code Inspections. If you have a pool at a property that you maintain I am certain you have realized…

What To Do When Pool Water Freezes

Post author:Rudy
Post published:February 15, 2021
Post category:Pool Service Tips

If you own a swimming pool and have winterized it because you are in an area where that is the common practice - This is NOT for you! You have…

How to Get Rid of Swimming Pool Algae

Post author:Rudy
Post published:February 12, 2021
Post category:Pool News Author Rudy Stankowitz

On the Verge of a More Active Algae Season than Ever Before Due to a Nation Wide Chlorine Shortage - There Are Steps That You Can Take to Prevent a…

Talking Pools Podcast

If you’ve ever stared at a test kit like it personally insulted your family… welcome home.

Talking Pools Podcast is the pool industry’s “pull up a chair” show—part shop talk, part field manual, part therapy session—built for people who actually live on pool decks: commercial operators, service techs, builders, facility managers, and anyone responsible for water that can’t afford to go sideways. The network was created to level up the pool industry with real-world conversations on water chemistry, filtration, troubleshooting, construction, safety, and the business side of keeping pools open and budgets intact.

Here’s the hook: it’s not theory-first. It’s experience-first—a roster of seasoned pros (with 250+ years of combined “been there, fixed that” wisdom) turning complicated problems into practical moves you can use the same day. And it’s not one voice, one vibe, one corner of the industry: it’s a network of shows designed to reflect how diverse this work really is—different regions, different specialties, different personalities.

Also worth saying out loud: women aren’t “special guests” here—they’re on the mic as hosts, from the beginning, with an intentionally balanced roster. That matters, because the best ideas in this industry don’t come from one lane—they come from the whole road.

If you want a podcast that can make you laugh and make you better at what you do—without pretending the job is easier than it is—Talking Pools is the one you queue up before the first stop, and keep on when the day starts getting weird.

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Magnesium, Salt & the Truth About Water Testing with LaMotte – Part 1

Is your salt test really measuring salt?

What happens when magnesium enters the equation?

And why do two different salt tests sometimes give two completely different answers?

This week on Mondays Down Under, Lee and Nick welcome Hieron from LaMotte for a fascinating deep dive into modern water testing, magnesium pools, calcium hardness, Langelier Saturation Index (LSI), and why understanding your test results is just as important as performing the test itself.

Whether you're servicing pools every day or managing a retail water testing lab, this episode explains why blindly trusting numbers without understanding the chemistry behind them can cost your customers money—and shorten the life of their equipment.

In This Episode

Why total hardness is no longer the same as calcium hardness
How magnesium changes water chemistry
Why magnesium hardness must be separated from calcium hardness
The relationship between hardness and the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI)
Why pH remains the single biggest factor affecting water balance
Does magnesium actually affect scaling?
Understanding the difference between conductivity salt meters and reagent-based salt testing
Why two salt tests can produce dramatically different readings
The hidden problem of ”dead” salt and elevated TDS
When water replacement becomes the only practical solution
Protecting expensive salt chlorinator cells through accurate testing
Why experienced technicians ask questions instead of simply printing reports
The psychology of educating customers and building long-term trust
A preview of LaMotte's upcoming professional training course for the pool industry

Key Takeaways

One of the biggest myths discussed is that all salt readings are equal.

Traditional conductivity meters measure the electrical conductivity of dissolved solids, while LaMotte's Spin system chemically measures usable chloride ions—the portion of salt that can actually produce chlorine. Understanding that distinction can dramatically improve troubleshooting and help explain why older pools often experience chlorination issues despite appearing to have sufficient salt.

The conversation also explores why magnesium pools require technicians to think differently about hardness testing. Magnesium contributes to total hardness but should not simply be substituted for calcium when calculating water balance or the LSI. Accurate testing allows professionals to properly determine true calcium hardness instead of relying on outdated rules of thumb.

Beyond chemistry, the discussion focuses on customer communication. The best technicians don't simply hand customers a printout—they ask better questions, interpret the results, educate pool owners, and build relationships that last for years.

Featured Guest

Hieron – LaMotte

Water chemistry specialist
Professional water testing educator
Expert in Spin water analysis technology
Developer of LaMotte's upcoming online professional training program

Coming Next Week

Part Two continues the conversation with even more practical discussions on professional water analysis, advanced chemistry, and improving customer outcomes through better testing and education.

Listen, subscribe, and join the conversation wherever you get your podcasts.

Support the show

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

Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com