A few thoughts about CYA

[aylad]

It will be an interesting experiment, should you choose to do it!! I think you're going to find that you actually spend more on chlorine without the CYA than with it, because you're going to have to dose it so high on a daily basis to make sure that you have a residual. And don't discount shocking--should you have an algae outbreak (and that could easily happen if you get lazy for even one or two days about adding chlorine), then over half of your chlorine put in the pool to fight the algae will be gone to sunlight. I'm not sure that you could ever sustain a high enough level of chlorine to kill off algae without some CYA in the water.

I'm no chemist, but from a practical standpoint, I just don't think it would work...

Janet

[OddJob]

I'm almost scared to post.

I don't want to jinx myself.

We got a new liner this year and it became my job (instead of hubby's) to take care of the pool. Our above ground pool is 20x40.

As the water was filling, I found poolsolutions. :love:

I realize now that our previous years we had way to much CYA. The water was cloudy, the pool store said it was cloudy due to "organics" in the pool and to use clarifier "to sink them to the bottom in order to vacuum 'em up".

I found the BBB method and have used it all summer. We swim everyday. I check the water everyday. I add bleach every day. I haven't, however, added CYA yet.

This is the first year that our daughter's blonde hair isn't green.

Our bathing suits seem fine.

No algae blooms.

However, we are going on vacation and I plan on buying CYA to cover the absence of my daily care.

I guess I don't have an answer to your question. I'm just letting you know what I have done this summer.

I'd love to hear thoughts about this ...

[Watermom]

What is your pool's volume? How many times per day are you adding bleach? How high are you taking the chlorine level when you do?

[OddJob]

The pool is an above ground pool that holds ~21000 (I think it is 18'x39'). We had a pool party yesterday with ~12 swimmers and last night I added a gallon of bleach. I just tested it (the kids are already back in the pool) and FC=2 CC=0

Some stats: I'm in CA. Our elevation is ~3000'. We have a solar cover that we use every night; to get the water warm, to keep out the debris, and help keep the water level constant. I vacuum ~2 - 3 times a week. I run the filter (sand filter - 6way valve - if you need more details let me know, i'm not sure about the pump/filter) at night when I add the bleach and turn it off before bed.

Any other thoughts/questions?

[aylad]

According to my calculations, 1 gallon of 6% bleach in your pool should take you to about 3 ppm chlorine. Have you ever tested it again in the morning before the sun hits it to see what your residual is? Do you ever add bleach again during the day?

Janet

[OddJob]

I haven't tested it in the am before the sun hits it, but I will and post the results. I do not add bleach until the evening, when we are done for the day.

I don't know the cost saving measures (yet) because in the previous years we were pool-stored and bought $$ chlorine there. So, compared to previous years we are saving money just by buying bleach at WalMart.

I will have to add CYA soon because of our vacation. I'd like to swim for perhaps a month more, but it won't be daily since the kids go back to school right after vacation and it will start cooling off at night. We are spoiled by our warm water!

I haven't had to add the other two B's, yet. Just bleach so far.

[waterbear]

I haven't had to add the other two B's, yet. Just bleach so far.

If you are staying with unstabilized chlorine such as bleach you will need very little baking soda since unstabilized chlorine and lower TA is a more pH stable combination. Also, you would probably never need borax unless you actually overdose on acid when lowering your pH (unless you decide to add 50 ppm borates to your water for their algaestatic and pH control benefits, but that is a whole different thing).
The chemicals you are most likely to need are
Acid (either muriatic or dry)
Bleach (for chlorination and shocking)
CYA (stabilizer)

Just goes to show that pool care is REALLY as easy as ABC!