A few thoughts about CYA

[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!

[OddJob]

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

I agree!

I'm somewhat tempted to ask my parents to come by the house and add some bleach when we are gone and run the filter. And *not* add CYA ... what do you guys think? (I don't add bleach everyday ... if we aren't swimming, I'll check it at night and only add it if necessary. I haven't kept track, but it seems if we aren't swimming, I haven't had to add bleach). Therefore, if the keep an eye on it and add bleach every other day or so ...????

[Watermom]

Sure. Why not. I can't imagine how you aren't losing all your chlorine to the sun every day. That is strange to me.

[aylad]

It's strange to me too, that you aren't losing all your chlorine to the sun, but if it's worked for you so far, then I don't see any reason to "fix what ain't broke". If they can add the bleach at the same frequency that you do, then I don't see where the pool will know the difference............

Janet

[chem geek]

I'm somewhat tempted to ask my parents to come by the house and add some bleach when we are gone and run the filter. And *not* add CYA ... what do you guys think?

As I posted before, you should have SOME CYA in the water, even if it's a low 20 or 30 ppm amount. Not having any CYA at all in a chlorine pool is bad on several counts. Not only will the chlorine break down in sunlight quickly, but it will be too strong unless you keep the level very, very low and that is pretty much impossible to do without automated dosing equipment and even then it's hard to maintain anything lower than 0.5 ppm FC reliably. So again, please add at least a small amount of CYA to the water.