Ok here we go

[mwsmith2]

I would suggest not to switch to bleach, but use it in combination with TriChlor.

The problem with this is that you don't have any control over your CYA levels, which leads to:

1. Reduced Cl effectiveness
2. Accelerated plaster erosion (as discovered by a leading pool chemical supplier)

Personally, when I was doing bleach, I controlled pH with muriatic acid. Simple and easy. No worries about how much CYA I was slamming into my pool with the tablets. I like adding one thing at a time, in quantities that I know about. That's what makes it easy to keep a pool in balance.

Michael

[TfromNC]

The problem with this is that you don't have any control over your CYA levels, which leads to:

1. Reduced Cl effectiveness
2. Accelerated plaster erosion (as discovered by a leading pool chemical supplier)

Personally, when I was doing bleach, I controlled pH with muriatic acid. Simple and easy. No worries about how much CYA I was slamming into my pool with the tablets. I like adding one thing at a time, in quantities that I know about. That's what makes it easy to keep a pool in balance.

Michael

So you don't use chlorine pucks at all? You just use bleach for normal chlorination?

[Watermom]

Yes! Bleach is the only thing I ever use as a chlorine source. I have never had a puck in my pool since day one, not any chlorine granules either. My water is always great and I don't spend a fortune.

Watermom

[IMherDad]

all the answers and help. So now I am purchasing one of Ben's new kits and waiting until we pull the winter cover off to start testing. I sure hope there are some great directions and instructions in the kit.

Of course the wife is already looking for deals on bleach.

[cnk]

We recently changed over. The pool looks great now, but be prepared for some neon green water. My husband thought that I had ruined the pool.

[mwsmith2]

We recently changed over. The pool looks great now, but be prepared for some neon green water. My husband thought that I had ruined the pool.

This will only happen if you have a baquacil pool and you are converting it over to Chlorine.

Michael

[TfromNC]

[QUOTE=Watermom]Yes! Bleach is the only thing I ever use as a chlorine source. I have never had a puck in my pool since day one, not any chlorine granules either. My water is always great and I don't spend a fortune.

Watermom[/QUO

Thanks Watermom.
How do I add CYA if needed. Should I use trichlor pucks like cnix did until I get CYA right, then swith to straight bleach.

[cnix]

I don't use pucks either. (Well, actually I used some last year after a drain/refill to add stabilizer.) It took only about 2 doz (from memory) over the course of 4-6 weeks and my stabilizer was up to 30 ppm starting from zero. The tri-chlor can really add CYA quickly.

I switched to bleach and never looked back. I'll use maybe 30-40 gal of 6% bleach during a long Tennessee season, and about 3 gal of muriatic acid. That's all. The pool is sparkling clean and stays that way. In the heat of the summer I check Chlorine every 2-3 days; this time of year, about every 2-3 weeks.

It takes maybe 5 minutes tops twice a week to get a rough chlorine check--close enough to monitor the level. Far simpler than trying to get rid of CYA. (I know--the previous owner's use of tri-chlor was what caused the drain/refill--CYA was in the 250+ range--looked like whole milk in the test vial)

Chuck

[mwsmith2]

So you don't use chlorine pucks at all? You just use bleach for normal chlorination?

I know this has already been answered, but yup, that's all I used. Easy too. Now I have a SWC, and life is even easier!

Michael

[Watermom]

TfromNC:
Either way is fine - whether you add cya directly and then just use bleach or if you use trichlor pucks for awhile to build up your cya and then switch to bleach. Both will work. Personally, I just add cya and then use only bleach. Some others use the pucks until their cya starts to get too high and then switch. Really just a matter of preference. If you do use trichlor, you'll have to test cya periodically because it will continue to rise. But, you'll be killing two birds with one stone - adding cya and chlorine at the same time. On the other hand, if you just add the cya outright, you'll only have to test it a couple of times until you get it where you want and then the level should stay put for the summer. Your choice.

If you do decide to just add cya separately, add enough per label directions to take your cya to about 30ppm. Add it directly to the skimmer. Then wait about a week to give it time to dissolve in your filter and don't backwash during this time. Be patient. If you don't give it enough time to dissolve completely, you may end up adding more than you should. Then you have another problem because the only way to lower cya is to do a partial drain. Better to aim a little low initially and then sneak up on the desired level of 30-40 than overshoot it. Hope this helps.

Watermom