no problems right now, but curious

[Watermom]

In addition to the steps Ben outlined for you above, I believe in the past he sometimes has also recommended using a dose of 60% Polyquat algaecide before going on vacation. Algaecides are not very good at helping to clean up an algae mess, but they are a pretty good preventative. (That is the only type of algaecide recommended.)

[PoolDoc]

Thanks, Watermom.

One detail to keep in mind: you can't do BOTH high chlorine and polyquat. Or rather you can, but it's not real effective: high chlorine breaks polyquats down.

Ben

[madwil]

good to know about the polyquat/Cl incompatibility...
Thanks again!

[chem geek]

It's not quite as bad as "incompatibility". This post has a response from Buckman Labs that make PolyQuat indicating that though chlorine breaks down PolyQuat into shorter chains, they are still effective biocides. I would read their recommended approach which is to shock first, then wait a few days and add PolyQuat. Though the remaining shock level of chlorine might break down some of the PolyQuat, that should still be OK.

What I think would be wasteful and be avoided would be adding PolyQuat and then shocking since the high chlorine level will mostly just break down the PolyQuat thus defeating the purpose of having an elevated chlorine level.