Brand new pool owner = new to BBB method

[PoolDoc]

Use the Best Guess chart to determine appropriate chlorine levels. If you use higher levels than needed, you'll have higher chlorine loss than necessary.

[stslimited84]

Use the Best Guess chart to determine appropriate chlorine levels. If you use higher levels than needed, you'll have higher chlorine loss than necessary.

I meant using a higher CYA level to slow chlorine loss; however I do realize I need to monitor the pool more until I get a better feel for the rate of chlorine usage and then go from there.

My understanding from reading on this forum is the higher the CYA level the slower the chlorine loss. On the flip side, with higher CYA levels you have to maintain a higher baseline of chlorine. Correct?

[Watermom]

Your understanding is correct.

[stslimited84]

If the free chlorine level is raised above the recommended ideal max, say to 8ppm in a pool with 30-50 ppm CYA where the recommended max is 6ppm, what happens? I imagine the excess chlorine just burns off quicker, but wanted clarification. The chlorine levels seem to drop fairly quickly during the day right now. That being said the temps (S.E. PA) are 100 degrees and the pool is in full sun for most of the day.

[PoolDoc]

When you are not having to treat a problem, you want to raise it to the normal max, and let it cycle down toward the normal minimum. Given losses to swimmers and sunlight, it's pretty much impossible to maintain a 'constant' chlorine level in the pool. What you want to avoid is having it go below the minimum. It's better to be too high than too low, because pools are not especially forgiving, and a single algae episode can consume 30 days worth of chlorine!

[stslimited84]

When you are not having to treat a problem, you want to raise it to the normal max, and let it cycle down toward the normal minimum. Given losses to swimmers and sunlight, it's pretty much impossible to maintain a 'constant' chlorine level in the pool. What you want to avoid is having it go below the minimum. It's better to be too high than too low, because pools are not especially forgiving, and a single algae episode can consume 30 days worth of chlorine!

wow, that certainly is motivation enough to keep the levels in the recommended range. If I find the levels aren't holding throughout the day, is that when the CYA should be raised? For example, the past two days I've had to add bleach twice each day to maintain the proper level.

[Watermom]

Yes. If you can't keep enough chlorine in the pool throughout a day to keep from dipping below the minimum for your CYA level, then you should probably bump the CYA up a little. BTW --- in a concrete pool, it doesn't really hurt anything if your chlorine is a little higher but in a vinyl pool, it can bleach out some liners.