New BBB user with FG pool

[gorji]

Thanks.
I filled the forms requested.

I don't have a specific situation but want to ask: If I have adequate stabilizer, should I use bleach or tablets as a source of chlorine.
Question 2: I have never "shocked" my pool; never had algae and tried to keep my Chlorine levels adequate. Am I doing something wrong?

My pool is clean, clear and does not smell the chloramines.

Thank you

[Watermom]

Thanks for completing the chart. I see from your info that you have the Taylor K-2006C kit. Good for you! Can you run a complete set of current testing numbers and post them, please? Make sure that CYA is one of the results you give us.

If you have adequate stabilizer, you should not use trichlor tabs (or dichlor powder) as they will cause your stabilizer to get too high.

Contrary to what pool stores tell you (boy do we use that phrase a lot!), you do not have to shock your pool weekly. The only time you need to shock is if you see a CC reading greater than 0.5, have a huge swimmer load (like a big pool party) or have cloudy water or some other water issue. If you are diligent about maintaining your water chemistry properly, you won't need to shock often at all.

[gorji]

Thank you
pH 7.6
Free Cl 2.0
Total Cl 2.0
Alk and Calcium were normal
CYA = 40-50

I have another question: If I have adequate stabilizer, I should use 6% straight bleach?
Will this bleach react with the stabilizer and not be lost or what?? How often will I have to add bleach?
At what level is the CYA considered high?

Thanks so much.

[Watermom]

Your CYA level is perfect where it is so don't use any more trichlor tabs. Just use bleach for your source of chlorine. Bleach doesn't do anything to the stabilizer. Test your pool every evening and then add enough bleach to get the chlorine level back up to 6. If by the next evening, you have less than 3ppm of chlorine, you should take it a little bit higher. The goal is to have enough in there so that you never drop below the minimum required by your CYA level. (See the Best Guess Chlorine Chart.) Also test your pH every day for awhile.

After a few weeks of daily testing, you'll soon learn how your pool behaves and you may be able to test and add bleach every other day. But, you do NOT want your chlorine to drop below 3ppm or you risk an algae bloom.

[gorji]

Thank you.
Soooooo how much bleach should I add to a 13,000 gallon pool with a pH of 7.6 and CYA of 40 and Free Cl of 2 and Total Ch of 2?
Is there a chart or table I can look this up please?

[Watermom]

If you take a look at the Best Guess Chlorine Chart below, you can see that for a pool with a CYA of 40 needs to have chlorine levels between 3-6 all the time and if you are fighting algae or cloudy water, then your shock level would be 15.

In a 13,000 gallon pool, each quart of 6% bleach will add just a little over 1ppm of chlorine. So, each evening, test your chlorine level and add enough bleach to raise it back up to 6ppm. The next evening, if you find that you have dropped below 3pm, then you'll know you need to maybe take the chlorine to 7. You want to be able to make it through an entire day without it dropping below 3ppm.

Also, check your pH daily and keep it between 7.2-7.8.

You might find the bleach calculator helpful. Look in the Forum Q & A section near the top of the forum homepage. One of the first few threads is called "bleach calculator" which has the link you can download to your computer. It actually has more than just the bleach calculator. If you click in the upper left hand corner, it will drop down a list of other available calculators you can use.

[gorji]

Watermom: I really appreciate the insights here.
I have another point to inquire: When adding bleach to a pool like mine, will the chlorine be unstable or will it somehow combine with the stabilizer present and not be so volatile?
Thanks

[gorji]

Thanks to all of you I'm doing well with the chemistry.

Do the fiberglass pool have different ph, Cl, alkalinity requirements than normal liner covered pools?