Want To Switch To BBB; Shock Question

[CarlD]

One bad mistake people make is "I want to use the stuff up". Well, maybe you can, but maybe it will make all your problems worse. It can be a false economy.

For example: If your CYA is high, "using up" your chlorine tabs and sticks will just make it worse.

If the algaecide is NOT Polyquat 60% (Regardless of the brand) you shouldn't use it, no matter WHAT it cost.

Clarifiers and metal removers and calcium are NOT what you should be adding.

What is that stuff called "shock"? Namely, what's in it? Probably nothing more than Di-Chlor powder, or Cal-Hypo powder.

In pool care, despite the label, "shock" is a verb, not a noun. There is no substance called "shock"--it's something else, mis-labled to mis-lead you.

Once you have your water balanced nicely, you can leave it for a day or two. With an Intex EasySet Donut, there is a tight-fitting cover with a drawstring you can get. This will prevent UV breakdown of your chlorine and keep it from evaporating off. This can be good for up to a week without a problem, from my personal experience. The cover lasts about a year or two, but is cheap enough to replace.

[Snowymoon]

Thanks Carl. I was just doing some brainstorming today, and I was figuring using up the sticks and such would only raise my CYA level, which is slowly working its way up as it is. So I was thinking of using bleach to make up the difference.

The shock I have is HTH Vinyl shock, which upon looking at the ingredients, is strong, regular bleach. I think that would be okay, but I am still not sure how much to use.

Shock ingredients state:
Calcium hypochlorite 54.6%
Other ingredients 45.4%
Total 100%
Total available chlorine 53%

The SmartSticks are trichlor stuff, but I am not sure how much CYA that would add over the next 6 weeks. After that, the pool will be drained to take it down for the winter anyway. I would need to know the numbers and do some math to figure that out, but the container does not list how much CYA each stick puts out.

My thing is, if I go totally BBB now, what would I do with all this pool-store stuff? That is one heck of a $$$ loss. I have enough sticks to last the rest of the season, and enough shock for perhaps another month or so. If I did go BBB suddenly, how do I dispose of all this unused stuff? I don't know anyone else who can use it...maybe a neighbor, but I would hate to pass off something I won't even use myself.

As for the cover, the pool came with that. So shocking and covering should do the trick? Cool. That will not be so tough.

ETA: Do I need to add borax to the pool at all, or do I wait until the TA is down? Also, the algeacide is ankyl something or other, not polyquat. Wow, I was really pool-stored.

[Snowymoon]

Oh, and I have been hosing off the filter cartridge daily. It still rinses clean, and it has been in use for about a week and a half now. How long should I be doing this before I replace it? My MIL said to replace it once I can no longer rinse it clean. Is this correct advice?

[Snowymoon]

Oh Gods. I just went to Wal-Mart and bought about 5 jugs of the large ultra bleach there (over 1 gallon size). When I got back home and tested the water, there was only about 1 to 2 TC in there, and the old stick was gone (I had turned the skimmer back on). With my CYA, that is no good. I used the bleach calc, and poured the recommended amount of bleach slowly into the skimmer to raise the level up to 6 to 7. I then proceeded to aerate the pool by making a large ruckus. I can already see a difference! It is a bit more sparkly.

While swimming, I also noticed some patches of brown stuff on the bottom that looked like supa fine dirt bits together. I had just vacuumed this morning. I would swish it about, and it would disappear only to reappear when I would return to that part of the pool later (I was the only one swimming). Could I have had the beginnings of an algea? Even while using the ankyl-something algea preventative?

And may I ask why only poly-quat algeacide? Do I even need an algeacide? (Sorry so many questions, this is my first year ever having a pool.)

Going to shock up to 20 ppm with regular bleach this evening.

I have another question. If the pool is clear but CC is high, do you only have to raise the chlorine up to shock level overnight and then let it drift back down by next day?

[aylad]

If your CC is high, you need to raise the chlorine up to shock level until the CC goes to zero, then let it drift back down.

You shouldn't need an algaecide if you properly chlorinate your pool, and a lot of them cause foaming problems, as well as add copper to your water that causes staining and green hair, so it's best not to add any of it if you don't need it.....a lot of our forum members only add it when closing...I never add it at all. Bleach is the only algaecide you really need. If you do add algaecide, we recommend polyquat because it doesn't cause the problems I mentioned above.


Janet

[Snowymoon]

Thank you Janet. I think I am on the right track.

[Snowymoon]

I don't think my CC reading is accurate. The only way I have to test it is with AquaChem test strips, and when I shocked the pool, the CC went way up along with the FC. (???) I need a better test kit, but is it wise to buy one now, or just wait until spring?

I shocked to 20 ppm with ultra bleach last night, and the level is still holding well this morning. Pool looks pretty darn good and is clearing up.