I've been using TFP for several years for maintaining my pool. I a firm believer in it. I have a few flaws of my own, however, that have been preventing me from having an algae-free pool. With small children that I'm chasing after, I haven't been putting maintaining my pool chemistry as a priority. I'm paying the price with recurrent algae outbreaks, and of course I want to improve my methods. I do have a couple of questions, however.
1) We use pucks. We just don't get out to the pool enough to keep adding chlorine on a daily basis or every other day basis. The pucks are definitely having a negative impact on the gunite near the skimmers. We know that for sure. I'm thinking of getting one of those floater things. I know those can get stuck near stairs, etc., and still impact gunite negatively, however I was thinking that might at least help it not be in the same spot all the time. Thoughts?
2) We get algae very quickly. Of course, I've admitted to not adding bleach as needed as much as I should. Our pool also only gets full sun for maybe 5 hours or so a day due to lots of trees in our yard. I think that impacts the algae as well. I'm wondering if we did spend the money to lower phosphates (another thread got me curious), would that maybe help when we lapse on the chlorine to not help the algae bloom as fast? If so, what's required to lower them, and what would an ideal number be? I don't currently know what the number is. I know a year or so ago Leslie's said it was high. I can't look at my notes right this second.
3) Thirdly, my CYA is at 35. Would the chlorine hold better or be more effective if I got CYA up to 50 or is 35 okay?
I think that's all my questions for now. Thanks!
-Dana
1) We use pucks. We just don't get out to the pool enough to keep adding chlorine on a daily basis or every other day basis. The pucks are definitely having a negative impact on the gunite near the skimmers. We know that for sure. I'm thinking of getting one of those floater things. I know those can get stuck near stairs, etc., and still impact gunite negatively, however I was thinking that might at least help it not be in the same spot all the time. Thoughts?
2) We get algae very quickly. Of course, I've admitted to not adding bleach as needed as much as I should. Our pool also only gets full sun for maybe 5 hours or so a day due to lots of trees in our yard. I think that impacts the algae as well. I'm wondering if we did spend the money to lower phosphates (another thread got me curious), would that maybe help when we lapse on the chlorine to not help the algae bloom as fast? If so, what's required to lower them, and what would an ideal number be? I don't currently know what the number is. I know a year or so ago Leslie's said it was high. I can't look at my notes right this second.
3) Thirdly, my CYA is at 35. Would the chlorine hold better or be more effective if I got CYA up to 50 or is 35 okay?
I think that's all my questions for now. Thanks!
-Dana