First, I can't espouse enough the outsized benefit this forum serves the common-man pool community. I've quietly followed the invaluable articles and posts for several months, adhering to the philosophy that, initially, listening is far more productive than speaking. Now I feel compelled to say that your collective publicizing of comprehensible strategies to immensely simplify pool care to the point of saving just about anyone weekly hours of frustration and hundreds (thousands?) of wasted dollars ... well, you should all probably be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Okay, that said, I finally feel bold enough to post my first question: I inherited a FrogLeap system with my pool. (I know, I know.) The "mineral pac" is a couple years old (I couldn't justify the $80 price tag), and I just used the last di-(tri?-)chlor "torpedo" insert (I also inherited six of them). To be honest, it did its thing last year: Kept the chlorine at a decent level while the filter was on, didn't overdose the CYA, and attenuated the need to bleach the pool. The considerable downsides: The empty mineral pac was about as effective as the full one (?), and the $20 torpedoes last about a week, maybe two, which is a little quick if you ask me. So I'll probably just let it sit there, emptily letting water stream through it like a straight pipe.(I forgot to add that the original installer messed up and placed the Frog BEFORE the heater, so ditching it is probably wise if only for the heater's sake, I'm guessing?)
My actual question: What (if anything) do you folks recommend as a steady supply of stabilized chlorine? Does TPF have a consensus regarding dichlor or trichlor tablets? Or is it sufficient to pour liquid bleach (or cal-hypo) when you need to? Thanks in advance for your opinions and experiences, and once again, this website & forum in general.
Okay, that said, I finally feel bold enough to post my first question: I inherited a FrogLeap system with my pool. (I know, I know.) The "mineral pac" is a couple years old (I couldn't justify the $80 price tag), and I just used the last di-(tri?-)chlor "torpedo" insert (I also inherited six of them). To be honest, it did its thing last year: Kept the chlorine at a decent level while the filter was on, didn't overdose the CYA, and attenuated the need to bleach the pool. The considerable downsides: The empty mineral pac was about as effective as the full one (?), and the $20 torpedoes last about a week, maybe two, which is a little quick if you ask me. So I'll probably just let it sit there, emptily letting water stream through it like a straight pipe.(I forgot to add that the original installer messed up and placed the Frog BEFORE the heater, so ditching it is probably wise if only for the heater's sake, I'm guessing?)
My actual question: What (if anything) do you folks recommend as a steady supply of stabilized chlorine? Does TPF have a consensus regarding dichlor or trichlor tablets? Or is it sufficient to pour liquid bleach (or cal-hypo) when you need to? Thanks in advance for your opinions and experiences, and once again, this website & forum in general.
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Actually .... you can use either. It all depends on what your current CYA level is and perhaps what's is available in your area. For some with cooler climates or a shorter swim season, they can use tabs/pucks or bags of shock a little longer and get away with it. Some with very soft water can use cal-hypo. But for many, liquid chlorine (aka regular bleach) is the primary source of chlorine since it has no side effects. But with a proper test kit (TF-100 or Taylor K-2006C), the pool owner can tell where there is flexibility and what product to use. Hoep that helps. Thanks for the great comments. 
