Please Be Easy On Me :)

[PoolStored]

It is a chemical that dissolves slowly. Many have tried (including guess who?), even with HOT water to dissolve first, just doesn't work. Again, we are all about trouble free. Sock method is the most trouble free way to do it. Weigh it will a scale and stick it in a sock and tie it off (I use a bit of twine). Put in skimmer or hang in front of return is a personal preference. For some odd reason, there are some of us that get satisfaction from putting it in the skimmer and squeezing it. Either way, even without squeezing, both methods will get it dissolved within 24-48 hours.

 

[Sherihicks92]

There are a TON of threads here on the cost of SWCG vs. Chlorine. Depends on how long your pool is open, how big etc. Search if you are interested.

With chlorine prices going through the roof, SWCG seems to now have the edge.

Let's try your pool.

(1.5 gallons per day) x 240 days (8 month season?) = 360 gallons x $5/gallon = $1800 per year. Not to mention gas and your time.

SWCG = $1800 installed will last 5-8 years? (plus 20 bags of salt, @5$ = $100).

You can play with the math...seems to be if you have a 15K gallon pool or larger, it favors the SWCG.

We are pretty much a 5-month season. May, June, July, August, and maybe 1/2 of September. We have talked about getting a heater, but we don't have gas out here and we are really waiting on that. Country living. Why does a SWCG only last 5-8 years? Google is going to hate me today. I will search the threads also.

 

[Sherihicks92]

It is a chemical that dissolves slowly. Many have tried (including guess who?), even with HOT water to dissolve first, just doesn't work. Again, we are all about trouble free. Sock method is the most trouble free way to do it. Weigh it will a scale and stick it in a sock and tie it off (I use a bit of twine). Put in skimmer or hang in front of return is a personal preference. For some odd reason, there are some of us that get satisfaction from putting it in the skimmer and squeezing it. Either way, even without squeezing, both methods will get it dissolved within 24-48 hours.

Thank you so much for all of your/y'alls help. I know one day I will have all of this down.

 

[ghall6292]

We use the same as PoolStored. We put it in an old men's nylon dress sock, the real thin ones. Or ladies' knee-hi's work good too. (Are they still a "thing?") I let the CYA soften for about an hour suspended in front of the return on my pool pole. I then come back out and begin squeezing the heck out of the sock in front of the return.

I don't put mine in the skimmer because I'm not sure if it takes longer to make its way thru the filter. Probably makes no difference, but that's just me. About 15-20 minutes of squeezing will have 20 oz. of the resulting "white cloud" totally gone from the sock and into the water.

 

[PoolStored]

We are pretty much a 5-month season. May, June, July, August, and maybe 1/2 of September. We have talked about getting a heater, but we don't have gas out here and we are really waiting on that. Country living. Why does a SWCG only last 5-8 years? Google is going to hate me today. I will search the threads also.

1.5 x 30 x 5 x 5$ = 1125$ in chlorine.

It is an electrolytic cell with metals that break down over time. Just need to replace the cell, which is about 1/2 the cost of the unit. My unit (including cell), which would work with your pool is about $1900 and $800 for a replacement cell. You would break even in 2 years. Even if you had to replace the cell every year, you would still be ahead...

 

[PoolStored]

Thank you so much for all of your/y'alls help. I know one day I will have all of this down.

You are an EXCELLENT student!

 

[Katygreys]

How do you raise you CYA levels? I guess I am at the lower end of good, so would it hurt to raise it 10?
I have 1/2 a bucket of chlorine tabs left and a whole unopened bucket of shock (that I had just bought last time at the pool store). I will save/keep as a very last resort.

You can indeed use chlorine tabs to increase your CYA. Although you will hear TFPers recommend to not use pucks, this is a general statement. TFP methodology is all about KNOWING what you put in your pool. If it was me, I’d use the 3” pucks you already have, with one exception: if they have the word “blue” in the name, then do not use them, as they will increase copper in your pool. But if you just have plain old 3 inch tri-chlor tabs, then use pool math to tell you how many of them to add. Each puck is 8 ounces or half a pound. For a 33,000 gallon pool, Poolmath says to add 5 pounds or 10 pucks. Never add them to your skimmer, but rather put them in a floater. I would start with six of them. It may take a week or so for them to dissolve. After they dissolve I would wait one or two days and then measure CYA. You want to creep up on your target of CYA, not overshoot it.

 

[Sherihicks92]

We use the same as PoolStored. We put it in an old men's nylon dress sock, the real thin ones. Or ladies' knee-hi's work good too. (Are they still a "thing?") I let the CYA soften for about an hour suspended in front of the return on my pool pole. I then come back out and begin squeezing the heck out of the sock in front of the return.

I don't put mine in the skimmer because I'm not sure if it takes longer to make its way thru the filter. Probably makes no difference, but that's just me. About 15-20 minutes of squeezing will have 20 oz. of the resulting "white cloud" totally gone from the sock and into the water.

Now I wanna go buy it today to do. FYI Amazon sells knee highs (didn't know they were still around).

1.5 x 30 x 5 x 5$ = 1125$ in chlorine.

It is an electrolytic cell with metals that break down over time. Just need to replace the cell, which is about 1/2 the cost of the unit. My unit (including cell), which would work with your pool is about $1900 and $800 for a replacement cell. You would break even in 2 years. Even if you had to replace the cell every year, you would still be ahead...

Might be able to talk the hubby into it then. At our old house our neighbor had a saltwater pool, but it was green 3/4 of the summer.

You are an EXCELLENT student!

I'm trying

You can indeed use chlorine tabs to increase your CYA. Although you will hear TFPers recommend to not use pucks, this is a general statement. TFP methodology is all about KNOWING what you put in your pool. If it was me, I’d use the 3” pucks you already have, with one exception: if they have the word “blue” in the name, then do not use them, as they will increase copper in your pool. But if you just have plain old 3 inch tri-chlor tabs, then use pool math to tell you how many of them to add. Each puck is 8 ounces or half a pound. For a 33,000 gallon pool, Poolmath says to add 5 pounds or 10 pucks. Never add them to your skimmer, but rather put them in a floater. I would start with six of them. It may take a week or so for them to dissolve. After they dissolve I would wait one or two days and then measure CYA. You want to creep up on your target of CYA, not overshoot it.
View attachment 439032

I still have some pucks in the chlorinator right now that I didn't care to dig out. Figured I would just let them finish dissolving. Not that many though.

 

[jtpipkin]

I JUST mentioned this to my husband about 30 minutes ago. He said "yeah but what is their cost of upkeep compared to ours?" I said IDK

No clue how it compares cost wise, but I can tell you I'm not driving around at $4 per gallon gasoline looking for liquid chlorine or bleach

 

[Sherihicks92]

No clue how it compares cost wise, but I can tell you I'm not driving around at $4 per gallon gasoline looking for liquid chlorine or bleach

Hopefully next year we will be saying the same thing.

 

[PoolStored]

I still have some pucks in the chlorinator right now that I didn't care to dig out. Figured I would just let them finish dissolving. Not that many though.

WISE. Those things are nasty to touch and smell. Let 'em dissolve.

 

[red-beard]

How do you raise you CYA levels? I guess I am at the lower end of good, so would it hurt to raise it 10?
I have 1/2 a bucket of chlorine tabs left and a whole unopened bucket of shock (that I had just bought last time at the pool store). I will save/keep as a very last resort.

You can raise CYA (and add FC) with Trichlor pucks. I did this with my pool in 2019 & 2020. In 2019, I overshot my CYA number by not paying attention and did not want to drain the pool AGAIN to get the CYA level down. I suffered another year.
In 2020, I was extremely careful. I knew exactly how much CYA was added per puck and nailed my CYA number. Since 2020, I only use dry stabilizer.

In 2020, I needed to raise my CH (Calcium hardness) so I used Cal-Hypo until my CH was at the bottom of the ideal range (350 ppm).

Using Poolmath, each 3" tablet will raise your CYA by 1 ppm and raise FC 1.7 ppm. I used to put them in my skimmer (I know, I know, the horror!) and it would take 4 days for a tablet to dissolve. I would usually put in four tablets, so it was equal to a tablet per day. 1.5 months later...my CYA was 80.
So, yes, if you want you can use the tablets up, in a controlled fashion. But you have to be very careful.

 

[Katygreys]

You can raise CYA (and add FC) with Trichlor pucks. I did this with my pool in 2019 & 2020. In 2019, I overshot my CYA number by not paying attention and did not want to drain the pool AGAIN to get the CYA level down. I suffered another year.
In 2020, I was extremely careful. I knew exactly how much CYA was added per puck and nailed my CYA number. Since 2020, I only use dry stabilizer.

In 2020, I needed to raise my CH (Calcium hardness) so I used Cal-Hypo until my CH was at the bottom of the ideal range (350 ppm).

Using Poolmath, each 3" tablet will raise your CYA by 1 ppm and raise FC 1.7 ppm. I used to put them in my skimmer (I know, I know, the horror!) and it would take 4 days for a tablet to dissolve. I would usually put in four tablets, so it was equal to a tablet per day. 1.5 months later...my CYA was 80.
So, yes, if you want you can use the tablets up, in a controlled fashion. But you have to be very careful.

Agree with captain red beard. Pool math says you need 10 pucks. Start with less. It’s possible there was error in your initial measurement, and there is potential that your pool volume is not 100% correct. Therefore, we would recommend to slowly creep up on your target CYA. If you are confident in your previous measurement and pool volume, I would personally suggest to start with six. After they’re fully dissolved, wait a day or two then measure CYA again. That’s just me

 

[Lilypad]

Or, purchase the CYA, add via sock method and save the pucks for chlorine addition during vacation time.
Stored correctly they will last a very long time. Considering how expensive they are, right now, saving
them now might be a good idea.

 

[Katygreys]

Or, you could use a combination of pucks and powder.

JOKING!!!!

Salient point is: both methods will work. Best part is, now that you are drinking the TFP Kool-Aid, you’ll know exactly what you are putting in your pool and why you were putting it in there and you will know what to expect as a result of putting it in there. Knowledge is power.

 

[Wolfepack88]

I would recommend the smart stir too, it makes testing super easy.

1000%. I was brand new last year with a pool and I would rather give up the pool than to not have the speedstir.

 

[Sherihicks92]

WISE. Those things are nasty to touch and smell. Let 'em dissolve.

When we bought the house last fall the chlorinator was so packed full and was clogged up. It was a mess getting it all out and flowing again.

You can raise CYA (and add FC) with Trichlor pucks. I did this with my pool in 2019 & 2020. In 2019, I overshot my CYA number by not paying attention and did not want to drain the pool AGAIN to get the CYA level down. I suffered another year.
In 2020, I was extremely careful. I knew exactly how much CYA was added per puck and nailed my CYA number. Since 2020, I only use dry stabilizer.

In 2020, I needed to raise my CH (Calcium hardness) so I used Cal-Hypo until my CH was at the bottom of the ideal range (350 ppm).

Using Poolmath, each 3" tablet will raise your CYA by 1 ppm and raise FC 1.7 ppm. I used to put them in my skimmer (I know, I know, the horror!) and it would take 4 days for a tablet to dissolve. I would usually put in four tablets, so it was equal to a tablet per day. 1.5 months later...my CYA was 80.
So, yes, if you want you can use the tablets up, in a controlled fashion. But you have to be very careful.

Lawd I hope we never have to drain our pool, as we don't have a drain at the bottom so we would have to get a pump to pump it out.

Or, purchase the CYA, add via sock method and save the pucks for chlorine addition during vacation time.
Stored correctly they will last a very long time. Considering how expensive they are, right now, saving
them now might be a good idea.

I just got back from buying 2 bags of Chlorine Stabilizer to use after I recheck the water.

1000%. I was brand new last year with a pool and I would rather give up the pool than to not have the speedstir.

I got the speedstir. Goes so much faster

No clue how it compares cost wise, but I can tell you I'm not driving around at $4 per gallon gasoline looking for liquid chlorine or bleach

Gas is 4.34 by me but filled up at 4.04 Tuesday. It takes me 15 minutes to drive to town. 7 minutes to a pool store (my now old pool store) When you think about it that way, , but I guess right now I have to so i can get the things I need.

Agree with captain red beard. Pool math says you need 10 pucks. Start with less. It’s possible there was error in your initial measurement, and there is potential that your pool volume is not 100% correct. Therefore, we would recommend to slowly creep up on your target CYA. If you are confident in your previous measurement and pool volume, I would personally suggest to start with six. After they’re fully dissolved, wait a day or two then measure CYA again. That’s just me

I am going to retest it before I add any. I am nervous about messing up what is already crystal-clear beautiful water.

 

[Sherihicks92]

My TA has gone up to 150
CYA is still 40

 

[Sherihicks92]

CYA-50
PH-7.8
FC-4.5
CC-0
TA-150

My readings as of 30 minutes ago. I think I am pretty happy with it. Just need to stay on the Chlorine every night.
I do have a question though. Why does lower CYA require less chlorine and why do we not want lower if it requires less?

 

[HermanTX]

CYA is a stabilizer that also protect your chlorine from UV. Too low cYA and the sun consumes your chlorine very quickly Too much CYA and it reduces the active chlorine such that you have to increase your FC to properly sanitize your pool. It’s a fine line.