A few questions about free chlorine.

[Hobbsks]

Since learning about this site and the TFP process I have learned a lot. I SLAMed the pool this past week and did the overnight chlorine loss test. Perfect! I was ready to maintain.
I travel for work and thought I had expressed the importance of checking the free chlorine levels EVERY day... well I was wrong. I just tested and it was 0. I put in enough chlorine to take it back to the SLAM level for the pool and hopefully checking it a few times tomorrow it won’t need much more.
Knowing the GF and how she “forgets” this will happen frequently through the pool season. Am I over reacting and should have just put enough chlorine in to take it to the normal level for my CYA or did I do the right thing by taking the chlorine to the SLAM level?
I would like to do a SWG conversion but at this point in time it isn’t in the budget.
Sorry for rambling a bit in this post but I don’t want to deal with the same issues I dealt with last year of always having semi cloudy water and having to throw a bunch of stuff in the pool every time I have to leave for work

 

[Jimrahbe]

H,

Just to make sure we are all on the same page, you do understand that a pool will use 2 to 4 ppm of FC each day, when it is working perfectly???

Maybe I just don't understand your question..

Jim R.

 

[justinc]

I think is what you're saying is that you left your girlfriend to tend to the pool and came home and found the free chlorine level at 0? So you proceeded to raise the free chlorine to SLAM level for your CYA? I think you did the right thing. You'll want to continue to SLAM until you meet all requirements (overnight chlorine loss less than 1ppm, combined chlorine less than or equal to 0.5, and clear water just to kill anything that might have started growing while your free chlorine was at 0. Then once you are done SLAMing, let it drift back down to your target for CYA and hold it there. Like Jim said, you will need to add around 2-4ppm per day just to replace chlorine that is consumed (from sunlight, bathers, etc). You will need to have your girlfriend or someone come by and add bleach to your pool every few days to compensate for the 2-4ppm / day loss to keep at goal (or install a SWCG like you said in your first post). You can occasionally use tablets while you are away but you'll need to be aware of the CYA they'll add to your water and keep that in mind Maybe run CYA on the lower end to compensate for use of tablets while you are away and switch back to bleach when you are home.

 

[Flying Tivo]

Do a search for stenner pumps, this might help you automate your Chlorine feed.

 

[kimkats]

I have a couple of ideas how to help your pool out:

-have jugs set up with how much chlorine you add on an average each day. This way she does not have to test. She can just pour it in each day. Just make sure the pump is running when she adds it AND she is not wearing her good clothes. Maybe you can text her to remind her to add the chlorine. You can even write on the jugs-Monday, Tues., etc

-Use pucks/tablet while you are away BUT make sure to keep a close eye on the CYA they add. You might have to drain and replace some of your water to help keep the CYA down some but at least it will not turn green.

-Depending on how long you are gone each time you can push your FC just up to SLAM level before you leave and it may be okay when you come back. She can still swim so long as the FC is not over the SLAM level for your CYA.

Do you think any of these will work for your pool and life? I sure hope so!

Kim

 

[CarolineM]

Have her set an alarm on her phone as a reminder to add chlorine.

 

[Hobbsks]

Thanks everybody for your quick responses.

 

[Cody]

Get a new GF? Just a thought.

 

[splashpad]

Since learning about this site and the TFP process I have learned a lot. I SLAMed the pool this past week and did the overnight chlorine loss test. Perfect! I was ready to maintain.
I travel for work and thought I had expressed the importance of checking the free chlorine levels EVERY day... well I was wrong. I just tested and it was 0. I put in enough chlorine to take it back to the SLAM level for the pool and hopefully checking it a few times tomorrow it won’t need much more.

Knowing the GF and how she “forgets” this will happen frequently through the pool season. Am I over reacting and should have just put enough chlorine in to take it to the normal level for my CYA or did I do the right thing by taking the chlorine to the SLAM level?

As stated by everyone else, GF can dump a pre-measured amount in the pool (preferably with pump running), if every day is too hard, pre-measured SLAM level every 3rd day will suffice too (we've done that here)...

I would like to do a SWG conversion but at this point in time it isn’t in the budget.
Sorry for rambling a bit in this post but I don’t want to deal with the same issues I dealt with last year of always having semi cloudy water and having to throw a bunch of stuff in the pool every time I have to leave for work

What are you using for filtering? I notice your sig has outdated/broken sand filter

 

[Hobbsks]

I need to update that. I replaced it with a de filter