Bleach and Vacation

[GAPOOL14]

Knowing that we will be going on vacation twice this summer, each one for about 7 days, I wanted to ask this question in advance. My current CYA is 60ppm, so I keep my FC in a range of 7-9ppm. I refuse to ever subject my pool to another trichlor puck or dichlor shock again. So with that said, here is my question: Being gone for 7 days and chlorinating with bleach, do I need to raise my FC level to say 30ppm at the start of the vacation and assuming a FC loss of 3ppm per day, I calculate that I should be at 9ppm of FC when I return. Would that logic make sense? I don't want to return to a pool that is green. Thank you.

 

[mknauss]

Sadly the math does not work. When you are above target level FC, the FC burns off quicker due to UV.

If you do not cover your pool, I would suggest taking your FC to shock level and adding a floater with 3 or 4 pucks (however many the floater will hold) in it. With your size pool they will add less than 10 ppm CYA. You will find that your CYA degrades a bit (3-5 ppm) per month naturally, so should not be a large impact.

 

[spoonman]

This may not be TFP approved advice, but in my experience a pool can go a couple days without chlorine without problems (at least mine can) particularly if it is otherwise well maintained. For me, I'd rather take a chance on a tiny about of algae after a day or two of no chlorine than mess with the CYA. As such, I would shock with liquid when i leave. This would often deplete a day or two before I returned leaving no chlorine in the pool. When I returned I would add more chlorine at either normal levels or shock levels depending on the situation. This seems to work if you are not gone for more than a week. This is my alternative to pucks.

 

[GAPOOL14]

Thank you, not to be overly scientific but do you know the rate of FC burn off when you're above the target level?

 

[kellyfair]

Or, do you have a trusted friend or neighbor who wouldn’t mind throwing in some premeasured bleach once every other day or so?

 

[GAPOOL14]

Thank you for the advice, unfortunately as mknauss pointed out, I can't take FC up to 30ppm and let it drift down to 9ppm over 7 days but I will opt for bring FC up to shock level and hope for a minimum level of FC when I return. I know that CYA disapates over time but I hate the thought of any added CYA after a super expensive drain and refill.

- - - Updated - - -

Actually kellyfair, that is my best option. Having someone come by every other day and pouring in some bleach. I was more curious to know if you are gone for an extended period of time if my logic works, unfortunately as mknauss pointed out, the math doesn't work out. Being new to the TFP process, you now find yourself asking questions that you never thought of before. With increased knowledge comes the thirst for more.

 

[Txpooldude]

I recently bought a stenner pump and tank for this purpose. In total, it was about $400 (pump, 35 gallon tank and wifi timer) but it's keeping my chlorine levels spot on. Maybe something to think about.

 

[MannyT]

This is a good example to have an SWG.

 

[mknauss]

Thank you, not to be overly scientific but do you know the rate of FC burn off when you're above the target level?

Pool Water Chemistry

Good late night reading -- it is a bit 'Deep' though -----

I would be much more concerned with letting FC go to zero in Georgia versus Arizona. Organics are every where in Georgia, not so much in Arizona.

 

[spoonman]

I'm shooting from the hip and oversimplifying, but I believe chlorine loss is about 40% daily (this will depend on CYA of course). In that case, this would be your breakdown starting at 30, 20, or 15...assuming 40% breakdown daily.

Day	FC
1	30
2	18
3	10.8
4	6.48
5	3.888
6	2.3328
7	1.39968

Day	FC
1	20
2	12
3	7.2
4	4.32
5	2.592
6	1.5552
7	0.93312

Day	FC
1	15
2	9
3	5.4
4	3.24
5	1.944
6	1.1664
7	0.69984

 

[Katodude]

Not to hijack this thread but I am going on a 12 day vacation. I have a SWG so I am not worried about the FC levels but more about the PH going up. I can have a neighbor put some MA in put they wont really be able to test for how much. Any recommendations?

 

[mknauss]

A couple of options. See what your MA needs are over a couple weeks and then guesstimate how much would need to be added. Err on the low side so that the pH does not go below 7. Or, add a couple pucks to a floater. They will add a bit of FC and CYA but are also acidic and will temper any pH rise.

Take care.

 

[Dirk]

Not to hijack this thread but I am going on a 12 day vacation. I have a SWG so I am not worried about the FC levels but more about the PH going up. I can have a neighbor put some MA in put they wont really be able to test for how much. Any recommendations?

Actually kellyfair, that is my best option. Having someone come by every other day and pouring in some bleach.

A couple of options. See what your MA needs are over a couple weeks and then guesstimate how much would need to be added.

Go buy yourself a crate of bottled water. Enjoy the healthful benefits of drinking it all. Save the bottles. By now you should have an idea of how much chlorine your pool needs per day. Fill each bottle with the proper amount of chlorine. Have your neighbor come over each day for a swim, and have them dispense one bottle a day. Whatever dose you measure out, it'll be close enough by weeks end.

Mark the bottles "CHLORINE!"

You could do the same for MA, but that's a little riskier. You'd have to accompany that with a tutorial for the neighbor on how best to pour it in.