Chlorine - daily vs 2-days vs ...

[mdavis00]

My pool is very stable and the chlorine always drops 2.5ppm per day. Normally I add 1/2 g daily but sometimes I'll add 1 g and skip the next day. Either way the pool ends up using chlorine at the same rate. I expected higher chlorine levels would decay at a faster rate but that doesn't seem to be the case. If the loss rate is independent of chlorine level (at least up to some point), can I do a triple dose every 3 days, or even less frequently?

I was wondering because I'll be away for 5 days and want to over-chlorinate before leaving. I couldn't find any posts that directly address this question.

 

[HermanTX]

You do not mention your CYA level. You should not exceed the SLAM level, which we calculate at 40% of CYA. So if your CYA was 50ppm, you should not exceed FC level of 20ppm. 20ppm would last 8 days if you lose 2.5ppm per day. However you should never drop below the minimum . So to give accurate guidance, please provide your CYA level.
Alternatively, if your CYA level is mid range, you could supplement your LC with pucks for short term use.

 

[Newdude]

can I do a triple dose every 3 days

Road test it and see. (Maybe with day 3 over a weekend when you can step in if needed).

I was wondering because I'll be away for 5 days and want to over-chlorinate before leaving.

Do you have a solar cover ? They cut daily UV loss in half, give or take. We just got a memeber through a 5 day trip by going to SLAM and covering, but in NY and not FL. It might work if it wasn't in the worst part of the season, or you could add a floater with some pucks to help the added UV demand by ypu.

 

[mdavis00]

You do not mention your CYA level. You should not exceed the SLAM level, which we calculate at 40% of CYA. So if your CYA was 50ppm, you should not exceed FC level of 20ppm. 20ppm would last 8 days if you lose 2.5ppm per day. However you should never drop below the minimum . So to give accurate guidance, please provide your CYA level.
Alternatively, if your CYA level is mid range, you could supplement your LC with pucks for short term use.

CYA is 60 so I keep FC between 7 - 9.5 when doing daily additions.
I can go to 24ppm per SLAM and that should keep the level >7ppm for 6 days. I'm really wondering if 24ppm will decay at the same rate as my normal rate of 2.5/day rate

 

[Mdragger88]

For vacation I always raise to slam level & fill a floater with pucks. Its easy insurance.
At slam level the fc does burn off noticeably faster so I wouldn’t recommend that being your maintenance routine as it does waste liquid chlorine. The slam level gets you through the first part of the week & the pucks help out on the back end as they are slow to dissolve. I usually arrive home after 6 days with some undissolved pucks remaining. The other part of the equation is the skimmer emptying & handling evaporation or overflow depending upon the weather.
I usually have my inlaws come by mid week unless there’s a storm or something earlier.
A cheap wyze cam/wifi cam can help you keep an eye on things while you’re away incase you need to call in reinforcements.

 

[mdavis00]

Road test it and see. (Maybe with day 3 over a weekend when you can step in if needed).



Do you have a solar cover ? They cut daily UV loss in half, give or take. We just got a memeber through a 5 day trip by going to SLAM and covering, but in NY and not FL. It might work if it wasn't in the worst part of the season, or you could add a floater with some pucks to help the added UV demand by ypu.

No cover, just lots of sun and heat in FL. Water temp runs 90+ this time of year.

 

[mdavis00]

For vacation I always raise to slam level & fill a floater with pucks. Its easy insurance.
At slam level the fc does burn off noticeably faster so I wouldn’t recommend that being your maintenance routine as it does waste liquid chlorine. The slam level gets you through the first part of the week & the pucks help out on the back end as they are slow to dissolve. I usually arrive home after 6 days with some undissolved pucks remaining. The other part of the equation is the skimmer emptying & handling evaporation or overflow depending upon the weather.
I usually have my inlaws come by mid week unless there’s a storm or something earlier.
A cheap wyze cam/wifi cam can help you keep an eye on things while you’re away incase you need to call in reinforcements.

Yeah, I may have to breakdown and buy some tabs. I swore I'd never use them again after switching to TFP years ago

 

[Mdragger88]

Yeah, I may have to breakdown and buy some tabs. I swore I'd never use them again after switching to TFP years ago

Here’s what each dissolved tab will do to your pool

4 x 1.7 = 6.8 but I imagine they won’t be fully dissolved upon your return.
It will be fine

 

[mgtfp]

I'm really wondering if 24ppm will decay at the same rate as my normal rate of 2.5/day rate

Chlorine decay is relative to the FC level, it is a percentage rather than an absolute value.

If you are losing 2.5ppm per day on a starting level of 9.5ppm, then you have a relative loss of about 26% per day. That means at an FC of 24ppm, you will lose about 6ppm on day 1 ending up at about 18ppm, leading to a loss of about 5ppm on day 2. And so on.

You won't have to add chlorine as often, but in total you will need a lot more chlorine. Good to survive a holiday, but not the most cost effective method for regular maintenance.