We are closing early this year because our pool company is short on staff and the only opening they had was tomorrow (Oct 13). Due to a recent string of warm weather, water temperature has risen to 65-67 degrees so I plan on adding poly 60 at half shock level (8) tonight, after I vacuum the leaves out and decrease PH to 7.4-7.6 like is recommended on here.
I’ve read all of the helpful info on here about closing with polyquat. I have experience using it at lower water temperatures and it seemed to help if I opened up early enough. I worry about its effectiveness when closing with higher water temps though so I have a few questions about its use and what I could do to potentially prevent algae from setting in before the water temperature drops below 60.
1. If I add polyquat 60 at half shock level tonight and FC has dropped by half in the morning so it is at minimum FC level, should I increase FC back to half shock level so there is more chlorine remaining in the water or would this decrease the effectiveness of the polyquat? Last time I used it in cold water, it decreased FC by half to minimum shock level but I didn’t worry about it because water temperature was below 60 then.
2. What is the proper dosage of poly 60 for my 18K gallon pool? Last year, I added approximately 28 oz to my 18K gallon pool and it decreased FC to half so it was at minimum FC level. It also caused the PH to go up to a strange purple color so I assume it increased the PH. Is this the correct dosage for closing at higher water temperatures or should I add more or less of it? Should I add muriatic acid if it increases the PH to a strange purple color again?
3. Would it help lower the water temp and decrease the chances of algae developing if I kept tarps over my mesh cover during warm days to block out the sun until the water temperature drops since I’ve got an older mesh cover that may not block out all of the sun and have a CYA of only 30-40? I’ve read that this might help but it may be challenging to use them since leaves are falling right now.
4. If I peel back the cover and notice that algae has set in before the water temperature drops, would it help to pour some liquid chlorine in the pool and mix it in with a submersible pump or would this likely not do any good since polyquat was added and it’s hard to get it mixed in very good?
5. How can I prevent leaves from blowing under the cover since they increase the chances for algae. We’ve got 3 trees next to our pool so there is usually a lot of leaves in the pool when opening. I’ve never experienced tannin stains from the leaves but worry this could happen if algae sets in this fall and remains in the pool all winter.
I’ve read all of the helpful info on here about closing with polyquat. I have experience using it at lower water temperatures and it seemed to help if I opened up early enough. I worry about its effectiveness when closing with higher water temps though so I have a few questions about its use and what I could do to potentially prevent algae from setting in before the water temperature drops below 60.
1. If I add polyquat 60 at half shock level tonight and FC has dropped by half in the morning so it is at minimum FC level, should I increase FC back to half shock level so there is more chlorine remaining in the water or would this decrease the effectiveness of the polyquat? Last time I used it in cold water, it decreased FC by half to minimum shock level but I didn’t worry about it because water temperature was below 60 then.
2. What is the proper dosage of poly 60 for my 18K gallon pool? Last year, I added approximately 28 oz to my 18K gallon pool and it decreased FC to half so it was at minimum FC level. It also caused the PH to go up to a strange purple color so I assume it increased the PH. Is this the correct dosage for closing at higher water temperatures or should I add more or less of it? Should I add muriatic acid if it increases the PH to a strange purple color again?
3. Would it help lower the water temp and decrease the chances of algae developing if I kept tarps over my mesh cover during warm days to block out the sun until the water temperature drops since I’ve got an older mesh cover that may not block out all of the sun and have a CYA of only 30-40? I’ve read that this might help but it may be challenging to use them since leaves are falling right now.
4. If I peel back the cover and notice that algae has set in before the water temperature drops, would it help to pour some liquid chlorine in the pool and mix it in with a submersible pump or would this likely not do any good since polyquat was added and it’s hard to get it mixed in very good?
5. How can I prevent leaves from blowing under the cover since they increase the chances for algae. We’ve got 3 trees next to our pool so there is usually a lot of leaves in the pool when opening. I’ve never experienced tannin stains from the leaves but worry this could happen if algae sets in this fall and remains in the pool all winter.
