The PoolMath app has a section for calculating how much of what to add, to hit a given target. Just to give you a wild guess on running costs AFTER you defeat the Baqua completely. All disclaimers apply to the following.
A guess is that you may want to maintain 6 ppm concentration of chlorine. 3-5 may burn off depending on sun/temperature each day. So you'd need to add 1/2 gal per day. For 150 day season, that would be $450 for the year. Lots of variables here. That is likely a pretty high guess, and actual will come in lower (less Cl in colder weather, maybe you can run at a lower ppm, etc).
A gallon or two of muriatic acid for the year. Maybe a partial bag of baking soda at the start. Maybe some CYA at the start. Call it another $50-$75. Or maybe not, depending on what carries over in the pool, over the winter.
The downside is needing to add some liquid each day, generally. Provisions can be made for being away for trips, etc. But if you miss a few days while at home, the liquid needed can go a lot higher to defeat the algae that appeared.
Your next years project to plan for to get to your dream - get a Salt Water Chlorine Generator. If you can DIY PVC pipe, that part is easy. Guestimate about $1200-$1500 for one. If you need an electrician - that could be up to a 50% increase. Pool guys will likely charge double the equipment cost to put it in. The initial salt will be $85-90, or less. Future years, maybe $7-30 depending on how low you lower your pool for the winter, rain dilution, etc. A case of liquid, just in case. The secondary chems noted above. The generator lasts at least 5 years, and many, many for 10 or even more. So the average yearly cost comes down pretty far - and no lugging jugs daily. Everyone loves the feel of the water. And the salt level is 1/10th the ocean - many can't even taste it (I can, but no one else that has been in my pool ever has when asked).
The ultimate to be "crunchy" is a variable speed motor on your pump with the salt water generator. Savings and energy use can be extremely dramatic - but that is a seperate project for a later time.
In any event, following the advice here will get you to the equivalent $ point of around two trips to the pool store for the year, or less. (Needs to defeat the Baqua not included, of course).
A guess is that you may want to maintain 6 ppm concentration of chlorine. 3-5 may burn off depending on sun/temperature each day. So you'd need to add 1/2 gal per day. For 150 day season, that would be $450 for the year. Lots of variables here. That is likely a pretty high guess, and actual will come in lower (less Cl in colder weather, maybe you can run at a lower ppm, etc).
A gallon or two of muriatic acid for the year. Maybe a partial bag of baking soda at the start. Maybe some CYA at the start. Call it another $50-$75. Or maybe not, depending on what carries over in the pool, over the winter.
The downside is needing to add some liquid each day, generally. Provisions can be made for being away for trips, etc. But if you miss a few days while at home, the liquid needed can go a lot higher to defeat the algae that appeared.
Your next years project to plan for to get to your dream - get a Salt Water Chlorine Generator. If you can DIY PVC pipe, that part is easy. Guestimate about $1200-$1500 for one. If you need an electrician - that could be up to a 50% increase. Pool guys will likely charge double the equipment cost to put it in. The initial salt will be $85-90, or less. Future years, maybe $7-30 depending on how low you lower your pool for the winter, rain dilution, etc. A case of liquid, just in case. The secondary chems noted above. The generator lasts at least 5 years, and many, many for 10 or even more. So the average yearly cost comes down pretty far - and no lugging jugs daily. Everyone loves the feel of the water. And the salt level is 1/10th the ocean - many can't even taste it (I can, but no one else that has been in my pool ever has when asked).
The ultimate to be "crunchy" is a variable speed motor on your pump with the salt water generator. Savings and energy use can be extremely dramatic - but that is a seperate project for a later time.
In any event, following the advice here will get you to the equivalent $ point of around two trips to the pool store for the year, or less. (Needs to defeat the Baqua not included, of course).
