Cya / FC while on vacation for a week

[Philly_Mac]

Hey all, just want to start by saying this forum is the absolute best. Owned a pool for 2 years now and I am pretty solid on what needs to be done thanks to this forum.

So here is my question, I am currently using the dredded trichlor tabs (I kno I kno smh). CYA is sitting around 100. I am going away tomorrow on vacation for a week.

I was thinking about filling the chlorinator with 3-4 tabs and tossing the solar cover on for the duration.

my FC level is currently at 12ppm. Im am actually thinking the FC level will increase everyday due to the solar cover being on. Causing a steady increase over 7 days. I’m afraid of bleaching my brand new liner (dark blue) color. I hear others say they shock their pool and then toss the cover on. I’m afraid that if I do that, my levels would be at least in the 20s.

Option B would be to turn down the chlorinator a little bit in hopes the FC level would remain the same, if not a little more. However, then I run the risk of it dropping and Algae.

I could care less if my clorine level is too high when I return. My main concern is any damage to the liner or equipment. I would like to enjoy vacation and not stress about the pool the entire week.

Next year I’m switching to a SWG to cut out all of this nonsense with tabs and CYA.

Oh PH is sitting at 7.5

My head is running the battle of … too low FC and Algae or too high FC and a bleached liner….. HELP!!!

 

[Bperry]

Hey all, just want to start by saying this forum is the absolute best. Owned a pool for 2 years now and I am pretty solid on what needs to be done thanks to this forum.

So here is my question, I am currently using the dredded trichlor tabs (I kno I kno smh). CYA is sitting around 100. I am going away tomorrow on vacation for a week.

I was thinking about filling the chlorinator with 3-4 tabs and tossing the solar cover on for the duration.

my FC level is currently at 12ppm. Im am actually thinking the FC level will increase everyday due to the solar cover being on. Causing a steady increase over 7 days. I’m afraid of bleaching my brand new liner (dark blue) color. I hear others say they shock their pool and then toss the cover on. I’m afraid that if I do that, my levels would be at least in the 20s.

Option B would be to turn down the chlorinator a little bit in hopes the FC level would remain the same, if not a little more. However, then I run the risk of it dropping and Algae.

I could care less if my clorine level is too high when I return. My main concern is any damage to the liner or equipment. I would like to enjoy vacation and not stress about the pool the entire week.

Next year I’m switching to a SWG to cut out all of this nonsense with tabs and CYA.

Oh PH is sitting at 7.5

My head is running the battle of … too low FC and Algae or too high FC and a bleached liner….. HELP!!!

Juat raise the FC to SLAM level with liquid chlorine and go on vacation. You’re already in unmanageable CYA territory so why push your luck with more tablets? If your CYA was lower itd be a different story.

 

[Philly_Mac]

Juat raise the FC to SLAM level with liquid chlorine and go on vacation. You’re already in unmanageable CYA territory so why push your luck with more tablets? If your CYA was lower itd be a different story.

I have been managing it at at least 10-13 ppm using tabs and keeping an eye on the CYA. We have been getting a lot of rain so it’s holding steady at 100 even with adding more tabs.

I have about a month left till pool gets closed and I will be correcting the CYA and installing a SWG to avoid the issues next year.

It’s more of….. how high can a FC level climb in 7 days and if this could potentially fade my liner. The solar cover being on the whole time etc.

 

[Philly_Mac]

my pool is currently crystal clear so I haven’t really had any issues.

 

[Mdragger88]

Here’s what each dissolved 8oz puck does to your water

It is safe for your equipment, liner & swimmers for your fc to be anywhere between minimum & slam level for your cya.
For your cya of 100 that’s 8-39ppm fc
FC/CYA Levels
Raise fc to at or near slam level with liquid chlorine, deploy the cover & go on vacation.
Adding more cya via the pucks isn’t helpful.
Going forward use liquid chlorine for daily chlorination.
The ph test is invalid at fc levels above 10ppm- this makes it somewhat impractical to maintain such a high cya level & corresponding target fc level.
If you get algae it will be extremely difficult to rid yourself of it at your current cya level.
I suggest you exchange some water when you return to reduce your cya and get it to a reasonable level. 60-70 range in preparation for a swcg or lower. You can always add more when needed.

 

[Philly_Mac]

Here’s what each dissolved 8oz puck does to your water
View attachment 603339
It is safe for your equipment, liner & swimmers for your fc to be anywhere between minimum & slam level for your cya.
For your cya of 100 that’s 8-39ppm fc
FC/CYA Levels
Raise fc to at or near slam level with liquid chlorine, deploy the cover & go on vacation.
Adding more cya via the pucks isn’t helpful.
Going forward use liquid chlorine for daily chlorination.
The ph test is invalid at fc levels above 10ppm- this makes it somewhat impractical to maintain such a high cya level & corresponding target fc level.
If you get algae it will be extremely difficult to rid yourself of it at your current cya level.
I suggest you exchange some water when you return to reduce your cya and get it to a reasonable level. 60-70 range in preparation for a swcg or lower. You can always add more when needed.

Thanks! Also, I have the Taylor fas-dpd test kit. I was under the impression that the r-0004 ph solution has a chlorine neutralizer in it. Therefore being able to test PH will higher levels of FC… is this accurate??

 

[Philly_Mac]

Thanks! Also, I have the Taylor fas-dpd test kit. I was under the impression that the r-0004 ph solution has a chlorine neutralizer in it. Therefore being able to test PH will higher levels of FC… is this accurate??

So I just tested this theory but mixing pool water with distilled 1:1. Both results showed 7.4ish PH I’m assuming as long as ur not in the 15-20 or more range the test is not affected as much. I agree 100% using tabs causes nightmares. I now see how people with no understanding on cya, use tabs, shock the pool once a week and use algaecides.

I’m an OCD kinda guy. I need my pool sparkling clear and clean at all times. I’m thankful I found this forum before it was too late.

I think I am still going to use the tablets while on vacation then drain a bunch of water to bring the CYA down a little when I get back.

I’m a little nervous about dumping slam levels of chlorine on a brand new liner.

 

[Bperry]

So I just tested this theory but mixing pool water with distilled 1:1. Both results showed 7.4ish PH I’m assuming as long as ur not in the 15-20 or more range the test is not affected as much. I agree 100% using tabs causes nightmares. I now see how people with no understanding on cya, use tabs, shock the pool once a week and use algaecides.

I’m an OCD kinda guy. I need my pool sparkling clear and clean at all times. I’m thankful I found this forum before it was too late.

I think I am still going to use the tablets while on vacation then drain a bunch of water to bring the CYA down a little when I get back.

I’m a little nervous about dumping slam levels of chlorine on a brand new liner.

You have so much CYA in the water that it would be very hard to put too much chlorine in it. Liquid chlorine would solve your problem and not do anything to the CYA.

 

[Mdragger88]

So I just tested this theory but mixing pool water with distilled 1:1. Both results showed 7.4ish PH I’m assuming as long as ur not in the 15-20 or more range the test is not affected as much. I agree 100% using tabs causes nightmares. I now see how people with no understanding on cya, use tabs, shock the pool once a week and use algaecides.

I’m an OCD kinda guy. I need my pool sparkling clear and clean at all times. I’m thankful I found this forum before it was too late.

I think I am still going to use the tablets while on vacation then drain a bunch of water to bring the CYA down a little when I get back.

I’m a little nervous about dumping slam levels of chlorine on a brand new liner.

The higher you go above 10ppm the more inaccurate the ph test becomes.

I understand your concern about your liner but What you really don’t want is to have an algae problem upon your return because your fc dipped too low.
The SLAM Process can take a week or more to complete.
Some raise to slam level and some simply add however much fc they normally need each day x’s the amount of days they will be gone + a little xtra. So long as its not over slam level.
Obviously the longer you will be gone the more fc you need. Deploying the cover should help quite a bit. Test the theory before you head out.

 

[Philly_Mac]

Just did a test with the solar cover on (24hrs) FC Went from 11.5ppm to 13.5ppm. So it actually increased the fc by 2ppm.

I think I may turn the dial down some on my chlorinator So that the increase is around 1ppm.

I’ll leave with it set at 11-12ppm so when I return 7 days later the ppm should be around 19ppm (cya may creep up a bit). I can usually get a week out of pucks in the chlorinator.

If for some reason they desolve too fast, I should still have enough extra fc to hold it over. Once I’m back, I’m draining and using liquid chlorine.

 

[Philly_Mac]

Update on this one. Even tho I used a solar cover and my FC was still at 17ppm on return, there was yellow / rusty looking film all over certain sections of the pool floor. Water was still crystal clear. I’m really hoping this isn’t mustard Algae but I think that may be the case. It vacuumed up pretty easily. I was just suprised at the color. It was yellow/orange/brownish color Time to lower cya I guess

 

[Newdude]

Time to lower cya I guess

With a Taylor based kit, 90+ is sketchy at best and you need to do a diluted test with half pool and half tap as your 'sample' then double the result. Sometimes what looks like 100 is much higher.

Don't drain without reliable data to know how much you need. Also, the liner needs 12 to 18 inches in the shallow end to keep it from shifting. Keep an eye on it once you get near there.

Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to see if it's crud that blew in, or organics. Things are getting dusty in the northeast again. (Even with a solar cover)

 

[Philly_Mac]

I do have large cedar trees 20 feet away from the pool. However, I haven’t seen anything like this last year (owned for 2 years). I don’t think it’s any kind of pollen because I would see a little pollen build up on the liner (water surface line) or skimmer plate. It’s almost like it looks green at first then turns to a yellowish color. Best way I could describe it in person is a rusty color. But it cleans right up. Currently my CYA is at 90 with Taylor kit

 

[PoolStored]

We recommend, when your CYA is 90, to do the diluted test, see #8 here:

CYA - Cyanuric Acid Test

Cyanuric acid (CYA) is the chemical name for the product commonly called “pool water stabilizer” … Read more…

www.troublefreepool.com

Do this test tonight or tomorrow night. Report back. Link-->Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

 

[Newdude]

Best way I could describe it

There's 2 ways that count:

1) passed my oclt
2) didn't pass my oclt and SLAM Process-ed

I had something similar recently, with no FC loss overnight or excessive during the day that I couldn't shake. I ultimately insurance slammed and it went away on week 3. It very well may have either way.

 

[Philly_Mac]

Overnight test shows 15.5 to 14.5. Also worth noting whatever I’m dealing with takes days to show up. Having seen nothing yet but I also have been brushing every day

 

[Philly_Mac]

I’m still losing less than 1ppm overnight and 0 combined chorine… should I even consider slamming at this point? I can still see small spots turn a greenish color if I do not brush or vacuum the pool after a day or two. I do have cedar trees very close that shed these little balls but I’m not sure that is actually the culprit because when I left the solar cover on for a week nothing should have Fallin in. However, the pool looked worse after a week with the cover on then off. I’m worried if I slam it will take the pool a very long time to come back down in FC levels

 

[Mdragger88]

It is safe to swim with fc up to slam level.
If you see green its a problem that needs to be addressed with
SLAM Process.
If you want to slam at a lower fc level then you need to exchange some water to get the cya down.