Floater while using liquid chlorine?

[Juliegoldman]

I'm a newbie and so far, I think I'm doing ok with my pool. The tests are showing everything is perfect for the past 3 weeks with me adding nothing. I even took a sample into the pool store today, just to confirm everything is perfect.

So, my question is- I'm using liquid chlorine and next month I'll be gone for a week and a half. I'm worried I'm going to come home to a green pool. Should I buy a floater with pucks, just to put in while I'm gone?

Also, someone said I should be adding some chlorine each week, even if the test says ok. Is that right? Im sure once summer arrives and temps are higher, things will start growing. As of now, we are still hovering in the 70s and the pool has been about 70 degrees too (I have a solar pool cover).

I feel like I am missing something, like there's more I need to be doing to keep my pool clean. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[woodyp]

If leaving...raise FC to SLAM level with liquid....put in a floater of tabs, use solar cover if possible...and be sure and circulate while you're gone. Got GOOD test results for us to peep at?

 

[Richard320]

I have a floater that gets used only when I'm leaving town. There's no problem using pucks and liquid, just don't pour bleach directly onto the pucks.

As an aside, if you plug your volume in at the top, down at the bottom of poolmath it can tell you how much CYA each 8 oz puck will add to your pool.

 

[Juliegoldman]

Thanks. No, I don't have a pic of the actual results to post.
I'm still new, so getting used to what that means to SLAM it.
do I need to add chlorine every week, even if my levels are testing good? I just don't want to overchlorinate it.
I think my total chlorine is at 3 and my free chlorine is at 3. Ph is 7.3, alkanity 120, stabilizer 40.
Hope that helps. Thanks.

 

[jblizzle]

It is typical to have to add chlorine everyday. If those numbers are correct your FC is getting on the low side. You need to maintain proper FC as a function of your CYA according to the [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA].

 

[woodyp]

For CYA of 40....you're already at the minimum FC for that at 3. FC burns off EVERY SINGLE DAY. Once a week testing will not suffice for it. It's simply an old myth that as long as your FC is in the 1-3 range you're fine. You're NOT!

 

[Juliegoldman]

Thanks! I'm slowly learning.

 

[linuxninja00]

Solar cover should help by reducing the FC loss right? I know I drop far less when I leave the cover on during the week when nobody is swimming.

 

[mknauss]

Solar cover should help by reducing the FC loss right? I know I drop far less when I leave the cover on during the week when nobody is swimming.

True. It reduces the UV degradation of the chlorine.

You should let your pool 'breathe' without the cover every few days so the sun can burn off any CC's.

 

[linuxninja00]

True. It reduces the UV degradation of the chlorine.

You should let your pool 'breathe' without the cover every few days so the sun can burn off any CC's.

True, I agree with that. Mine usually gets pulled back on the nice sunny warm days. I could use all the sun heat I can get. I only have good sun from maybe 11a-2p, lots of trees in my backyard.