I did it!!

[TracyRN]

I am now using liquid chlorine to sanitize my pool.
When I asked for help to leave my pool for a week vacation it was suggested by @PoolStored and @Texas Splash to switch from stabilized tablets & shock to liquid chlorine.
I’ll admit I was hesitant because I was afraid of the time it would take to keep up with liquid. Tablet’s make it easy but thanks to TFP I’ve learned tablets also end up making the pool harder to maintain. The Tuesday after vacation I picked up 2 cases of 10% chlorine from Rural King.
Since my FC level was still elevated but coming down from the 17 prior to vacation I didn’t add the first dose of liquid until this past Monday.
I decided to test everything on Sundays and I test the FC/CC every other day and when the FC hit 3, I added 26oz aiming for a FC or 7. I hit 8
Tuesday it rained a few times and today it rained solid from early morning until around 4pm. Thanks to the rain my pool gained over an inch of water and the FC fell 2.5ppm. This evening the FC/CC dropped from 8/0 to 5.5 / 0.5. I had a lot of fine debris and leaves, so I added 10oz of chlorine aiming for 7 and vacuumed out the mess. pH had gone down from 7.5 to 7.2 so I capped the aerator. My pump shuts off at 8pm and now it’s dark so I’ll test the FC/CC again in the morning. My CYA has stayed steady at 40.
I’m pretty excited that the liquid chlorine doesn’t seems to be hard or time consuming. I’m hoping I can keep it on the every other day testing / dosing schedule especially if I keep it running on the high side at 7.
Another reason for keeping it around 7 is my pool is also slightly under some trees, I get leaves & gunk at times. I’m hoping to get my husband to trim back this fall. He seems to think I need to take the pool down to cut the limb, I’m hoping we don’t. I really want to close and keep it up.

I can’t begin to thank you guys and TFP for all the help.

 

[PoolStored]

Congrats! You are ready for middle school.

First assignment: Raise your FC above range, so that you are in range when you test. That way if you have a large FC demand day, you don't go to minimums or below, like you did with the rain.

 

[PoolStored]

Oh, and don't forget to post pool pics here: Link-->How Clear is TFP Clear?

 

[TracyRN]

Oh, and don't forget to post pool pics here: Link-->How Clear is TFP Clear?

I’ll post new pictures tomorrow. It’s supposed to climb back into the 80’s and much less chance of rain.

 

[TracyRN]

Congrats! You are ready for middle school.

First assignment: Raise your FC above range, so that you are in range when you test. That way if you have a large FC demand day, you don't go to minimums or below, like you did with the rain.

So I should aim for a FC of 8-10 when I dose? Or only when I see rainy day(s) in the forecast?

 

[Newdude]

There's nothing wrong with every other day dosing, but it needs to be a double dose. Your min is 3 FC and you'd need 2 days worth of UV loss, plus some wiggle room. If you need to dose over target to land free and clear above minimum FC, so be it.

 

[TracyRN]

There's nothing wrong with every other day dosing, but it needs to be a double dose. Your min is 3 FC and you'd need 2 days worth of UV loss, plus some wiggle room. If you need to dose over target to land free and clear above minimum FC, so be it.

Sounds good and I think along the same thing @PoolStored said.
There are just days during the week I can’t get to the pool. Wednesdays are nonstop between work & my daughter’s gymnastics class. I literally leave work, get home, grab her and her gym bag and head right back out the door lol.
If I dose to 8-10 should that hold me over a few days? Looking at my test logs its an average of 3ppm loss per day.

 

[Newdude]

If I dose to 8-10 should that hold me over a few days? Looking at my test logs its an average of 3ppm loss per day.

3 (min) + 3 (today) + 3 (tomorrow) + 1 or 2 wiggle room.

I'd go 11.

Pretty soon the daily loss will slooooowly decrease. You'll need less and less per day as the season winds down. You use your recent testing to know what to expect the next few days. Adjust as necessary.

think along the same thing @PoolStored said.

Yes. We are always on the same page that min FC is lava. Don't ever sniff it. Don't even think of sniffing it. Always err on the side of more chlorine than you needed, instead of not enough.

 

[TracyRN]

3 (min) + 3 (today) + 3 (tomorrow) + 1 or 2 wiggle room.

I'd go 11.

Pretty soon the daily loss will slooooowly decrease. You'll need less and less per day as the season winds down. You use your recent testing to know what to expect the next few days. Adjust as necessary.

Yes. We are always on the same page that min FC is lava. Don't ever sniff it. Don't even think of sniffing it. Always err on the side of more chlorine than you needed, instead of not enough.

I’ll test and add more chlorine in the morning to aim for 11, more than likely I’ll hit 12, that seems to be my pattern. Lol
I’ve definitely learned TFP concentrates mainly on chlorine, which makes sense, it’s the sanitizer. My goal is to never chase my pool or my test results in circles like I’ve seen and done in the past.
I’m also loving the fact I can see more immediate results from liquid chlorine too.

 

[PoolStored]

I’m also loving the fact I can see more immediate results from liquid chlorine too.

Next thing you will want is a Salt Water Chlorine Generator...

 

[TracyRN]

Next thing you will want is a Salt Water Chlorine Generator...

If it wasn’t for rusting I would plan for that next My next big purchase is a robot vacuum. I was hoping Prime days would have had deals on the Dolphin Nautilus. I was tempted with the free caddy & cover but I really need to pay off the pool first. Even with no interest I don’t want to keep adding to that balance lol.

 

[TracyRN]

Another question? How often do you guys test for FC/CC? I don’t really see much point in the block unless I’m testing pH. I would rather see my actual numbers and know if I have a CC problem before it’s a huge problem.
I have the TF-Pro kit and wonder if I would need to get the SLAM add on when I replace the reagents next year. I’m not sure how long the FC/CC reagents will last testing those every other day.

 

[PoolStored]

Another question? How often do you guys test for FC/CC? I don’t really see much point in the block unless I’m testing pH. I would rather see my actual numbers and know if I have a CC problem before it’s a huge problem.
I have the TF-Pro kit and wonder if I would need to get the SLAM add on when I replace the reagents next year. I’m not sure how long the FC/CC reagents will last testing those every other day.

FC daily. Don't test CC. pH weekly, I don't have pH issues. Full battery every 2 weeks.

I also use 5mL sample where each drop is 1FC...saves reagent.

 

[TracyRN]

FC daily. Don't test CC. pH weekly, I don't have pH issues. Full battery every 2 weeks.

I also use 5mL sample where each drop is 1FC...saves reagent.

I’ll adjust to that schedule and use a 5ml sample. I would rather see my FC number and dose chlorine from it.
So far I haven’t had pH issues either, I can keep it between 7.2 & 7.5 with the aerator cap on and off every couple of days.

 

[PoolStored]

I’ll adjust to that schedule

You asked what we/I did.

You might adopt our basic pool care schedule for 30-90 days...then adjust. I know my pool, very well.

Basic Pool Care Schedule

This basic pool care schedule can guide you in creating your own pool care routine. Regular pool maintenance will keep your water sparkling!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[TracyRN]

You asked what we/I did.

You might adopt our basic pool care schedule for 30-90 days...then adjust. I know my pool, very well.

Basic Pool Care Schedule

This basic pool care schedule can guide you in creating your own pool care routine. Regular pool maintenance will keep your water sparkling!

www.troublefreepool.com

I actually had read through that and modified it to test FC & pH every other day due to life here. That’s usually when I skim & vacuum too. I do keep the solar cover on when we’re not in the pool / home. Days that I work remotely I pull it off when it’s beautiful sun shining day too. I will also vacuum then if debris gets past the solar cover to the bottom. If we have heavy rains or several rainy days I checked & test after the rain stops.

In reference to testing the CYA would you consider substantial water replacement an inch or more added? Just looking at my liner yesterday after the rain I’ve gained a minimum of an inch of water. I was planing to test my CYA this weekend when I do the rest of the weekly tests. I’ve been running 40 since I added my initial dose of stabilizer. That seems to be a happy place for my pool. Since I’ve stopped using tablets & powder shock I would think it should stay fairly steady at 40.

Now I have 10lbs of tablets and 8-10 bags of powder shock to store. lol. I know I can keep the tablets for vacation / out of town long weekends. Can I use the powder shock occasionally (only if needed) just so it doesn’t sit and go to waste?

 

[PoolStored]

Can I use the powder shock occasionally (only if needed) just so it doesn’t sit and go to waste?

Sure.

In reference to testing the CYA would you consider substantial water replacement an inch or more added?

Nah.

 

[TracyRN]

Followed your guide this morning and tested. My FC was 6 and we’re forecasted to have rain on and off all week. This evening at 6pm I added 40oz of liquid chlorine aiming for 11ppm. I just tested after running my pump a little longer than normal and I’m at

FC - 12.5
CC - 0.5

Before I dosed the chlorine my kids and I were in the pool for several hours. I am assuming the 0.5 CC is letting me know my chlorine is working on cleaning up after us. Lol.

Thank you again for the advice!

 

[PoolStored]

Before I dosed the chlorine my kids and I were in the pool for several hours. I am assuming the 0.5 CC is letting me know my chlorine is working on cleaning up after us. Lol.

Maybe, maybe not. My pool will run long periods of time with .5CC, even if I'm not swimming.

Honestly, if you maintain proper FC, you can ignore CC testing.

 

[TracyRN]

Honestly, if you maintain proper FC, you can ignore CC testing.

It’s my Type A analytical personality
I’m an RN Clincal Analyst by trade, I maintain our clinical electronic medical records system and clinical billing, insurance authorizations. My brain loves 1..2..3.. Which leads to all my questions at times lol.