Leaving for a week (no one to check pool) should I put chlorinator on?

[pilotx1982]

I use liquid chlorine in my pool. I also have an off line chlorinator that I don't use. The 20x40 (35K gallon) pool is covered by a blue bubble tarp at night and most of the time when not in use (we have a reel for it so it's easy). I have kept my CYA low (30) as I know I have 2 vacations coming up that are 7 days' each. I figured that when I am away, I can throw in some tablets into the chlorinator and set it to maybe 3 or 4 setting. I have my pool pump running 4 hours a day. The pool gets direct sunlight 12-3pm (prior and after there is some tree shade).

How many tablets and what setting should I put on the chlorinator when I leave and how much would the CYA go up because of it? Or would it be better to put in liquid chlorine to 10 or 15PPM the day I leave and leave the chlorinator off and hope nothing eats up the FC by the time I get back?

Current Readings:

FC: 3.5
CC: 4.0
PH: 7.6
ALK: 100
CYA: 30
CH: 100

 

[Bperry]

I use liquid chlorine in my pool. I also have an off line chlorinator that I don't use. The 20x40 (35K gallon) pool is covered by a blue bubble tarp at night and most of the time when not in use (we have a reel for it so it's easy). I have kept my CYA low (30) as I know I have 2 vacations coming up that are 7 days' each. I figured that when I am away, I can throw in some tablets into the chlorinator and set it to maybe 3 or 4 setting. I have my pool pump running 4 hours a day. The pool gets direct sunlight 12-3pm (prior and after there is some tree shade).

How many tablets and what setting should I put on the chlorinator when I leave and how much would the CYA go up because of it? Or would it be better to put in liquid chlorine to 10 or 15PPM the day I leave and leave the chlorinator off and hope nothing eats up the FC by the time I get back?

Current Readings:

FC: 3.5
CC: 4.0
PH: 7.6
ALK: 100
CYA: 30
CH: 100

Do you have a check valve Before the chlorinator? Generally, it’s bad to leave tablets in there if the pump isn’t running, especially if there’s no check valve.

 

[pilotx1982]

Do you have a check valve Before the chlorinator? Generally, it’s bad to leave tablets in there if the pump isn’t running, especially if there’s no check valve.

It was installed by the pool CO that opened my pool last year. I just checked and it’s installed as an (offline chlorinator) but I don't see a check valve.

 

[pilotx1982]

So, would it be better to get my CL to 10 or 15 and just hope its enough to last 7 days or just run the chlorinator?

 

[Bperry]

So, would it be better to get my CL to 10 or 15 and just hope its enough to last 7 days or just run the chlorinator?

The big black thing on the heater output looks like a check valve? Do you have the option to leave the pump running while youre gone? I suspect a floater in the pool might be a safe option.

 

[pilotx1982]

The big black thing on the heater output looks like a check valve? Do you have the option to leave the pump running while youre gone? I suspect a floater in the pool might be a safe option.

it's not a variable speed pump so I would prefer not to leave it running that long.