I've owned a pool just two years, and discovered this site just this morning. (I might have joined a while ago for the pool math section, but didn't see the light until now)
In those two years, I have had pretty darn good luck with the pool, taking care of almost everything myself by using other online resources and also getting a crash course in pool maintenance from the guy who put in my new vinyl liner. By "good luck," I mean very few instances of cloudy or green water, easy to maintain FC levels, chemistry always matching up with the pool store testing using just my HTH strips. Ignorance is bliss, I suppose, right?
Anyway, the reason for this post is to ask the experts about a couple things that are pretty specific. For example:
In those two years, I have had pretty darn good luck with the pool, taking care of almost everything myself by using other online resources and also getting a crash course in pool maintenance from the guy who put in my new vinyl liner. By "good luck," I mean very few instances of cloudy or green water, easy to maintain FC levels, chemistry always matching up with the pool store testing using just my HTH strips. Ignorance is bliss, I suppose, right?
Anyway, the reason for this post is to ask the experts about a couple things that are pretty specific. For example:
- I have a tub and a half of Trichlor tablets purchased from Sam's. This is what I've used since day 1 for maintaining FC. I heard on a TFP video that Trichlor can cause issues or something. What issues? Should I stop using the tablets? Can I just use them up first? I assume I would use liquid chlorine to replace them. How much? I'm sure the quantity needed is based on the required increase in ppm of FC per X gallons of water. Can I use just regular cheapo bleach? If so, how much is needed to raise FC by what amount? I can also buy 10% LC at a pool store for $3.40 per gal., so I'd use less per dosing. Seems cheap enough, right?
- I have about 8# of cal-hypo shock left from a big box I bought. My SOP has been to shock using 2# about once every week or 10 days or so as long as the FC numbers are still good and the water is clear. I shock or double shock at the slightest inkling of an issue, and typically within 12-24hrs, any issues have been resolved. Should I just go ahead and keep doing that until my supply of this powdered stuff is gone and THEN start my maintenance using the SLAM procedure?
- I recently purchased two kinds of liquid chlorine. One is 10% (comes in a bulk 5gal tote for about $3.40 per gal) and one is 12.5% in one-gal containers that were $3.00 on sale. Is there a big difference I should know about when it comes to adding the right amount of liquid chlorine? I know the main thing is to test using the TF-100 or Taylor FAS-DPD kits. I will be buying one shortly. I guess I'll essentially be flying blind until I have a kit that tests at SLAM levels, so maybe I already answered my own question.
- And finally, here's a goofy question: I had a green pool for over a week recently and of course nothing cleared it up except liquid chlorine in a MASSIVE dose. My question is: When is it safe to go back into the pool? My test strips all indicate 10ppm FC (or higher, who knows, right?) and my PoolMaster liquid test kit only goes to 5ppm and the color is way above that. Is it OK to swim at a high level, just for a few minutes to, well, take a dip? (For reference, the massive dose I added to my 18,400gal pool 48hrs ago was 10gal of 10% liquid chlorine. Pool is crystal clear now, of course!)