Preventing a swamp with a mesh-covered pool with a lot of close trees

[PoolStored]

I have a hard time believing that it is designed to last 5 months since I have opened up to green water every time I have used it.

In NE Ohio, I close Oct 15-30 and soft open April 15. I ensure that closing and opening water temps are <60 degrees. I raise FC to half SLAM and use PQ60. For last three years, I open to FC >2. That is 6 months on PQ60 and 1/2 SLAM FC.

If we end up having a warmer fall and winter than usual, can I add chlorine to my closed pool to ward off algae or should I trust that the polyquat will do its job and ward off algae?

If you cannot close and open when pool water is <60, PQ likely won't make it. Since you likely cannot meet this criteria, you should add chlorine during the closed period. Drop a sump pump in the pool and add chlorine slowly over the sump to circulate. Let the pump run a while after.

I have a hard time believing that it is designed to last 5 months since I have opened up to green water every time I have used it.

It will work if pool water stays below 60 from close to open.

 

[poolnewbie4]

In NE Ohio, I close Oct 15-30 and soft open April 15. I ensure that closing and opening water temps are <60 degrees. I raise FC to half SLAM and use PQ60. For last three years, I open to FC >2. That is 6 months on PQ60 and 1/2 SLAM FC.


If you cannot close and open when pool water is <60, PQ likely won't make it. Since you likely cannot meet this criteria, you should add chlorine during the closed period. Drop a sump pump in the pool and add chlorine slowly over the sump to circulate. Let the pump run a while after.


It will work if pool water stays below 60 from close to open.

Its nice to hear from someone who uses polyquat and had success with it. I'm going to experiment with adding some chlorine in the off season to see if it helps. I'm also going to experiment with opening up the pool early in the spring before the water temperature hits 60 degrees but keep the cover to keep seeds and pollen out and see if that helps. Since I read on here that chlorine degrades polyquat, should I avoid adding any chlorine during the next month or two if this warm spell that we are having now lasts longer than a week or would it be okay to add some? Would it help if I added a floater full of Trichlor pucks in late winter to add some CYA and chlorine to the pool If I could figure out how to keep it in the middle of the pool or would that likely not help since the pump won't be running? Last year, we opened up to green water and a CYA of 0 but I probably waited too late to open it since I didn't want to deal with all of the seeds and pollen from our trees.

 

[PoolStored]

Its nice to hear from someone who uses polyquat and had success with it.

We recommend PQ60.

Closing an In Ground Pool

Winterizing a pool is essential for keeping your in-ground pool protected during cold-weather months. This Pool Repair guide will show you how to do it.

www.troublefreepool.com

Closing Pool for Winter - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

I'm going to experiment with adding some chlorine in the off season to see if it helps. I'm also going to experiment with opening up the pool early in the spring before the water temperature hits 60 degrees but keep the cover to keep seeds and pollen out and see if that helps. Since I read on here that chlorine degrades polyquat, should I avoid adding any chlorine during the next month or two if this warm spell that we are having now lasts longer than a week or would it be okay to add some?

You are mixing two approaches. One approach is to close when pool < 60, 1/2 SLAM and PQ, open when <60. PQ is the insurance. The other is close early and chlorinate during the winter. If you are going to close when warm, PQ likely won't make it the 5-6 months. So, yes, PQ *MAY* get you a couple months if warm, and if you want, add chlorine during the winter to keep FC up.

Would it help if I added a floater full of Trichlor pucks in late winter to add some CYA and chlorine to the pool If I could figure out how to keep it in the middle of the pool or would that likely not help since the pump won't be running? Last year, we opened up to green water and a CYA of 0 but I probably waited too late to open it since I didn't want to deal with all of the seeds and pollen from our trees.

Pucks are hit and miss. I wouldn't do it without a pump running. Some do, and it works, some do and it doesn't.

If you don't want to open the pool to leaves etc, it is best if you can soft open early when temp is <60, get the pump up and running and chlorinate to maintain FC/CYA ratio...Link-->FC/CYA Levels