SLAM Success! Questions going down

[survivalcar]

Finally passed the OCLT and it's all clear! As I mentioned in some earlier posts, the pH and TAC are all out of whack, which you guys (thank you) told me not to worry about while SLAMming. Now that it's going back down, some questions:

At what point do I have to start worrying about trying to level the pH and TAC?

Should I be putting chlorine tabs in daily while it's drifting back to normal? Or do I not worry about that until the chlorine test shows that it's low?

Thank you again for all for your help. I am so grateful for this community

Chris

 

[Demegrad9]

Let it drift back to normal. And don't ever use tabs for maintaining chlorine

 

[survivalcar]

Really? Never use tabs? I've been using them for 13 years. Are you saying I should maintain the chlorine using only the liquid shock?

 

[SpringPool]

Really? Never use tabs? I've been using them for 13 years. Are you saying I should maintain the chlorine using only the liquid shock?

The TFP method uses liquid chlorine or regular bleach. Read through pool school (link in signature)

tabs can can be used but they have a trade off and usually end up costing more in the long run.

Depending on the type of tab you use it adds between .6-.9 ppm cya each. So depending on if you close your pool and/or drain partially in the winter the tabs will force you to drain and replace as you hit a higher cya. This is why liquid chlorine is recommended.

I recently converted to a swcg so I don’t have to add daily doses of chlorine. You are essentially paying up front for 3-5 years of chlorine for your pool. Something you could consider.

In the end how you run your pool using tested methods from this site allow you to have that trouble free pool. To me the biggest learning is understating the chemical relationships so you can make an informed decision on how to manage your pool.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Folks with short swim seasons in the Northeast who also drain a significant amount of water to close their pools can often use pucks, with caution! Good testing will tell you when your CYA has hit the wall. WHen it gets to the upper limit of acceptable, switch to liquid chlorine only.

Its all about knowing what you are putting in your pool and what its effects are. Testing is necessary.

Maddie

 

[jstblush]

If we want to use our old trichlor tabs while we away I need help understanding a couple things.

It say 16 0z (2 tabs) raises FC by 5,8 and CYA by 3.5. Does that mean it makes those changes everyday or by the time the 2 tabs are used up? And do you know how long it takes to use the 2 tabs?

We have only used bleach since we became members here. But it would be nice to use our tabs when we can't be here. Just don't want the CYA rushing up on us.

Thanks for your help.
Sherry

Sorry to ask questions in your thread. Maybe I should have started my own. ;(

 

[mknauss]

The tabs contain a certain amount of chlorine and CYA. Based on your pool size, they will add, when fully dissolved, a certain amount of FC ppm and CYA ppm.

They are good for short term use. But once CYA hits a certain level, they do not dissolve quick enough to add the FC you need with the elevated CYA. And if they did, it would add more CYA and soon you are in a spiral that ends in algae.

 

[jstblush]

Thank you. I understand what you are saying. Was just wondering if we were gone a few days if we could just throw some tabs in to get by for a few days. Of course, we would be checking the CYA as soon as we got back so it doesn't go too high. I will never let my CYA get out of hand again as this is what brought us here a few years ago and had to do the dreaded drain and refill!

Maybe I should use them for a week and see what happens so that when we go out of town I will know how they affect FC and CYA.
Sherry

 

[SpringPool]

Yes as as long as you understand the cya chlorine relationship tabs in a floater while on vacation work great. I’ve read some people will keep their cya a bit low knowing they are going on vacation. Others just bump up chlorine when they return. Cya does slowly degrade over time and you also have splash out to consider.

Thank you. I understand what you are saying. Was just wondering if we were gone a few days if we could just throw some tabs in to get by for a few days. Of course, we would be checking the CYA as soon as we got back so it doesn't go too high. I will never let my CYA get out of hand again as this is what brought us here a few years ago and had to do the dreaded drain and refill!

Maybe I should use them for a week and see what happens so that when we go out of town I will know how they affect FC and CYA.
Sherry