Taking a vacation

[coryfavre80]

Wife and I will be leaving Friday am and returning Sunday about 6 pm. This is our 1st year having a pool and We have no one to clean or treat the pool while we are away so I'm looking for a little guidance? I'm currently putting about a gallon of liquid chlorine in it nightly, which puts me between 8-9 on FC. Put a gallon in Friday am before I leave? Would it be best to cover it for 2 days or leave uncovered? June bugs, Japanese beetles and leaves are a daily issue. So I'm looking for advice on how to plan for the weekend.

My last question is the FC numbers I mentioned earlier. The gallon of 10% liquid chlorine at dusk gets me to 8-9, the next am when I test (before sunrise) I'm usually around 5.5-6. In the evening before I treat again I'm usually about 3. From what I've read this is a little high for nightly loss, water is clear. Just keep doing what I'm doing?

Attached are the numbers I took this afternoon, pretty much in line with what I've recorded this summer. I'm testing with TF-100 and speed stir.

 

[Dtkokay]

If you're going from 8-9 ppm FC at night to 5.5-6 in the morning, then you have failed the overnight chlorine loss test, which points to algae. You shouldn't be losing more than 1 ppm overnight. Sounds like you need to perform a SLAM after you get back from your trip.

As for your long weekend, I would add enough liquid chlorine to SLAM level. Even better if you have a friend of neighbor who could stop by on Saturday afternoon and pour a gallon of chlorine in for you.

 

[Newdude]

+1. It’s easy enough if you’ve been adding a gallon to find someone to come dump it in, but you know what they say about wanting something done right...... or in this case at all.

I would bring it to SLAM level based onFC/CYA Levels. It will easily buy you the weekend off and nothing gets left to chance that the neighbor remembers or whatnot.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

I'd add the gallon of chlorine before you go, covering it will help enormously to maintain that chlorine.

Maddie

 

[coryfavre80]

We haven't had any luck finding a neighbor to help, I'll take it to SLAM level and probably put the cover on. Thanks everyone

 

[coryfavre80]

One last question... Do I leave the pump setup to run with the cover on this weekend? Running 8 hours a day currently.

 

[Newdude]

Yes leave it running. It’s no different than being stuck at work while it’s running. Back when people use to ‘go’ to work at least.