tarps over mesh cover for partial closing early

[pookiesunshine]

any special tarp qualities i need to block most of sun until water less than 60 degrees for complete closing? or can i just use cheap 6 mil blue poly?

i plan to put mesh safety cover (does not completely block sunlight) over pool when leaves become too much of a hassle to deal with. based on the advice i've seen on this site, i intend to completely close when temp below 60 degrees. until that occurs, i will maintain FC and minimal pump run time but keep mesh cover on. The purpose of the tarps will be to block sunlight to avoid algae. will the cheap blue tarps block enough sunlight or do i need special tarps or a regular pool cover? obviously i will provide for water drainage. The tarps will come off when i completely close.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[kimkats]

Chlorine will provide a much better protection from algae than any kind of tarp. A tarp will help keep the FC higher but it will not stop algae.

Are you trying to help keep the leaves out until you can close?

 

[pookiesunshine]

my mesh cover lets in sunlight. i plan to put tarps on top of the mesh cover to block the sunlight to reduce FC depletion until water temp is below 60, then close completely.

 

[Leebo]

Depending on the amount of leaves it maybe easiest to try a leaf cover instead. This will allow you to keep the leaves out of the water but keep the pool mostly opened to maintain some chlorine. If however you have a TON of leaves it maybe easiest to simply cover the Pool completely and simply worry about Slamming it next year upon opening. Any tarp will help you out some as you mentioned but almost all let’s some light in.

 

[pookiesunshine]

Thanks, Leebo. maybe i will forget the tarp this year and see how much chlorine i use after covering but keeping pump on until water less than 60 and complete close.

This will be only my second closing after switching to chlorine. last year i think i still had white mold in my pipes and think the chlorine was depleted before water temp less than 60. an ugly mess this spring. want to avoid that if practical.

 

[linda1]

I have a ton of leaves to deal with, so I put my winter cover on before they start falling and just keep pump running and water balanced until I finish the closing when water drops below 60. I felt dealing with a leaf net would be a hassle. Once the air temp drops we don't use the pool so it doesn't matter that I have the winter cover on.

 

[Catanzaro]

any special tarp qualities i need to block most of sun until water less than 60 degrees for complete closing? or can i just use cheap 6 mil blue poly?

If you have to close the pool early, then 6 mil is fine. Just cover the pool and put slits in the cover so water can drain in the pool. Cover at least 80% of the pool. Make sure they are tied tight with string to the cover. We do this every year with 2 pools, close 2nd week of September but open 30 days before holiday in the spring without any problems.

You still need to close the pool properly as per the closing thread on the forum. Good luck and keep us posted. Chlorine must stay in the pool or this method will not work. PolyQuat 60 should also be used.

 

[pookiesunshine]

Thanks, Cat