Using chlorine/stabilizer pucks

[needsajet]

No problem adding them to the pool 15 minutes apart, as pooldv explained.

Never allow muriatic acid and chlorine from the jugs to mix. That's about the worst thing you can do with pool chemicals.

Safety wise, there's a few things worth mentioning. A splash of muriatic acid straight from the jug won't burn your skin, but it's dangerous getting it in your eye. Safety glasses are a good idea. Bleach in your eye is a bad thing too. If you splash some on your skin, rinse it off soon, but don't panic, it's pretty minor compared to what people think.

Getting a bit of a whiff of muriatic acid vapours is alarming, but doesn't have long term effects. If you get a whiff, you'll know. If you stay up wind when pouring, you'll be fine. Some people just hold their breath.

You can float the jug in the water and pour near the surface to minimize risk. Just estimate the amount. You'll get good at it.

 

[PeterDM]

Ok. Thanks!

Added some ph minus. I'll check levels tomorrow morning.

 

[PeterDM]

I have added a couple of PH Minus treatments. My PH is now reading somewhere between the 7.5 level & the 7.8 level on my Taylor kit. Should I leave it there? How subject is the PH level to changes over time?

 

[needsajet]

If you enter your test results like this, it's easier to see what's happening: (I used your last results here on the thread)

FC 5.5
CC 1
pH 7.5 to 7.8
TA 150
CH not tested yet
CYA 30
Temp 81 (27c)

The pucks will depress the pH so leaving with pH at the high end of the range before you leave is probably the right thing to do. Otherwise, you'll learn your pH trend from testing over a period of time. Usually puck chlorinated pools go down, liquid chlorinated stay put or go up slowly, SWG pools go up, some pools are almost entirely stable, but that's a very broad generalization, not to be relied upon.

Not sure if I mentioned, but with algae appearing before the three week absence, there's a pretty good chance the pool will be fairly green with algae when you get back, no matter what is done. But also want to say that we'll be able to clear it up as well, and that will be less difficult because of maintaining chlorine as best you can.