Vacation Management Plan for Critique

[JeanZ1]

I am going on a week long vacation and would like to run my thoughts on a management plan by the experts.

Let me start by saying that I found TFP 3 yrs ago when I became a new pool owner. Fortunately, I found this site early and have enjoyed sparkling water since! Thanks!! I typically keep my chlorine levels at the upper end of the target range just for a little wiggle room (I prefer not to play near the edge). Last year my CYA was running at 70 so I could juice my chlorine up to SLAM level (28 ppm) prior to vacation and let it drift down to target range (10ppm). Assuming a chlorine demand of 2ppm per day and a SLAM level of 28ppm, chlorine levels would be good for about 9 days (28-[2*9] =10ppm).

This year my CYA is much lower, 30, which reduces the spread between SLAM (12ppm) and upper end of target range (6ppm). At 2ppm per day, I’m only good for 3 days.

I am considering raising my CYA to 70 using some leftover powdered shock. I realize this will result in a high SLAM level if I should need to SLAM, however if I manage my chemistry properly I shouldn’t need to SLAM!

Soooo, assuming I have a good handle on water chemistry and am in no danger of an algae bloom, is this an acceptable management technique? Am I missing something? Any downside?

 

[jmikeb]

have you considered floating some pucks in there?
maybe take cya to 50 and put a floater in.
btw, i’ve had a few full sun days so far, air temp 85-90. when my cya was at 30ppm, i had an fc loss of 5-5.5ppm . i just raised the cya back to 50, but still loose 3.5 to 4

 

[Donldson]

Just raise to SLAM and put some pucks in a floating dispenser. If you have a cover then put that on and you will be just fine. If you don't have a cover then you will almost certainly be ok, but might have to do a very short SLAM afterwards.

I'm just afraid you might be overthinking things a bit, a few days away doesn't have to be all that complicated. Most of us who have been doing this a while don't sweat the possibility of a green or cloudy pool because we know how to correct it quickly. If you are confident in your ability then don't worry if the pool might need a quick SLAM, it will be fine.