Vacation mode and pucks (or maybe no picks) - can’t quite find my answer

[Macboy]

Hello all. My apologies, I searched and read and searched and read but am still unclear on using pucks to go away for a few days. The bit I can’t figure out is “how much do I need to put in the floater”. How many pucks. They are 200g pucks.

We’re going away for five days but I can be at the poolside midday Sunday and we’re back early enough Friday for me to dose again (referring to liquid chlorine). So that’s four full days without intervention if I don’t use a floater. Let me also add this tidbit - the last couple of days the pool has remained covered and the weather was grey and raining. We last swam Thursday and the pool finished the night at an FC or 7 (my target). Yesterday evening the pool was only down to an FC of 6. Just checked moments ago and it was down to 5 so I brought it back to 7.

I can bring the pool up to shock no problem. I’m feeling like with zero use and the pump running six hours per day maybe that’s all I need to do and it’ll make it to Friday? No pucks required?

FWIW, I’m running the CYA 60, maintaining FC at 7, haven’t checked pH in a while but trust it’s hovering anywhere from 7.5-7.8? CC is zero or negligible lately (and typically).

 

[Texas Splash]

I’m feeling like with zero use and the pump running six hours per day maybe that’s all I need to do and it’ll make it to Friday? No pucks required?

I tend to agree. If you elect to add a few ppm of liquid chlorine it won't hurt, but with a cover it sounds like the FC should remain steady without the use of pucks. I would probably lower the pH just a little since it tends to rise over a few days. Hope that helps.

 

[HermanTX]

I can bring the pool up to shock no problem. I’m feeling like with zero use and the pump running six hours per day maybe that’s all I need to do and it’ll make it to Friday? No pucks required?

Increasing the FC level via liquid chlorine or by pucks is very similar. If you can compensate for the daily FC ppm loss is all that is required. The only advantage with the pucks is that it also releases some acid to keep pH level. The disadvantage is that the pucks are slow release on the chlorine so best to use as a supplement once FC is raised some.
Bringing up your FC to 15 or 20ppm should be fine for the 4 1/2 days based on your data for daily FC loss. Adding 2 pucks to control pH would be fine in addition.

 

[Macboy]

Thanks gang! I'll check the pH and adjust as required and the try the shock level only and see what happens.

 

[Macboy]

Post vacation report:

Came home yesterday and checked the pool. Looked like an algae bllom (green dust on bottom in the "circulation dead zones", dark lines on the seams and wrinkles). Checked FC - 8. Could it actually be an algae bloom with an FC of 8?

Had a bunch of stuff to do yesterday evening so left it until today.

Just now. Vacuumed the pool. Checked FC - 7. No CC. So with only a drop in FC of 1 could it be algae? I feel like no?? PH was back up to 7.8. Did not check CYA (need to order some reagent so being sparing with CYA testing for now....last check was 60). I'll do an OCLT and check early tomorrow and report back. Tomorrow I'll backwash all the crud I vacuumed tonight.

Thoughts?

 

[PoolStored]

Came home yesterday and checked the pool. Looked like an algae bllom (green dust on bottom in the "circulation dead zones", dark lines on the seams and wrinkles). Checked FC - 8. Could it actually be an algae bloom with an FC of 8?

It is possible, and it has happened to a few pools with poor circulation zones. For pools with poor circulation areas, we recommend daily brushing to address this issue (it breaks any biofilm and circulates water with brushing.

With visible algae, start the SLAM. Should be short if you start quickly, and brush.

 

[Macboy]

OCLT was only .5 and the stuff I vacuumed didn't return overnight so I think I might be safe. I'm still going to give it a good scrub and backwash today here and I'll closely monitor it this week. We're away again for a few days soon so happy this seemed to have worked out.