[AA702]

There are ways of keeping CYA in check. Only use tabs only the summer but limit tabs to 1 per 6500 gal in a floater. Use liquid chlor or bleach to chlorinate or shock and use a polyquat 60 to prevent algae growth. Keep CYA levels in around 100, and if it gets any higher you can always drain part way. This has worked for me for years. There are also errosion type cal hypo pucks that are cheap, but they do add calcium if you use too much.


For those who want to chlorinate with liquid chlorine it is the best way, but you have to be on top of it and check your free CL on a reg basis. FAS DPD test kit is also the best to use. You can get the leslies or taylor kit.

[thlf]

Originally Posted by olecapt

YOu can lower the CYA level though it is a pain and takes a while. The easiest way of course is to dump the pool and refill.

You can also stop with the pucks, go to liquid and try and oxygenate the water. There are fountains that plug into side outlets that will do it as will waterfalls and such. Decorative fountains work too. See what you can rig and check in a week and see if you are doing any good.

The only consequences are that you need lots of chlorine and eventually, if it gets high enough, you have to drain and refill to get effective chlorine action.

Go read the pool school stuff. Lots of info there about all this.

Ok I've read the pool school, you are right very good. I understand more now. However for over eight years now I have never had an algae problem. I do have to raise the ph a couple times a summer but that isn't too big a deal. I have a fiberglass pool so I think that helps with the algae. I also cover my pool quite a bit in the summer time to help with evaporation more than anything else. So do I really need to switch from the pucks or am I probably ok since I don't have algae issues?

[MadManofBethesda]

Originally Posted by olecapt

I am also on the liquid chlorine only routine.

I am on the write a $100 check/month routine.

[olecapt]

Actually I am on the write a $3000 check every third or fourth year routine. But I get by real cheap the rest of the time. $10 or $20 a month in the height of the heat. And cheap electric on the side.

[MediocreButArrogant]

Originally Posted by MadManofBethesda

I am on the write a $100 check/month routine.

Even if someone else performs your weekly maintenance, you should still care about whether stabilized chlorine is used to sanitize your pool. Unless you partially drain and refill your pool every year, your CYA is probably way off the charts, and your pool guy compensates by tossing in a ton of chlorine.

[AA702]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

Even if someone else performs your weekly maintenance, you should still care about whether stabilized chlorine is used to sanitize your pool. Unless you partially drain and refill your pool every year, your CYA is probably way off the charts, and your pool guy compensates by tossing in a ton of chlorine.

If a pool guy uses a lot of chlorine, he is not very smart since that is very expensive and he will be out of business really quick. He/she probably uses pucks(trichlor). when needed, uses liquid chlorine and a polyquat60 algeastat to prevent any growth. Most of the older pools in town have a D.E. filter or Sand, and these can be backwashed. This goes right to the sewer and you can partially drain a pool to prevent high CYA. Pools with cartridge filters can also be drained partially every season to lower CYA.