Would like to switch to bleach only but...

I was wondering how many gallons I would have to purchase to last me around a month? I know there are variable factors but what would be your best guess.

My pool is an AG 18' round about 7500 gallons. Right now I use Tri-chlor tabs in a floater and bleach to shock. I use baking soda and borax. Also my pool is in full sun, not an ounce of shade until 7:30pm and I don't have a solar cover because being such a small pool in full sun it gets warm quick.

My only hesitation on switching to bleach is that I have 2 small children both toddlers, not fun to take to stores right now. The nearest Walmart or any place cheap to buy bleach is about 1/2 hour away. Not the biggest deal but with 2 kids that constantly fight it seems like forever.

Since our season here is short only 3 1/2 months. I would like enough bleach on hand to last me about a month. I have plenty of storage in the basement which has A/C so I shouldn't have to worry about it losing too much potency due to heat/sun etc.

If your water is properly balanced, you'll probably need less than 3 gallons per month, even running high Cl to offset high CYA. That's what you'll need to check first. If you've been using trichlor, your CYA is probably over 100.

I'm not sure I agree with that. I think it will take considerably more than 3 gallons for a month. Post current water testing results for us to look at. We especially need to know the cya level. I agree with dalparadise on this - if you've been using trichlor tabs, your cya is probably high.

Current readings. Just tested 5 minutes ago

FC 12
CC 0
CYA 100+
TA 100
PH 7.5

I wouldn't do the bleach this season with the CYA being so high...usually over the winter time it mostly goes away. I know each season after draining, refilling, etc. I start with a CYA less than 50. So I would start it hopefully with a CYA between 30-50.

You can do bleach with high cya. Some people, including one of my fellow moderators, Janet, deliberately run a high cya/high chlorine pool. It might work for you. It may keep you from having to add bleach so often. I'm going to ask her to peek in on this thread when she gets a minute.

Most pools seem to lose about 2ppm daily. That can vary widely but, let's take two examples.

If you lose 2ppm daily, 1 quart of 6% Clorox will replenish it.

If you lose 4ppm daily, (possible in the full Sun), of course, 1/2 gallon daily will be your usage.

So, somewhere between 7-15 gallons monthly would be most likely. With that VERY high CYA, you may get by with even less.

Regardless, you really need to get off pucks.

By the way, those are VERY nice test results....just about perfect. Nice work!:)

PS - Your two toddlers fight? Gosh, I can't imagine!! (Yeah, right!:D :D :D My two are still at it strong @ 13 and 11....been going at it for almost 10 years!......Sorry to deliver any depressing news:) )

Thanks so much. In my head I was thinking if it was around 10 gallons/month that would be doable. I'm figuring I could fit 10 in a shopping cart.

I've learned every bit of info I know from the forum. The first year I had my pool I brought my results to a pool store they sold me a huge bottle of Calcium which for a vinyl liner was such a waste of money. Not to mention all the algaecide, etc. I had test strips and went by the "ok" on the test strips and fought horrible algae the 2nd half of my first season. I read as many posts as I could over the fall/winter/spring and really got a handle on how to as CarlD put's it "stay ahead of your water".

I'm going to finish out the pucks this season and then switch to bleach next year, hopefully a year from now the 2 year old won't be so hard to take to the store, some would could him a "runner".

I knew the fighting would last for a while, my 2 brothers and I are 1 1/2 years apart like my two little ones and we fought up until around 10 or so, being the only girl sometimes it was a tag team on me. But now in our early 30's we are the best of friends. Hopefully that will happen with my little girl and boy.

Nicole

Nicole,
I intentionally run a high CYA, as Watermom said earlier. In my 29K gallon pool, I keep my CYA at 80-90, because my pool is in full Louisiana sun from dawn to dusk. I also have a moderate to high bather load during the week, mostly young children. My pool goes through 2-3 gallons of 6% bleach weekly, on average. I also tend to shock it most weekends due to the young swimmer load, which requires 3-5 of the 1.3 gallon jugs from WalMart each time.

Janet