a question for the "puck gurus"

First of all, I'd better practice what I preach so here are my current test results:

FC - 4
CC - 0
TC - 4
pH - 7.8
Alk - 110
CYA - 30-35

I would like to lower my pH somewhat (it's trending up) and raise my CYA a little. A friend has given me some tri-chlor tabs.

Since I do not have a chlorinator, I would put these in my skimmers...pump running.

My question is...Would you advise leaving the pucks in the skimmer after I shut off the pump?

If the answer is no, can I simply remove them from the skimmer and place them in a closed, plastic bucket and then put them back when I restart the pump?

Thanks in advance,

When I used to use them I left them in the skimmer when the pump was off with no adverse effects that I ever noticed. I was wondering about the cya dropping off though and needing to use these again to raise it since starting to use bleach.

Do not leave pucks in your skimmer with pump shut off. The pucks will still dissolve in the water and highly chlorinated water will be in the skimmer now. If some of that water leeches out around the mouth of the skimmer you risk bleaching your liner around the skimmer.

If you have an old, faded liner or don't care if it gets damaged you can leave them in. Personally, I would not do that.

Sevver,

You're CYA level will remain pretty constant....probably 'til next Spring.

Flicker,

back to my original question. When you remove them, how do you store them 'til the pump is restarted?

Dave,

Sorry, I didn't answer your question. I always ran my pump full time when using pucks. I would place the skimmer basket (with pucks) on my plastic top rail if I added bleach (to shock) in the skimmer, and then replaced the basket.

I would assume some dissolving would still occur since the puck is wet. Maybe try putting one in a sealed sandwich bag. If it dissolves you will see it. Secondly, if chlorine gas builds up in the bag it will expand. Just an idea. That is if you are talking about one puck at a time.

When I first joined the forum (about 5 yrs. ago) I asked Ben how much CYA a puck would add to a 16,000 gallone pool and he said "about 1 ppm."



Harry

Dave, thanks for posting your #s ;) . I've always told my customers to just pull them out and put them on a plastic lid from one of their old buckets - it saves the deck from bleaching and keeps the tabs close to the skimmer for reinstallation the next day.
(Don't want to start a huge debate but; why do you want to raise the cya?)

I would agree with other posters - just put the pucks on a dry surface (away from children's reach, or animal's reach).

Don't put them in a closed container - I'm pretty sure that once they are wet, they will continue to react with the water and gasses may build up in a close container and possible lead to the container rupturing.

I also think you are about right on the CYA level's for your pool size. I'm back on tabs this year - 2 months so far and no problems. CYA is still in a reasonable range. I usually have to pump enough water out over the winter months that I'm changing out about 1/2 of my water every year. The tabs in my online feeder do a fine job for me :)

Good luck

Hi, Ted,

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Quote:

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why do you want to raise the cya?)

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I seem to lose about 4ppm each day in this pool (absolute full Sun....I think I might even get some at night!)

I'll be curious to see if I can cut that loss back by going to 50CYA....maybe even 60. I lose it every winter, anyway.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by duraleigh

Since I do not have a chlorinator, I would put these in my skimmers...pump running.

My question is...Would you advise leaving the pucks in the skimmer after I shut off the pump?

If the answer is no, can I simply remove them from the skimmer and place them in a closed, plastic bucket and then put them back when I restart the pump?

Thanks in advance,

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Dave,
Trichlor has a pH of about 2. If you have a cartridge filter do not place the pucks in the skimmer. Even without one if you turn the pump off the water will become very acidic and it is about the same as pouring acid into the skimmer once the pump is turned back on. Not very good for your pump seals!:eek:

Floater are cheap enough. Just get one and put the trichlor in that. Much safer and easier to control how fast they errode. Look for one that has variable adjustment and not one that just has one or two slits or holes spaced aroung it that you can cover or uncover. The Ace Hardware in my area has a pretty good one for under $9!

Just my 2 cents!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by duraleigh

Hi, Ted,

(I seem to lose about 4ppm each day in this pool (absolute full Sun....I think I might even get some at night!)

I'll be curious to see if I can cut that loss back by going to 50CYA....maybe even 60. I lose it every winter, anyway.

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Dave, hi, you know what you're doing, so I won't question it further.

Dave,
Yeah, floaters are cheap--an adjustable one is $10-$15. Get one. I don't advise handling wet pucks. The fumes and the acidity could hurt you. With a floater, you can lift the WHOLE thing out, but have a safe place to put it as it can bleach a circle on your deck!

Thanks for everyone's input. I'm getting the picture.

Bear and Carl, How do you prevent the floater from drifting to the edge of your pool and super-chlorinating the liner in that area?

Sorry, but I'm obviously floater-challenged!

CARL...3000 posts!!!! Congratulations!!!:) :) :) :)

Ben will double your salary! (maybe triple...quadruple...)

1) The top of the floater is ALWAYS a lot wider than the puck area for bouyancy, so it doesn't flow directly down the pool wall
2) They have slits in the sides, not the bottom, so the chlorine sort of trickles out, pre-dissolve in the water in the floater.
3) adjustable ones allow you to dial down the slit size
4) It just doesn't seem to be a problem
5) The REAL problem is keeping them from going to the skimmer opening and sticking there!:mad:

(PS: I rarely use puck either:rolleyes: )

Carl,

I edited my post above....re-read!:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CarlD

5) The REAL problem is keeping them from going to the skimmer opening and sticking there!:mad:

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If you have a ladder then tie a string around the floater and to the ladder, sort of like those floating thermometers have. If you don't have a ladder then find something else not near the skimmer to tie it to. I used to do this in my portable hot tub when I used bromine tabs in it to keep the floater from 'going crazy' when I turned on the bubblers.