For those of you using Bleach...

How much (in PPM) does your pool consume each day? And at what CYA?

I know it varies by weather, amount of sun exposure, use of the pool, stuff falling into the pool... but if enough folks respond, maybe we can get a starting point rule of thumb for those like me converting to the BBB method.

This is my first year on Bleach (actually, I used tri-chlor until my CYA got to 40 then switched to Bleach). I've also had to go through an iron stain removal procedure (unfortunately 2x) and have yet to "zero in" on my pool's bleach consumption.

Here's my highly unscientific data collection as of today. Latest #'s. I took vanhout's suggestion and changes the title of the post (hope it'll take). keep those #'s coming...

http://lee.smugmug.com/photos/82681038-O.jpg

I lose about 0.25 to 0.5 PPM per day, my CYA is less than 20 (pool store tested it a while back at 17, but not 100% sure I trust their numbers, it started at 0, I used pucks for about two weeks before I became "enlightened" ;)).

My pool gets 0% UV exposure. It is indoors. I do not get leaves in my pool, but I do get a few centipedes, earwigs and spiders, although the spiders tend to keep on the walls trying to catch the other two. :)

When I have heavy bather loads I can lose 1 to 1.5 PPM in a day.

I suppose I don't count though. :D

Our pool - 50 cya , 1 ppm a day

I'm just like you - CYA at 40, started using bleach this year. (I've been using pucks for 12 years, though, so for me, clearly something always eats CYA over the winter.) I seem to need a 3-quart jug of bleach every two days, so by my calculations I'm losing about .7 ppm per day.

Pool is in full sun for about 5-6 hours a day. Bather load is very light, but leaves, etc. are probably worse than most people's.

50 CYA, holds chlorine overnight but loses 5-7ppm on hot sunny days. Full sun 9am-6pm, no shade, little debris, light swimmer load. I am running pucks again in autochlorinator set on 1/2, test chlorine nightly and add accordingly.
18x26 inground vinyl

Excellent thread,

<30 CYA, 2 - 3 ppm / day

Dr Spike...this is off topic...So excited to see you have a dome!!!!! how do you like your dome?
We are in Michigan and I want one!!!!!! If they move this question off this board, can I ask you on the off topic board??

Full sun 8 hours day. Loose about 2 to 3 ppm each day. Add 1 qt one day 2 qt the next. CYA 35 to 40 ppm.
Steve

My CYA is 45 and I am losing about 2-3ppm a day. Full sun and medium/heavy bather load. Mostly several kids under 6. Can anyone say...toilet? I put in a bottle a day

Joe

Quote:

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Originally Posted by graciec

Dr Spike...this is off topic...So excited to see you have a dome!!!!! how do you like your dome?
We are in Michigan and I want one!!!!!! If they move this question off this board, can I ask you on the off topic board??

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Graciec,

I do like the dome, we should move the dome discussion to the off topic forum and not hijack this thread. :)

The answer to your question is a function of both CYA and FC (total free chlorine) levels since twice the chlorine level loses about twice the amount of chlorine per day. I now have around 15 CYA and 2-3 ppm FC and lose about 0.5 ppm per day. The pool is normally covered and is open to sunlight (it's an outdoor pool) about 14 hours per week. I used to have more CYA, but had more chlorine and the rate of loss was about the same.

Holds overnight, uses ~2ppm during our very hot & very sunny days. CYA ~50, water temps 90-94.

Interesting thread. I was thinking just the other day when I was adding additional bleach, "mann I sure add a lot of bleach each day. I wonder if I am in the normal usage range of bleach". From these posts I see that I am not alone. I love the BBB method after coming from the 'dark side' of Baq...But for me it's more of a B method, as I never have to raise my PH or ALK. It's more of a BAW (Bleach, Acid and Water). Our pool is 26K gal. inground, plaster. Outdoor, full sun in the middle of the Nevada desert. A few leaves, sand and light bather loads. Stays covered at night, unless the water temp is to high and we want to cool it off. CYA runs in the range of 20-30. I add 10 cups of liquid belach in the morning when the filter first comes on. The CL is 1.5 to 2 PPM. I then check the CL and PH in late afternoon, 6ish or so, and it's normally down to .5 PPM. PH runs in the range of 7.2 - 7.5. I then add another 10 cups of bleach and cover the pool. Filter runs for an additional 3-4 hours after last bleach is added. Then repeat the cycle next day.

Scott,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chem geek

The answer to your question is a function of both CYA and FC (total free chlorine) levels since twice the chlorine level loses about twice the amount of chlorine per day.

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If this is the case, then perhaps we should all be reporting the percentage drop in PPM that we experience each day, rather than the PPM itself?

I wouldn't have thought it was quite that linear - certainly chlorine loss after shocking seems much faster (even in percentage terms) than regular chlorine loss.

15,000 gallon, IG, Plaster, CYA ~ 30ppm

Loses about 2 ppm per day, in full sun 10 AM - 6 PM

Light bather load, minimal debris currently

I loose between 2 & 3 ppm per day with 9 hrs of sun. I keep CYA between 30 and 50. My pool would be considered to have a HEAVY bather load and lots of debri.

16,000 gallon I/G fiberglass w/ small waterfall, heat pump, 2 spa jets, 3 returns, 1 hp pump and DE filter.

Dave

I have a 24' x 52" AGP, approximately 12,600 gallons. My CYA is steady at 40, and I lose about 2~3ppm of chlorine every day.

My pool gets full sun from dawn until about 30 minutes before dusk. I'm also in Alabama where we have a lot of high temperatures and high humidity. I try to swim nearly every day, my wife doesn't swim quite as often as I do.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vanhout

Excellent thread,

<30 CYA, 2 - 3 ppm / day

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Update for your chart, which is awesome.

36,000 gallons IG vinyl, full sun, medium bather load

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chem geek

The answer to your question is a function of both CYA and FC (total free chlorine) levels since twice the chlorine level loses about twice the amount of chlorine per day. I now have around 15 CYA and 2-3 ppm FC and lose about 0.5 ppm per day. The pool is normally covered and is open to sunlight (it's an outdoor pool) about 14 hours per week. I used to have more CYA, but had more chlorine and the rate of loss was about the same.

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Is that really true? If I keep my FC higher I lose more per day?

Example: If I normally maintained FC level at 4 ppm, and use 2 ppm per day, then I'd use 4 ppm per day if I tried to maintain at 8 ppm?

Anecdotally, I think you're right, it seems like I do lose my Cl faster at higher levels - like when you shock.

CYA is 45. I lose 2.0 to 3.0 ppm per day. Pool has very very light bather load, the odd leaf or pine needle, and full sun during daylight hours.

14KG, 30CYA, Full Central Texas Sun, lose 2ppm per day, 0.33Gal /per day at night, I always add chlorine when in the late evening and lose less than 0.5ppm overnight.

I just bought the house in March, (1st pool) and I'm still improving my routine but it looks like it will be 64oz of 6% per day or more and about a 1.5ppm loss per day. (I have a pretty high CYA at about 50 and am maintaining the chlorine as low as possible at 3ppm.)

I live in South Houston so I'm way south compared to 90% of you. We've been getting a great deal of rain recently as well so I've had some mustard algae. (yeah yeah, more bleach is the answer but how much?)

Maybe it's different since I'm so far south but I'd LOVE to know -when- people are adding their chlorine. I totally agree with Ben that adding it in the evening should let the chlorine get it's job done overnight before the sun starts to destroy it in the morning. It would be nice to have a chart of people's responses to look for trends in chlorine consumption.

Oh and, Thanks to everybody! I think I have almost as much fun running the pool as swimming in it!

19,000 gal AG pool, North Carolina, ~70% sun, light bather load, just a few leaves after a storm and a few bugs here and there, CYA 30, and 2-3ppm chlorine loss per day.

24' AG (approx 15,000 gal), CYA 25, full sun all day. Averaging 1 or 2 ppm per day, but the hot sunny days when the boys are in the pool all day requires 3 ppm. Moderate swimming load - somebody usually goes in every day.

Great thread!! I/G Plaster 22,000 gal outside the Motor City. 10 hours direct sunlight, CYA 30, medium bather load, lose about 2ppm per day.

Here's some more info for your table (under "chem_geek"). The pool is 16,000 Imperial Gallons. I would describe bather load as "light" with only one bather about 3 days during the week and two bathers 1 or 2 days on the weekend.

Having a pool cover makes a huge difference in chlorine consumption. My chlorine level is between 2-4 ppm (remember my CYA is only 15 ppm) and that probably helps as well.

Richard

1-2 ppm every 2-3 days when weather is fair.
Light bathter load, CYA <30, 24K vinyl IG 18x42, outdoors, full sun from 10 am til about 4 - then the shadows draw longer. Pucks at start of season, bleach only now. Alk has held fast between 70-80 since opening in mid-May, pH around 7.5 as far as I can tell. Having problems decipjering color endpoints on the pH test with my K2006.

Was very hot yesterday & today, had 3 kids over yesterday. Added 3 qts plus 1.46 galls belach and a lb of Borax last night. FC was 8, CC .5. Today at 3 FC=4, CC=0, all others the same. H2O temp of 86 with no cover.

24' AG pool ~13.5k gallons, light to medium bather load. CYA is ~10-20 (still waiting to test it again). Full sun from around 9am to 5:30pm. It's losing generally 1-1.5ppm of chlorine a day. We've had abnormally hot and humid weather for the last several days and my pool temp is currently up to a balmy 87. I'm hoping for a bit of rain tonight to bring the temp down.

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