In need of advice, once again!

[aylad]

Hi Renee,

I am so sorry to hear of your losses--this is an awful time for you and I hope that things start getting better for you soon.

Getting in the pool with the dead algae isn't really a problem health-wise, the only issue would be that if the pool is cloudy, it's hard to see anybody that might be underwater having troubles--so as long as that won't be a problem for you, I wouldn't worry about it.

I don't know what your current CYA level is, so it's hard to say whether you should increase it or not. These are the first few suggestions that come to mind...

1)if you have a cover, then raise the chlorine level and then cover it up,
2)Give it a good dose of polyquat 60 algaecide, then shock the next day (similar to how many people close for the winter)
3) Use a floater with trichlor pucks in it, tethered to both sides of the pool so that it won't float over and sit next to your liner for any length of time.

I'll do some thinking on it, but these are the three most logical choices I can come up with. And, after all that, the worst thing that will happen is that you come home to algae, which can always be cleaned up later--I suspect that the pool is very low on your priority list right now, as it should be. It can always be dealt with later on.

[rannrich]

aylad

Thank you, you are correct the pool has not been high on the priority list but I don't want to come home to something that will take weeks to clear up.

Here are the current numbers:

fc 7
cc .5
ph 7.8
ta 120
cya - I have read some discussion on how this test should be done here so don't laugh.
facing the sun 40
back to the sun 50

Thanks again for all your help, I don't own a cover, but #2 and #3 are possibles. The pucks and the floater I know I can get, not sure where to get the polyquat.

Renee

[Watermom]

A CYA reading of 40 and 50 are basically the same since that test is pretty subjective anyways. Do you have a neighbor who could come by every few days and dump a couple gallons of bleach in for you while you are gone? That is also another option.

(My sympathies to you.)

[rannrich]

Thank you Watermom,

Unfortunately, we have no one that will be able to help us out next week.

[Watermom]

Check your pool store for the Polyquat. Do NOT substitute a different one. Some others cause lots of problems. If you can't find it, don't worry about it. Use Janet's suggestions above and if you do have some algae when you get back, we can help you get it cleared up. There are lots of things in life more important than a pristine swimming pool. Deal with what is important now and we'll help you worry about the pool later. Take care.