1st attempt with opening

[Bergerman]

Hi all, I have had my vin pool for a few years. I am going to open it up myself next month and I need a quick brief on the pitfalls and chemicals to get. I use the bleach and other "store" products. I have a heatpump and a DE filter. Do I need to get some polyquat or just use bleach? Also, I have a solid cover. The pool company wanted to charge $37.00 to wash and put some stow away preservative on the cover. Does anyone know what that stuff is and where would/should you use it? Any and all advice would be gr8 . I can not wait to get the cover off.

Clueless in NJ
Bergerman

[MarkC]

I only add polyquat in the fall during closing. My spring start up is usaully turn on the filter, shock and vac the pool, then after a few days of filter running test the water and start adjusting pH, Alkalinity, hardness. With your solid cover you may not have to do much, my mesh cover lets in the rain over the winter and I always open to low hardness. I open early to avoid algea problems as the water is cold.

[Bergerman]

thanks for the info

[MarkC]

Also see Ben's post much more detailed than mine
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=190

[brent.roberts]

If you run your chlorine levels correctly for the CYA in your pool you should not need polyquat, except as noted by MarkC, at fall close up. There are lots of people on this forum that don't use it without problems, and there are those that like suspenders and a belt and put it in anyway.

[waste]

As for the polyquat, it's your choice - the old forum had some threads that advocated both ways - I'll try to sum up the oppinions from (failing?) memory.
* Con - it's a waste of $ if you keep your cl in check and sufficient
- why add an extra chem to the pool if you don't need it?
- never used it, never needed to
- tried it once but it foamed up the pool (that was a cheep algicide, which are notorious for foaming)

* Pro - It's an insurance policy against algae (sometimes you forget to add or check the cl )
- the amount you add is small (for a maint. dose) so a quart or two lasts the whole season.
- ' I just feel better knowing that it's there'
- 'I use it but I only buy it when it's on sale at "X" (store)'

In short, it's a matter of choice - if you're sure that you can and will keep up with the pool using bleach, you don't need to use it - if you're unsure, add a few oz. every other week

[duraleigh]

Now we know where the old posts disappeared to....Waste got 'em!!

Waste, that's a perfect synopsis of the polyquat posts...The "Brown" at Woodstock obviously had some beneficial side effects

Dave S.

[Bergerman]

Thank you all for the replies. I used the polyquat the first season but have not used it again. I will stick with the bleach. The cover comes off the end of the month.

Take care all
Ed

[huskerfan]

I'm all for preventative here- but make sure the ingredients has poly...anything 60%, or don't use it at all. I just purchased some called Pooltrine from Lesliespool.com for $7.73/qt- CHEAP! Granted there's a small handling charge - but it stores and keeps well. Read the label, though- must say poly... 60%! I use it once a week - just a small maintenance dose- small price for assurance.

[Bergerman]

Thanks to all for the info

When you turn on the pump for the first time, should you pump to waste to get the anti-freeze out of the lines or is that a waste of time ?

Clueless in NJ
Ed