What to add for the winter?

[bmlocal175]

Going to close the pool sometime at the end of this month and was wondering what to add to get me through the winter and not have a swamp in the spring.

When I opened it this spring it was really bad. I had curtains of algae floating around and probably 2x2 sheets of them. Maybe I opened it to late but it was mid May.

My co worker says his is clear in the shallow and just cloudy in the deep end in the spring. Mine was not even close to that. He said he buys some kit at the pool store with some super shock and algae stuff for 60 bucks. I wanted to tell him he was probably a super sucker. Anyway whats the best thing to do for the hard central NY winters? Since I have had the pool for a few years the opening has always looked pretty bad. I usually dump 5 gallons of the store chlorine and call it a day. They have the higher concentrate.

[Watermom]

There are some stickies at the top of the fall closing section with information about closing a pool. Read those and then come back with specific questions if you need more information.

[CarlD]

While we have stickies my quickie take is:
1) Wait till the water is at or just above 60 degrees
2) Clean totally
3) Run FC up to shock level for your CYA level
4) Add 1 quart of 60% Polyquat
5) Wait 48 hours
6) Run FC up to shock level again and close.

In the spring, open after the last ice is gone but before the algae starts growing, if you can.

[Spensar]

I'd be interested in when your co-worker opens and closes the pool. I started off using kits but have gone to something similar to what Carl posted. The biggest thing I have found is when I close and open. I have mostly closed as late as possible, and opened in mid-April at the worst. I'm a bit north of your, and the only times I have had algae problems is when I either closed to early or opened late. ie. There was enough heat to let stuff get growing.

Good memories of Oswego, my son played in a hockey tournament there about 5 years ago.

[CarlD]

I've only been to Oswego once, back in 1976 around November. I remember it being cold and damp.

The running joke about towns in upstate New York is that there are two seasons: Winter and the 4th of July!

[Spensar]

The running joke about towns in upstate New York is that there are two seasons: Winter and the 4th of July!

We say our two seasons are winter and construction!