Thinking about bleach...

[trainwrecked]

Hello all. I recently took a 25k gallon pool under my wing. Things have been pleasant so far, no algae, water stays clear, no CC's that I can detect with Taylor 1005 kit. But, my CYA is at 60. I was doing a little research, which brought me here and to the best guess chart, which tells me I should be keeping my CL around 4-8 instead of the 1-2 where I've been keeping it. I'm using stabilized tablets, and now I understand that continued use will drive my CYA higher. However, I really enjoy the convenience of loading the feeder once a week.

So here's my question, if I switch to bleach, how often will I need to add it? I know this can vary, but I'm wondering what addition schedule people are typically following? The other option I have is to change enough water to keep my CYA down and keep using the tabs. Trying to figure the most cost effective/time effective approach.

Here are my current parameters (I know, should have gotten the K2006, it's on the shopping list):
FC / TC - 2
CYA - 60
ALK - 85 (adding about 3 pounds bicarb/week)
pH - 7.5
CH - 400 (I haven't added any, started out with this number)

It's a 25k gallon vinyl liner pool. Pump runs 24/7, Hayward sand filter and Hayward chlorinator currently using trichlor tabs.

I welcome any and all suggestions, thanks!!

[Tom007]

I add some bleach every evening, about sun set. You save a little money if you add it at night, since it has all night to work before the sun hits it the next day and starts reducing it.

I have CYA at 50, and have also thought about draining and replacing some water so I can start using the tablets again. Water is cheap where I live, plus I could just fill it with rain water over the winter when evaporation is low. I am thinking about running the roof downspout into the pool to do this.

[PoolDoc]

The higher your CYA level, the less often you need to add chlorine.

For example, if you dose to 8 ppm, it will probably be 2 - 3 days before it drops to 4 ppm, and you need to add more.

At higher CYA levels, you can dose weekly.

Welcome to the forum.

[trainwrecked]

Thanks Ben, after a few days, I am seeing that trend. I was concerned about how much bleach and how often, but it seems like a jug will last 5-7 days, which is not bad at all. My pool was clear before, but I dare say that it seems to sparkle more now that I've got the Cl up where it needs to be.

Unfortunately, I was a sucker at the pool store the first day out and bought everything... to the tune of $650. Oh well, I feel bad for the people who are not fortunate enough to figure out the chemistry on their own and who keep relying on the pool shop (who would have had me keeping my Cl too low, shocking 2x a week, adding algaecide, etc...). They actually laughed at me when I bought the test kit, they said all I should test at home was Cl and thought it was cute that I wanted to test the rest on my own, and said I would still need to bring them my water weekly.

[PoolDoc]

Unfortunately, I was a sucker at the pool store the first day out and bought everything... to the tune of $650.

They actually laughed at me when I bought the test kit, they said all I should test at home was Cl and thought it was cute that I wanted to test the rest on my own, and said I would still need to bring them my water weekly.

Wow. Just wow.

$650 for startup chemicals on a 27K gallon pool is some impressive gouging. Sorry you were the victim!

[Watermom]

No kidding, wow!!! Sorry that happened to you. Never again, though, huh?