vacation--how much bleach

[poolhelp101]

leaving for vacation and i'm new to using the bleach. Would you please tell me what i need to do to make sure my chlorine levels don't get too low while i'm gone. As it is right now, i am having to add 3/4 gallon every night?
I need your help with this, please advise. Thanks

[rhosk]

How long will you be away and what is your CYA level?

[poolhelp101]

i will be gone 5 days and my cya level is 50

[rhosk]

Ah, 5 days, not too long. There are still MANY variables that we don't know (location [sunny, rainy, cloudy], cover?, recent chem. balance problems, etc...). Can a neighbor put a gallon or so every other day until you return? I wouldn't recommend pucks as your CYA is at the border according to recomends here. Even if your chlorine goes to nil for a day or two, it shouldn't hurt it (if no problems currently and water is clear).

[poolhelp101]

no 5 days not long, actually not a vacation, father having surgery. but i do have some water problems that developed....i have posted that here under the title "swim after bleach" the water is still a slight blue, slight cloudy water (just can't seem to get that cleared up) ph 7.5, chlorine 5.0, ta 180. no neighbor to add the bleach. live in kentucky, weather has been cool the past week, expected to be 80-85, rain expected only one day while i am gone. i do have a heater and vinyl liner

[rhosk]

Well, if it were me, I'd take my chlorine to @10-12, then go. If you can run your filter while you're gone, great. If not, run it for a few hours before leaving, you should be fine. Who knows, maybe your water will be better when you get back.

Hope everything goes well.

[Watermom]

You will probably be fine. You could always throw in a dose of polyquat 60% algaecide as another preventative. Or not. The worse that could happen is that you come home to some algae. If that happens, we can help you clear it up. Not the end of the world. Fathers are more important.

[poolhelp101]

thank you. i have what's called back-up algacide, bioguard product i had bought before i found this forum and starting using bleach...is that okay to use the back up algacide instead of the polyquat? also, do i need to add enough bleach to get to shock level before i go? thank you very much for your help

[ScottS]

thank you. i have what's called back-up algacide, bioguard product i had bought before i found this forum and starting using bleach...is that okay to use the back up algacide instead of the polyquat? also, do i need to add enough bleach to get to shock level before i go? thank you very much for your help

Personally I wouldn't use the product unless it was Poly quat.

Quoting from here: http://www.poolsolutions.com/tips/tip08.html

"Poly quat -- poly[oxyethylene(dimethyliminio)ethylene(dimethyliminio ) ethylene dichloride] -- is sold under multiple names. But if it says 'poly . . . ', it's polyquat."

Check the ingredients on your bottle and if it is Poly quat go for it.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to bring the CL to shock level especially if no one will be adding bleach for you while you are gone.

Enjoy your vacation! I leave next week for vacation and I am really looking forward to it!

Take care.

[poolhelp101]

thank you for all who has replied to help me. i certainly appreciate it.
and to Rhosk...i didn't see your reply to bring my cl to 10-12 until just now. and i too hope my water will be better when i get back. that would be a welcomed sight for sure!!! and i do run my filter 24/7 so hopefully that too will help.