vacation--how much bleach

[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.

[Tomcat]

If you're running your pump, put a puck in each skimmer as an added measure. That won't significantly alter your current CYA level. That's my plan when I leave for 10 days.

[ChuckD]

Also consider adding water to the pool, or turning off skimmers. You don't want your pump to be sucking air because the level dropped below the skimmer in your absence.

ChuckD

[ScottS]

If you're running your pump, put a puck in each skimmer as an added measure. That won't significantly alter your current CYA level. That's my plan when I leave for 10 days.

Not sure if this is such a good idea. It all depends on the current pH level. I find adding a puck to the skimmer rapidly decreases the pH and the puck might only last a day in the skimmer anyway. This won't help much because it won't do anything for the CL level later on in the week.

I'd just use bleach to bring it up to shock level and not have to worry about the pH.

[AmigaDude]

I've found that a "floater" with 3 sticks of Tri-Clor, and/or a stick in each skimmer will last me for a week without any concerns. But, I usually raise the levels with bleach (like rhosk said) just before I leave, just in case.

Also, I keep the pump on the usually timer settings so that the chlorine gets mixed in.