Chlorine tabs w/o CYA

[zz28zz]

I'll have to look around for a bulk bleach supplier. I'm using a gallon (8.25%) every 2 to 3 days in the summer just to maintain 3-5ppm. (CYA is at 50) Shocking the pool with bleach is going to really be a pain.
Before we re-plastered, I used the fine granual dry shock. That worked OK, but I'm trying to get away from that.

I discovered re-purposing my oil filter pliers a couple of weeks ago when I couldn't find my strap wrench and needed to tighten the quick disconnect on my filter pump inlet. They really do work great!

[Watermom]

You may want to consider bumping your CYA up some. Sometimes, people who live places that are very hot and sunny find that having a little higher CYA allows them to dose with bleach less often. One of our former mods lives in NW Louisiana and deliberately keeps her CYA around 80ppm. Just something to think about. If you do decide to raise it some, go to 60 for a couple of weeks and see how that works on your pool and then go a little higher if you want. Gradual increases rather than big changes. Easy to add more CYA, hard to lower it.

By the way, if you are diligent about keeping your chlorine between the minimum and maximum levels based on your CYA, you should seldom need to shock. Pool stores and pool chemical companies tell you to shock weekly but it isn't necessary. They just want to sell more chemicals.

[zz28zz]

Temps here are starting to drop, so hopefully the chlorine demand will start dropping too.

Re-checked my CYA yesterday. That test indicated I'm closer to 40 instead of 50, so I do need to bump it up a bit. Just finished dissolving the last bit of solid CYA I had via the sock method. I have some pucks left over so I might as well use them to help bring the CYA up a bit more. Also picked-up a floating dispenser and will throw a couple of pucks in there also.
I gotta be careful about over-shooting the CYA since replacing a large amount of water is very expensive due to the house being on a low-producing well (gotta truck in water).

Pool looks great and CC levels are close to zero so I don't see a need to shock yet.
Thx for all the replies!! You guys are awesome :-)

[Watermom]

If you use the trichlor pucks, keep an eye on your pH. They are extremely acidic and will push your pH down.

[zz28zz]

If you use the trichlor pucks, keep an eye on your pH. They are extremely acidic and will push your pH down.

No problem with the pucks. I have to add a gallon of acid every 2-3 days anyway. My fill water is very hard.

[PoolDoc]

@Carl: I'd never seen those before. I linked your pick, but here are some more links, since they come in sizes:

Channellock 209 9-Inch Oil Filter and PVC Plier

Channellock 215 15-1/2-Inch Oil Filter and PVC Plie

[CarlD]

@Ben,

I have a pair of them--had them for years, just for the pool. Home Depot sells them, and Harbor Freight sells a no-name version of them as well. I didn't know they came in sizes!
I use them on the quick connects, and on the screw-on caps and spigots for the 5 gallon carboys of LC.