Borax

[fcfrey]

Thanks to all --- Glad I could add a bit of humor for all. Next step will be Bleach --- downloaded the calculator. Problem is I have lots of pucks and Cal Hypo left.

May try a liquid shock today -- smelling the chloromines just a bit, soooo.... Do need to add OTO to my DPH kit so I can look at the higher CL Levels.

[aylad]

If your calcium level isn't too high (more than 200 or so for a vinyl pool, then you can still use the cal-hypo to shock if you want to--you just don't want to let it get high enough to start precipitating out of the water. Tightly cap your trichlor picks, and you can use them at the beginning of next season when you're trying to raise your CYA again.

Janet

[fcfrey]

OK --- that sounds reasonable --- Perhaps I should start another thread for this question.

I have never seen a difference when I test for total chlorine. Using a DPD test kit --- Fresh reagents and careful attention to procedure. Free chlorine now is between 2 & 3 when I add the 5 drops of R0003 nothing changes. We shock regularly (once per month) and I really don't want to see any combined chlorine but I would think I should see something. Perhaps I shock too often??

[Watermom]

You shouldn't necessarily see any CC. I never do. It just means you are keeping your chlorine levels up adequately.

[fcfrey]

Thank you. We try. Our pool is always nice and the water has a good smell to it.

All this begs the question though --- What is the criteria for shocking the pool?

[Watermom]

You do not routinely need to shock the pool. I only shock if I see CC (which is practically never) or if we have had a really large number of swimmers or if there has been a lot of rain that put a lot of organic debris in the water. If you maintain your water chemistry, you really don't have to shock the pool. I don't think I have shocked at all this season. (Unless I did it once early in the season and have just forgotten.)