I simply ask the house-sitter to add 1/2 gallon of bleach every other day. I tell them to pour it into the skimmer while it's running. That's it! And I'm good for up to 2 weeks.

I've tried the CYA routine--the CYA went to 60ppm, the pH went below 6.8 and I had to desperately pour in 2 boxes of Borax as soon as I got home.

You could try Cal-Hypo capsules--if you can find the plastic-wrapped ones you can drop 2 or 3 in your skimmer and be fine. Or, if you are stuck with the newer un-wrapped ones, you can put them in a NEW floater (can't have Tri-Chlor in it) and set it at the lowest setting--and hope. I suppose you could try putting the new Cal-hypo tabs in something like panty-hose to keep it from clogging the floater or spilling on the pool floor. But I don't know if Cal-Hypo will dissolve the panty hose or not....If it won't you are OK.