Looking to "convert" to BBB? Have questions though.

[troykristoffer]

If there's one thing I've learned from my new home's pool, its ask here first, save headaches later.

I am interested in switching from Chlorine Pucks to BBB. Honestly, this is my first season, and aside from the recent algaecide foam nightmare, it has been chrystal clear and easy to maintain with the pucks.

I have noticed my CYA creeping up and realize this is not good, which is why I was looking into the BBB.

My questions are as follows:

1. How do I start? Just shock the pool with 1243 gallons of chlorox? Or do I have to do some dance to prepare the puck-chlorinated water for chlorox?
2. Do I have to empty the pool first to get rid of the CYA?
3. Speaking of CYA, I've read that it doesnt break down and go away. How do I get rid of it then? (Ignore this question if the answer to #2 is yes.)
4. Where the heck do you get all that bleach? My local supermarket doesnt carry more than probably 10 gallons of plain bleach on the shelf...(maybe in back?) how long would that last me?
5. I read about this "formula" that tells me how much bleach to use in my pool. What is it?
6. Would it be better just to continue using the pucks til the end of this season and start out with the BBB next season?
7. I'd rather not convert if its going to put the pool out of commission for a large chunk of the remaining pool season. How long does conversion take? (i.e. How long will it take before I can swim again?)
8. Haha... can I use the scented bleach and have a flowery smelling pool?
9. If I continue using pucks how do you control CYA?
10. What exactly happens when CYA gets too high again? ( I know what its purpose is, but cant remember what the problem it causes is. )

Thank you profuseley to anyone who takes the time to answer my questions.

[poolmom06]

OK I will try to answer as many of your questions as I can...
1. I just started, but my question is how many gallons does your pool hold, I seriously doubt you need that much bleach, if you are not having a problem, and just want to maintain your chlorine level, 1-2 gallons per week would be plenty.
2. If your CYA is extremely high, I would do a partial drain and refill to lower the level.
3.see above
4. I get mine at WalMart, I get the Great Value Ultra bleach, you can get 3/4 gallon for $1.28 or a 1.25 gallon for $2.28(means less bottles)
5. The bleach calc needs to be downloaded, I will find it and post it for you.
6. If you want to switch over this year, there is no reason why you can't, just stop using the pucks, and start using the bleach... that's what I did..
7. it won't put the pool out of commission or at least it didn't mine, it actually put mine into commision( I was dealing with an algae bloom and it took care of it, quick!) Just maintain your chlorine level between 3-6 ppm.
8. I honestly don't know the answer to this question, I have no idea!
9. You can buy it at the pool store, it's also known as stabilizer, it keeps the chlorine from burning off immediately, you need it in your water just not alot of it!
10. The only way to bring CYA is to do a partial drain and refill... sorry!!
I hope this helps just a little, keep reading here, read all the stickies and ask all the questions you have, none is too stupid. When I found this place, I was dealing with a huge algea problem, the BBB method cleared it right up and I have used it religously since. Make sure you get a good test kit, one that measures TC, FC, PH, ALK, CYA and CA... the readings will come in handy here. Welcome to the forum, do your homework and read all the posts, it will take you some time but you will be happy you did it, so will your pocketbook!!
Good Luck to you and be sure to stick around!!

[duraleigh]

1. Buy a test kit that will test for FC, CC, pH, Alk, and CYA.....then keep reading everything you can on this forum...particularly the stickys

2. Yes

3. Ignored

4. Buy it....they'll get more.

5. "bleachcalc"....downloaded from posts by mwsmith2 on this forum

6. No

7. 3-5 seconds...seriously

8. No

9. You cant

10. Usually, a very green, algae-laden pool

[poolmom06]

[URL="http://home.earthlink.net/~mwsmith70...achCalc262.exe"[/URL]
there is the bleachcalc link, hope it works!!

[sevver]

here
it is actually.

[troykristoffer]

Hehe, thank you all for your help. I really appreciate it. My pool is approximately 25,000 from what I can calculate (35'L x1 6'W x 6'AVD x 7.5 rectangle = 25,200 gal) The bleachcalc program is no longer available at that link, but I certainly appreciate the help!

Okay... just a couple more questions...

I have expensive test strips...they have the little squares on them that test for all of the things you mentioned...(Hardness (which I think is CC right?) Total Chlor, Free Chlor, pH, Alk, and CYA) is that good enough or do I need to get the chemistry set? (I will if I need to, its just that I Have a whole bottle of these strips already that I just bought... and I'd hate to waste them, since it has all the tests you mentioned anyway.)

So, I just did a reading from the strips.
Harness is low (100ppm) (BTW...is this CC? [Calcium?])
Total Chlorine is low (0.5ppm) (I just put new pucks in exactly 24 hours ago!)
Free Chlorine is low (0.5)
pH is low (6.8)
Alk is low (40)
CYA is IDEAL (30-50)

So... heres my question... seeing how this pool test (assuming these test strips are accurate enough.) is reading low on everything, and Ideal on CYA is it safe and advisable to just go ahead with the BBB method without emptying the pool? Cuz I certainly can't do that right now. We have to pay for our water. (As Im sure alot of you do too...) and it would probably take a month to fill my pool! LOL

Again, thank you for all your help!

Oh...and if I cant use the flowery bleach, can I use the mountain fresh scent?

[waterbear]

try this link for bleachcalc
http://home.earthlink.net/~mwsmith70/data/
then click on bleachcalc262.exe to download it. Don't know why it isn't working like it ususally does.

You need to use plain , unscented bleach. the scented bleaches are NOT EPA approved sanitizers. I would get a drop bases test kit ASAP. YOu can get a decent basic one at WalMart for under $20 that will test all paramters except free chlorine (and there is no easy way to test shock levels of chlorine with it) that will get you by for a while but you really should invest in a good kit like the Taylor K-2006 or the PS234 sold on the sister website to this forum www.poolsolutions.com
It is a much better 'bang for the buck' than the Taylor kit!

[KurtV]

Hehe, thank you all for your help. I really appreciate it. My pool is approximately 25,000 from what I can calculate (35'L x1 6'W x 6'AVD x 7.5 rectangle = 25,200 gal) The bleachcalc program is no longer available at that link, but I certainly appreciate the help!
Search for posts by mwsmith2. There's a link to BleachCalc in every one of his signature lines. Some of the links work and some don't.

Okay... just a couple more questions...

I have expensive test strips...they have the little squares on them that test for all of the things you mentioned...(Hardness (which I think is CC right?) Total Chlor, Free Chlor, pH, Alk, and CYA) is that good enough or do I need to get the chemistry set? (I will if I need to, its just that I Have a whole bottle of these strips already that I just bought... and I'd hate to waste them, since it has all the tests you mentioned anyway.)
Get a good test kit. An FAS-DPD test is best. The Taylor K-2006 is an excellent one but the PS-234 that Ben sells on PoolSolutions.com is even better (Ben's kit is very similar to the Taylor kit but is a much better bang for the buck; he has right-sized the reagents so that you'll get more of those you use more frequently). A distant third place is the 5-way test from Wal-Mart. It's a good stop-gap until you get the Taylor kit or (preferably) Ben's.

So, I just did a reading from the strips.
Harness is low (100ppm) (BTW...is this CC? [Calcium?])
Total Chlorine is low (0.5ppm) (I just put new pucks in exactly 24 hours ago!)
Free Chlorine is low (0.5)
pH is low (6.8)
Alk is low (40)
CYA is IDEAL (30-50)

These readings are very suspect because they're based on guess-strips. Is there a good local pool store you can go to for testing until you get a good test kit? Most do it gratis.

So... heres my question... seeing how this pool test (assuming these test strips are accurate enough.) is reading low on everything, and Ideal on CYA is it safe and advisable to just go ahead with the BBB method without emptying the pool? Cuz I certainly can't do that right now. We have to pay for our water. (As Im sure alot of you do too...) and it would probably take a month to fill my pool! LOL
If your CYA test is accurate, you'll be fine with using bleach as your chlorine source (that's a big if).


Again, thank you for all your help!

Oh...and if I cant use the flowery bleach, can I use the mountain fresh scent?
No. Unscented only. Generic is cheaper and just as effective.

Best of luck.

[troykristoffer]

Best of luck.

Heehee...I was kidding about the scented bleach


Thank you all for your help. I will take some water to my local pool store this weekend and then if I'm lucky, just go buy a truckload of bleach from the store.

[Bergerman]

you need to get the cl up. ph needs to increase above 7.2 and the alk should come up. Try getting the cl to increase with plain bleach, this sometimes increases the ph in my pool. I would solve 1 problem at a time and keep posting your #s. Get a good test,it is a great investment(my kids love doing the testing).

good luck,
Ed