Late season results

[CarlD]

Huh?
Tri-chlor pucks do NOTHING for low calcium levels. They are no better for that than bleach. Tri-chlor is good for new plaster pools that need CYA and are very basic as they cure. The Tri-chlor adds CYA and helps keep pH down because they are VERY acid. But they don't have calcium. Ever.

If you need to raise calcium use either the calcium powder (Calcium carbonate?) the pool store sells or chlorinate with Cal-Hypo powder or tabs (WARNING: DO NOT ADD THEM TO YOUR CHLORINATOR! VERY, VERY DANGEROUS! NEVER MIX CHLORINE TYPES IN ANY DISPENSER! ).
Don't get the junky 48% chlorine cal-hypo that Wal-Mart and the discount houses sell (usually HTH), but search for the 68% chlorine version the better pool stores stock. It costs more but actually adds more chlorine per dollar and does NOT add nearly as much "inert ingredients".

Calcium Hypochlorite adds calcium and chlorine to your water, and may push your pH up, but you can adjust that with Muriatic Acid. Cal-Hypo does NOT add stabilizer.

Your assumption that you needed to switch to tri-chlor because calcium was low isn't correct (some pool store ignoramous told you that, I guess... "Dat's wot everybuddy uses.."), so you don't have to feel like you are caught on the horns of a dilemma.

You can ALWAYS use bleach to chlorinate, and simply add anything you need, like calcium or CYA or sodium bicarbonate (to raise T/A). If you run a higher Calcium level (like the high 300's, but below 400), you may not need to add in the spring.

[kearpaul]

Thanks again, Carl:

You're completely right. I was very unclear about what pucks I was using. Initially, I used Cal-Hypo pucks to raise Cal, but they did a crummy job of putting actual chlorine into the water. (It was a Walmart brand, not a pool store ignoramus. Just my own innate ignoramus tendency.) Once Cal was back on track, I switched to trichlor pucks. Net result, I fixed my Cal problem but am now overstabilized -- reaping what I sowed.

Best and HNY,
Paul

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We may not pay Satan reverence, for that would be indiscreet, but we can at least respect his talents.
Mark Twain