Algae is driving me nuts

[CarlD]

... So generally if you are going to add a lot of chlorine and PolyQuat, such as when you are going to close a pool for the winter, you first shock with chlorine, then when the chlorine drops to more normal levels, you add a bunch of PolyQuat and close up. That was their recommendation for winter closing.

Richard

I go the next step, wait 48 hours, and THEN shock the pool back up to 14 or 15 and close. This is the 4th year in a row I've opened to perfectly clear water in the spring. Junk on the bottom of course, but the water is clear and NOT green.

[shadowman]

I dumped a whole quart of Polyquat in and didn't notice much impact on chlorine. We are having a strange summer here with temps over 100 one week and 70's with rain the next. The blanket has been on since Sunday and I've hardly added any chlorine. I hope some day to actually be able to swim in it again and enjoy the clear water!!!

[chem geek]

It's the combination of high PolyQuat concentration AND high chlorine concentration that leads to rapid consumption. If either is at lower concentration, then their mutual reaction and destruction of chlorine is slower -- proportional to the product of the two concentrations.

So unless your chlorine was at a higher shock level, you might not notice the slower reaction.

[CarlD]

...

So unless your chlorine was at a higher shock level, you might not notice the slower reaction.

I did not know that. Good to know!