Does polyquat make a difference when closing with a mesh cover?

[swimmy22]

Has anyone on here seen that polyquat makes a difference when closing with a mesh cover before the water temperature is below 60 degrees? If it can make a difference, is it best to add it at half SLAM level or at full SLAM level so there is more chlorine in the pool after it is added. Last year, I closed at SLAM level without adding polyquat with cooler water temperatures and opened up to significant algae with staining because of the mesh cover and mild winter. I’m closing in 5 days with 67 degree water so I’m planning on adding polyquat this time. I just need to know if I would have better results if it is added at 1/2 SLAM (8 ppms) or at full SLAM (16 ppms). I am also wondering if it would help if I added some chlorine or more polyquat in a few months if we end up having another mild winter like last year.

 

[PoolStored]

1/2 slam is 1/2 way between normal FC level and SLAM. So, for 40 CYA, 1/2 slam would be halve way between 7 and 16...or about 11-12. Don't add the PQ at full slam level FC.

The key to no algae is closing when water is below 60 degrees and opening with water below 60.

With mesh cover here in Ohio, Oct 15 close and open March 15. 1/2 slam, and PQ has resulted in 2 and 2.5 FC when I open in the spring.

You just need to close later and open earlier.

Yes, you can add chlorine in the winter, but you need to run a robot to mix water (rain water stratifies), then add chlorine with a sump pump running so chlorine doesn't pool at bottom where you pour, then run the robot again to mix.

 

[swimmy22]

1/2 slam is 1/2 way between normal FC level and SLAM. So, for 40 CYA, 1/2 slam would be halve way between 7 and 16...or about 11-12. Don't add the PQ at full slam level FC.

The key to no algae is closing when water is below 60 degrees and opening with water below 60.

With mesh cover here in Ohio, Oct 15 close and open March 15. 1/2 slam, and PQ has resulted in 2 and 2.5 FC when I open in the spring.

You just need to close later and open earlier.

Yes, you can add chlorine in the winter, but you need to run a robot to mix water (rain water stratifies), then add chlorine with a sump pump running so chlorine doesn't pool at bottom where you pour, then run the robot again to mix.

Thanks for clarifying this. I thought half SLAM meant half of the SLAM level which is 8 if you have a CYA of 40. Do I need to get FC up to SLAM level if CC is .5 or less and the water is clear? If I get it to SLAM level now, it might not be below 11-12 in 4 days so I’d like to just get it up to 13-14 instead so it’s not too high in 4 days for using polyquat. Unfortunately I can’t wait until the water temperature dips below 60 to close because the pool closing is already scheduled.

 

[PoolStored]

I am confident with my pool water quality. I just raise to noted half way between normal and SLAM, add the PQ and close 24 hours later.

 

[Homebrewale]

It has not made a difference to me. I have used Polyquat in the past but not for several years. I do not have algae in the spring, using PQ or not. I've actually never opened to a green pool since I started opening pools in 2006. I just close and open when the water reaches 60F.

 

[ba67]

I always add polyquat at closing if I am closing my mesh-covered pool before the water temperature is below 60 degrees. I think the polyquat makes a difference because I've noticed that I don't have algae in my water when I open the cover to drain water out in the late fall or early winter. The one time that I closed at shock level without polyquat, I noticed some algae in the water when I opened up the cover a month after closing to drain water out.

 

[swimmy22]

I am confident with my pool water quality. I just raise to noted half way between normal and SLAM, add the PQ and close 24 hours later.

If I add the polyquat at halfway between SLAM and normal levels, how much will the FC go down after it is added? If it goes down to below minimum FC level, do I add chlorine before closing? What is the best way to add the polyquat? Can it be poured in front of a deep end return or does it need to be poured around the entire pool and brushed in?

 

[PoolStored]

If I add the polyquat at halfway between SLAM and normal levels, how much will the FC go down after it is added?

Will vary in every pool. Don't worry about it.

If it goes down to below minimum FC level, do I add chlorine before closing?

Add the pq, circulate for 24 hours and close. I wouldn't even measure FC again until spring.

What is the best way to add the polyquat? Can it be poured in front of a deep end return or does it need to be poured around the entire pool and brushed in?

Poured around the perimeter of the pool, brush in, circulate for 24 hours.