Leslie’s Fresh n Clear vs SLAM for CC

[Jeffleonard102]

Hello,
I read a lot on this topic and just want to revisit a little bit.

Leslie’s Fresh n Clear. What is it?

Some folks around here swear by using Leslie’s Fresh n Clear non chlorine shock almost weekly. What is it? Why use it? I’m a newbie just starting to take charge of my pool. I said goodbye to my pool service. I have a K-2006C now so I’m ready.

www.troublefreepool.com

I just did my first SLAM as I start my first season with TFP methods. Overall my water is always pretty good. I was really doing it to get the CC to Zero.

It seems to take about $30 to get my chlorine up for a SLAM. I have a SWG and 60 CYA. I also don't prefer to drain my pool just to do this and save on chlorine.

After the SLAM, it took about a week for the chlorine to come back down. (it was a sunny week in CA, maybe it will still burn off faster in the summer). But to me this was kind of an inconvenience to have to wait.

When summer comes, I think I will have the CC problem more often as the pool will be heavily used. Not sure, but maybe not if I keep the chlorine good all the time.

My question is, isn't it more convenient and less expensive to just buy the fresh and clear and put it in once a week to keep the CC in check?

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[magiteck]

MPS (non chlorine shock) is not recommended. It’s an oxidizer but not a sanitizer, whereas chlorine does both, so at best it’s unnecessary. At worst it interferes with the CC test so you can’t accurately test until the MPS has all broken down.

Also there is no need to “wait for the chlorine to come back down” after a SLAM. You can safely swim in a clear pool at FC levels up to SLAM level.

If you maintain your FC levels based on the FC/CYA Levels you’ll have a clear pool and never need to shock or SLAM.

 

[PoolStored]

You can swim any time with FC up to slam level. No need to wait…

 

[Newdude]

Hey Jeff and belated Welcome !!!

Download PoolMath. If you want to move any parameter, it will tell you what to add. If XYZ from the pool store isn't on the list, put it back on the shelf. If they are selling Sodium Bicarbonate in a fancy bag called TA up, you are welcome to overspend on baking soda if you wish, and pool math calls for it.

Follow the FC/CYA Levels

Get a reliable test kit Test Kits Compared

Stay out the pool store and we will keep your money in your wallet. For nothing but feels.

Also, please Fill out your signature. It really helps us to know your pool details, equipment, model #s and test kit type. See the 2 above under their posts for ideas.

 

[wireform]

If you ride the FC on the hot side of target you won't have to worry about the CC. You will get to know what the pool needs every day for the FC loss and how much chlorine it needs to get it back. On days of heavy bather load you can add the chlorine before the heavy use so you never dip below.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

We don't worry about CCs until they're greater than 0.5. Some pools will always show a bit of CCs. Mine for instance if you test soon after opening the cover as the trapped gases normal to a pool will still be there. When I wait an hour or so- Voila! No CCs!

 

[poolnovice1]

They love selling that stuff at my local pool store. I tried it once a while back and it screwed up my CC levels for a while and I was back on the pool store merry go round. Never again.

 

[Jeffleonard102]

Thanks everyone. Didn't know you could swim in FC at levels in the upper 20's, good to know. I'll just run my pump 8-12 hrs a day and find the setting to keep my chlorine on the high end. Hopefully never have to do anything else, except monitor.

 

[magiteck]

Thanks everyone. Didn't know you could swim in FC at levels in the upper 20's, good to know. I'll just run my pump 8-12 hrs a day and find the setting to keep my chlorine on the high end. Hopefully never have to do anything else, except monitor.

The chemists here could explain it better, but essentially the CYA and the chlorine bind together, which has the effect of making the ‘active’ chlorine concentration lower. So even though you might have 24ppm chlorine, most of that is bound to cya and not actively “fighting”.

Here’s a fun chart-

(Borrowed from here, citing Richard Falk, an expert on the subject and former active contributor here.)

I know it doesn’t get to your levels, but it shows the relationship. You can see that 2ppm FC with no CYA has an active concentration of 0.97. Comparatively, 10ppm FC at 50 CYA is only 0.1, almost 10x lower.

So when people say “more then 2ppm of chlorine is dangerous” for example, they aren’t considering the chlorine-CYA ratio.

It’s based on this science that we confidently state it is completely safe to swim in a clear pool with a chlorine level up to the “SLAM Level” for your CYA on the FC/CYA Levels.

 

[Newdude]

+1

and your tap water with 0 CYA and up to 4 ppm FC is harsher than any target level on the FC/CYA chart. And they DRINK that. Boil their spaghetti in it even. They have zero problems bathing in tap.

 

[poolnovice1]

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