How do I get started with the BBB method for swimming pool care?

Question

How do I get started with the BBB method for swimming pool care?

Answer 1

BBB just refers to using Bleach, Borax and Baking Soda for chemical additions of chlorine, increasing pH, and increasing Total Alkalinity (TA).

They stand for the supermarket chemicals:

Bleach for chlorine--regular or ultra unscented. 1 gallon of regular bleach, with a 5.25% concentration will add 5.25ppm of Free Chlorine (the good stuff--FC) to 10,000 gallons of water. 1 gallon of Ultra at 6% will add 6ppm of FC to 10,000 gallons of water.

Borax for raising pH--"20 Mule Team Borax" at the supermarket, and

Baking Soda for raising Total Alkalinity. Good Ol' Arm & Hammer--or generic.

We also generally use Muriatic Acid to lower pH--this is available at hardware and tile stores. But Dry Acid is OK to use as well.

From the Pool Store, you need only CYA/Stabilizer/Cyanuric Acid (all the same thing) and if you MUST have an algaecide, use Polyquat 60%... it's not a brand, you look at the label and if it says "Poly [oxyethylene (dimethyliminio) ethylene (dimethyliminio) ethylene dichloride]" and nothing else, or "inert ingredients" that's the stuff. It can be called Algaecide, Black Algaecide, Mustard Out, etc....check the label and go by that.