BBB method for pools

Postby **Larry** » Fri 06 Mar, 2009 03:31

Due to popular request, a forum dedicated to the use of bleach, baking soda and borax to replace more expensive swimming pool chemicals has been launched.

A more detailed explanation, guides and information will follow soon. If you can help or contribute with information, your experiences or anecdotes, please do.

Remember that these forums are free and open to all. You do NOT have to register to enjoy the benefits of reading and posting topics, and you are welcome to remain anonymous. We do encourage you to register, however, to take advantage of some added features on the forums. There will also be some special offers available to registered users of the Swimming Pool Forums (to be announced soon).

BBB method · Postby **BBB method** » Thu 12 Mar, 2009 05:35

I'm real excited that you have opened a forum for the B-B-B method. I have used the bbb route since 2006 and my pool is wonderful.

I look forward to helping the newbies out too, so don't be shy. :wink:

Guest · Postby **Guest** » Fri 13 Mar, 2009 20:39

Great! I'm so pleased you guys are finally catching up with the trend.

:thumbup:

I expect this will be a busy place soon with spring almost sprung and all. :thumbup:

karenkay2000 · Postby **karenkay2000** » Tue 07 Apr, 2009 07:06

I am about to put up a 24 round pool and need all the help i can get . i need the money saving from BBB , but i need to know how much i need to put in when starting up my new pool. thanks for any help . karen :problem:

debra4444 · Postby **debra4444** » Sun 19 Apr, 2009 21:50

I am getting ready to open my 24 round pool and would like to know the formula for the BBB. How much to use and so forth. Any help would be appreciated. Debra

Postby **chem geek** » Sun 19 Apr, 2009 22:01

Until a detailed guide is posted in this forum, look at the Pool School for the info that you need.

silverscot · Postby **silverscot** » Mon 27 Apr, 2009 12:29

BBB method wrote:I'm real excited that you have opened a forum for the B-B-B method. I have used the bbb route since 2006 and my pool is wonderful.

I look forward to helping the newbies out too, so don't be shy.

I'm a newbie, we have a 27' dia. pool approx 19,000 gal it uses the aqua smart system I would like to try the BBB system.... help!

kathiestamps · Postby **kathiestamps** » Fri 10 Jul, 2009 15:50

I am just learning about pools and am trying the BBB method after spending way too much on chemicals. These are my readings today: chlorine 5+ (probably

pH 7.8
alk 140
calc 160
CYA 60
TDS 600
OK any help would be great! We have done straight bleach for 5 days, lost count how many gallons. I also put Oxyclean in several times. The pool is still green but getting clearer. I can ALMOST see the bottom (8 ft) Thank you for helping...anyone?

Postby **chem geek** » Sun 19 Jul, 2009 02:16

It will take you a lot longer to clear the pool and a lot more chlorine to clear it if you don't get the FC high enough relative to CYA -- shock level is an FC that is 40% of the CYA level so if your 60 ppm is accurate then that's around 24 ppm FC. It sounds like you do not have a FAS-DPD chlorine test so cannot test high levels of chlorine accurately. You can dilute the pool water by 4:1 to get a better idea, but you should really get a good test kit, either the Taylor K-2006 or the TF100 from tftestkits.com (they also have just the FAS-DPD chlorine test kit if you have the rest already from a Taylor K-2005, for example).

If you don't use a high enough FC relative to CYA, then the algae is still able to grow, albeit more slowly. The key is to maintain a high FC/CYA ratio to knock out the algae completely and more quickly. 5+ doesn't mean very much. It could be 5 or 10, but unless it's closer to 24 ppm or more (again, assuming your CYA of 60 ppm is a correct number), it will take longer to clear the pool. Was this not clear in the Pool School? It refers to a chlorine/CYA chart including shock levels and also refers to appropriate test kits to purchase.

When done properly, most pools are cleared in less than a week. See this post for how a pool gets cleared of a lot of algae. If you are still seeing green and if this is algae, then you simply did not raise the FC high enough. If the green is more of a clear green and not cloudy, then you may have copper in your pool (say, from an algaecide that has copper in it which is why it is recommended NOT to use copper-based algaecides or ionizers).

jaflans · Postby **jaflans** » Wed 05 Aug, 2009 10:10

Hi all.

I am new to this site and just converted to the BBB method. Seems good so far. I have a couple quetions though that I cannot seem to figure out. Probably easy, but can't seem to put my finger on it. If I am using baking soda, bleach and borax, what takes care of the stabilizer and controls water hardness? I used to use calcium chloride for hardness, but according to this method we just use BBB, correct?

Thanks.