It is $$, and eventually (when your CYA gets too high) will be ineffective. The Frog adds things that you just don't need in your pool, or worse, don't want. If you keep your chlorine levels in check, you also will not get the problems that cause you to need to shock the pool, thereby preventing downtime waiting for the Cl to go down! Most here shock a couple times a season. Preventative maintenance, ya know? A little more time once a week to brush or vac, and to backwash, and that's it! If you test with the little OTO tester (1 minute) add bleach daily (another minute) you will not GET the problems that take loads of time to correct. Most here will say if you are willing to spend a few minutes a day on your pool, you can have sparkling water all the time. I hate to ditch it when I am hoping it is a good system or at a minimum, has more to offer than its intended use. Pouring in front of a return seems like a good option (if using a liquid) but wouldn’t that be just as good as adding the bleach to the Mr. Using floating chlorinators can sit too close to a liner and fade it especially when it gets stuck behind a ladder, etc. I am no expert but the manufacturers of the pumps, filters and heaters warn not to add chemicals into the skimmer due to corrosion. It appears adding chemicals to a pool can be tricky. Is there any harm in using the mineral and chlorine pacs? Does it increase CYA levels to a point of requiring draining the pool? Most importantly, should I and can I use the system to add chemicals other than Mr.
With 2 young children, I'm looking for easier way to maintain a pool vs. Should I ditch it? My research shows me that it is an easy, but expensive way to run the pool. I look at it as a freebie although I know I paid for it dearly. I never negotiated on it since the price for an in ground pool in Staten Island is kind of price fixed. It appears that most users of this site do not like the frog system which my builder installed on my pool.