CYA Only in skimmer?

[posguy]

Hello,

I have a 24'x52" pool with a suacered bottom, Im estimating 15k gallons. I have to empty 2/3rds of the water to do a repair on the wall and have now refilled. I brought a sample to the pool store to check the CYA and as I expected they said there was none. (can you believe they are using test strips, I guess Ill have to spring for a real test kit)

I broadcast 2.5 lbs of CYA into the pool because I have been backwashing frequently since I have a lot of leaves and crud on the bottom (cover fell in), I didnt want to backwash the CYA.
Should I just wait until my bottom is clean and add more to the skimmer? How much more to get to the recommended amount?
My ph is 7.8, the TA is only 50ppm, I picked up 6lbs of baking soda for that, CL diappears quickly, I guess due to no CYA.

Thanks

[waterbear]

First step is to get a leaf rake and get the crud out of the pool! You are never going to be able to hold chlorine with organic matter in the pool increasing the chlorine demand!
Broadcasting CYA is not a good idea since it is somewhat acidic. You can put it in an old sock and hang it in the pool or put it in the skimmer basket, which will alloow more of it to dissolve before it hits the filter, if you have to backwash a lot because of an alage bloowm but if you are backwashing because of stuff sitting on the bototm of the pool then GET IT OUT FIRST!

[posguy]

Thanks WB, like the sock idea.

Looking at increasing TA with baking soda but see that it will also increase Ph. Should I get Ph down first then worry about the TA or vice versa.

[waste]

Add the baking soda but keep some acid on hand to lower the pH if it gets too high.

[CarlD]

I RARELY disagree with Ted, and here, only mildly.

You have a mess in your pool. For now, the only things you should worry about are pH and chlorine levels. Get the crud out of your pool and shock the water till FC can hold overnight (when you don't need CYA). After that, you can worry about CYA, TA, etc. In fact, if your pH is stable, you don't need to worry about TA.

Carl