new member from ohio

[cincyrick]

Thanks for all the great info. Found your site just this evening after wondering why my chlorine was getting 'eaten' up so fast. Forgot I added new water as I needed to change my vinyl liner. Ordering my Taylor test kit tomorrow. For now using the sticks and they are showing low 'stabilizer'. How much cya to add for a 17,000 gallon inground pool with sand filter? Ph and tot alk high normal.

[Watermom]

We can't really advise how much CYA to add without knowing what your current reading is. Get the kit ordered and then post your results. In the meantime, pick up a cheap OTo kit (yellow and red drops). Post your pH and chlorine readings. Also, tell us exactly what all you have added to the water -- meaning ingredients and not just product names. What size pump and filter do you have?

Welcome to the Pool Forum!

[cincyrick]

Got a HTH 6 way test kit from walmart. pH 8.2, total chlorine 0 (no free chlorine on the test strips), total alk 110. Added 1/2 gallon of liquid chlorine (10% sodium hypochlorite) and 6 ounces of 95% sodium bisulfate. Rechecked in 1 hour. ph 7.8, total chlorine >5 (free chlorine 4 on the test strips, total alk 100. Pool opened on 5/21. Liquid chlorine added on pool opening. Additional liquid chlorine added 5/25 along with 10 pounds of alkalinity rise (sodium hydrogen carbonate). No other chemicals used thusfar.

Now needing to add CYA.

16x32 rectangle with variable depth from 3 feet to 9 feet. Estimated 20,000 gallons.
Jacuzzi Magnum force 1 HP pump, Hayworth sand filter.

[BigDave]

The HTH 6-way has a CYA test - We'll need to know the CYA level to help.

[cincyrick]

Less than 30 on the test. More likely zero.

[BigDave]

In 20000 gallons, 5lbs of granular CYA will all about 30ppm. It takes CYA a long time to dissolve, you can pour it slowly into the skimmer and wait for a few days or you can put it in an old sock and hang that in front of a return jet - squeeze the sock now and again to help it along. Be sure the CYA is pure Cyanuric Acid - 99.x% with no other active ingredients.

[Watermom]

Sometimes the label says isocyanuric acid instead of cyanuric acid. That is fine. Also, if you pour it into the skimmer like Dave mentioned above, leave your pump running 24/7 for 3 or 4 days afterward.

[BigDave]

Good points Watermom, thanks.

[TomC]

Hi cincyrick,

If you plan to use a stabilized chlorine product, like the 3 inch tablets, you might want to consider adding very little or no stabilizer at all. This type of product has plenty of stabilizer and will add plenty of cya in no time. If you are going to use bleach, then disregard my comment.

Tom