What do we use as a stabilizer?

[poolotter]

We are starting the BBB method. We have the fancy test kit as suggested. We also took in a water sample to the local pool store. Our CYA is low, but we can't figure out what should be used as a stabilizer. Help!

[CarlD]

Answer: CYA.

No, I'm not kidding. Stabilizer/Conditioner is Cyanuric Acid so look for something that contains 100% CYA, Cyanuric Acid, or Isocyanuric Acid. It will probably be labeld "Stabilizer", or "Conditioner".

If it is a mix and NOT 100% CYA, don't buy it.

Alternatively you can chlorinate with Di-Chlor powder or Tri-Chlor tablets. The first adds nearly as much CYA as it does chlorine, and the latter adds 6ppm of CYA for every 10ppm of chlorine--but is VERY acidic and will lower your pH. But if either say "Double Acting" it means it has copper and don't buy it.

[Watermom]

How long ago did you add water to this new pool? What exactly have you put in the pool so far --- meaning ingredients and not just product names like 'shock' or 'chlorine.' It may be that you can use our Super Simple Start-up Recipe:> http://pool9.net/ssr/

(Until you registration is completed, you won't be able to see the rest of the forum while you are logged in. So, copy that link and then paste it into a browser window after you log out.)

[poolotter]

Water was added a week ago. We tested the water then added bleach. After testing again and taking in a water sample, we added more bleach and baking soda last night. We haven't tested yet today. The CYA/stabilizer threw us because it's not a B in the BBB. We'll look for product today.

We also added borax when we added the first dose of bleach.

[PoolDoc]

The CYA/stabilizer threw us because it's not a B in the BBB. We'll look for product today.

That's my least favorite thing about the "BBB" name. It's easy to remember (good!), and it reflects my original intent to use basic products (good!), but it tends to mislead people in to thinking that the method really is about "bleach, borax, and baking soda", when in fact those just happened to be the products that were available in 1997 when I wrote the first version of the pool chemicals at the grocery store page. (We DO often recommend both bleach and borax, for various reasons. Baking soda? Not so much -- it's not needed all that often.)

We've ALWAYS recommended stabilizer for chlorinated pools, whether you get it by adding it directly, or get it by using dichlor or trichlor. Actually using dichlor to chlorinate is the easiest way, since you get 9 ppm of CYA (cyanuric acid) for every 10 ppm of chlorine. If you have access to Sams Club, they usually have 24# boxes of bagged undiluted dichlor for a VERY good price.

[CarlD]

"B-B-B" was a quick shorthand for PoolDoc's concept of buying most of your pool chemicals at the grocery store. Bleach, Borax and Baking Soda. You can also buy Washing Soda there, but you buy Muriatic Acid at a hardware store and SOME pool stores. CYA and PolyQuat are generally only available at pool stores or pool sections of some department stores.

Bleach is for your chlorine (same as "Liquid Chlorine" and some types of "Liquid Shock"
Borax is to raise pH SOME pool stores sell another borate compound but both work pretty much the same and raise your borate level (Borates inhibit algae)
Baking Soda raises your Total Alkalinity and is EXACTLY the same as ALL T/A raisers sold by pool stores--Sodium Bicarbonate, aka Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate. Biogard's "Balance Pak 100" is...baking soda.
Washing Soda raises both your pH and your Total Alkalinity and is EXACTLY the same as things like "pH Up!" and "Balance Pak 200" (biogard). They are all Sodium Carbonate.
Muriatic Acid is the best way to lower pH as it is diluted hydrochloric acid. It's used in all kinds of applications from cleaning stone to etching it. You CAN substitute Dry Acid (called by various brand names) but they are all Sodium Bisulfate.
CYA, or Cyanuric Acid is pretty much only sold in pool stores.
PolyQuat or..."Poly (oxyethylene (dimethyliminio)-ethylene (dimethyliminio) ethylene dichloride) 60%" is called all kinds of things: Mustard Algaecide, Black Algaecide, etc. but it's the only algaecide we recommend. It's best use is as a PREVENTATIVE in case your chlorine goes too low.

But "BBBWMCP" doesn't roll off the tongue the way "BBB" does! :)