What to do first? CYA > 200 ppm

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Originally Posted by PoolDoc

Well, it's still your call. I assume that algae is not the problem in the desert that it is here, where every tiny breeze carries spores.

Contrary to pool industry literature, there's nothing wrong with running a HiC2 pool, if you understand what you're doing.

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Algae has been a slight problem. I think only because I didn't know what I was doing, not knowing about CYA, until just recently. If my water cost estimate is close, I'll go ahead with the drain/refill because I want the chemistry to be right, and to try to get rid of the scale.

Oh, just so you know, the cheapest way to get Soda Ash is to go to your grocery store and buy Arm and Hammer WASHING Soda, in the yellow box (not baking soda). Washing Soda is IDENTICAL to the pool store pH raisers but costs far less--around $.80/lb here in NJ. pH Raisers like pH Up! are nothing but Sodium Carbonate...Washing Soda.

That may well change your cost basis for the soda ash method.

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Originally Posted by CarlD

Oh, just so you know, the cheapest way to get Soda Ash is to go to your grocery store and buy Arm and Hammer WASHING Soda, in the yellow box (not baking soda). Washing Soda is IDENTICAL to the pool store pH raisers but costs far less--around $.80/lb here in NJ. pH Raisers like pH Up! are nothing but Sodium Carbonate...Washing Soda.

That may well change your cost basis for the soda ash method.

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Thanks, Carl, I'll remember that.

If/when I do a complete refill, should I follow PoolDoc's instructions here: http://tinyurl.com/lyu7bnr ?

Question though: I have not been able to find any commercial bleach in the local stores with a chlorine % on the bottle. And, most of them don't come in gallon jugs anymore! So, I've been buying 96 oz jugs at a local grocery store. Label name is "VALU TIME Bleach". I tried to find an MSDS for this product online and was unseccessful.

I did determine that one bottle of that bleach raises my FC level by one point.

So, what I'm getting at is, what and how much chemicals do I need to have on hand for the refill? I want to be prepared.

Well, water is flowing. Started about 15 mins ago. I talked to a Water Co rep this morning. She said it would cost between $80 to $100 to refill. I think she's a little on the low side, but at least her estimate wasn't horribly high either.

Good deal.

Had some black algae spots on the bottom of the pool. Removed them with a wire brush. Refill is now in progress.

Sounds good.

Pool is about 1/3rd to 1/2 full. I poured in one 96 oz jug of (?)% store bought bleach. I know, there's no CYA in the water yet, but with these high outside temps (98 at the moment, and going up), I just wanted to get at least some chlorine in the water. I swished the water all around with my pool brush.

Best time to add chlorine -- ESPECIALLY on a pool with low CYA -- is in the late evening.