CYA Only in skimmer?

[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