Drain and refill 33,000 gallon gunite pool

[bugsy0329]

Pool is full. My husband wants to change the sand. I don't. Sand is at least 6 years old, though. Filter is old (made by PacFab), and I can't read anything stamped on it. I can, however, read that it calls for pea gravel and sand. Should I just wait until next year to change sand and buy a new filter and start from scratch?

[Watermom]

You can change the sand if you want, but it really isn't necessary. I have had the same sand for the past 11 seasons, Poconos (fellow mod) is on his 14th season. Others probably longer.

[bugsy0329]

OK. I'm finally back. BTW, love you Watermom. We did not change the sand! Please don't be angry but I went to Leslie's and got the big test kit they have, and it's the K2005. I realized this after I tested the water and was thumbing through the book. My levels are as follows:

FC 3
TC 3
CC 0
ph 7.8
TA 110 ppm
CH 100
CYA 100+ (probably 120)

I did add stabilizer tabs once pool was filled. Something is off, though as it's taking 3 tabs daily.

What do I do now?

Thanks!

[Watermom]

There is no way with this being a freshly filled pool that you could have used enough pucks yet to have CYA that high. Did you add some CYA separately and if so, how much.

Since you bought the K-2005, if you pick up the K-1515 you'll have the same components as the K-2006. The K-1515 is the part that allows you to test high chlorine levels. Check the Amazon link in my signature.

[bugsy0329]

Tested again this morning. I now see what I was doing wrong.

FC 5
TC 5
CC 0
ph 8.0
TA 130
CH 90
CYA 0

What do I add now?

Thanks!

[bugsy0329]

Also, my drain is abandoned. How many hours a day should I run the pump?

[Watermom]

You will not keep that cl level at 5 for long with no CYA. Check the cl at least morning and evening and afternoon if you can and add more bleach so your cl doesn't drop to zero. You'll have to dose it frequently with bleach until you get some CYA in there.

Are you going to continue to use the trichlor pucks? If so, here is what I would do. I would go ahead and buy some stabilizer and add enough to get the CYA reading to about 20. Then, you can use the pucks awhile and build the CYA up to about 50. After that, no more pucks and no dichlor shock either or your CYA will get too high.

The other option is to not use the pucks and just add some CYA separately and go ahead and add enough to get to about 40. We also shoot a little low. It is easier to add a little more later than it is to remove it when there is too much. Either option will work.

You can just use the tabs and not add any CYA but the only issue with that is that it will take some time to build the CYA up and until you have much in there, you'll have a hard time keeping chlorine in the pool especially on a hot, sunny day.

To add CYA you can either pour it slowly into the skimmer while the pump is running and then let your pump run 24/7 for at least 4 or 5 days to give it time to dissolve in the filter. Or you can put some in an old sock and hang that in front of a return jet and let it dissolve that way. You can squeeze the sock every now and then to help it dissolve faster.

Your pH is too high. Add a little muriatic acid in front of a return jet while the pump is running. Wait a couple of hours, retest pH, and redose as needed. (If you have a sock of CYA there, remove it before adding muriatic acid.) I'd start with a pint of acid. Wear gloves, glasses, stay upwind of fumes, pour close to the surface of the water so it doesn't splash any.

[bugsy0329]

I put 3 lbs of CYA in a knee-high. How long do I have to wait after adding muriatic acid to swim? Once CYA is in a acceptable range, how long should I run my pump each day? My drain is abandoned.