starting up after winter

[PoolDoc]

With a Taylor kit -- K2006, K1000, or HTH 6-way -- you can trust the pH test up to 10 ppm. As far as we know, that ONLY applies to Taylor kits.

[costo]

Tests this am. ph: 6.8-7.0 chlorine: ~1-2....this after i shocked it to 29 based on ppm calculations. I cant believe it dropped that low overnight. I did add about 1 cup or less of borax and 11.375 quarts bleach. I brushed the pool after adding the bleach and borax. I do have some cya ordered to test that but I feel like I am wasting so much chlorine!!! I did finally break down and buy the taylor 2006a kit you have linked to. It does seem to be doing better although I just hate wasting all the chlorine!!!! Once again thanks for the info!!

[PoolDoc]

You're not wasting the chlorine -- short of draining the water, there's no other way we know of to remove the ammonia or urea. This fall, though, you want to make a decision to EITHER maintain the water all winter (pretty easy once it cools -- you just can't forget!) OR to drain, store, and refill next year.

At this point, even though you aren't "wasting" chlorine, you are getting to the point where it would have been cheaper to drain and refill. On the other hand, if you were to buy the Intex salt system (Intex 54601EG Krystal Clear Saltwater System) @ Amazon. . . you probably are getting close to the point, where you wouldn't have to add salt, since all that used up chlorine, turns into salt.

Add some more borax, though. You don't want your pH that low, while you are cleaning up that mess.

[costo]

The issue with draining wasn't cost, it was killing the grass in our pasture and yard althogh Im not sure it would have since there may not have been any chemicals in the water at that point. Hindsight is 20/20 isnt it!! I may have to look into the saltwater system. Thanks again!!!

[PoolDoc]

Glad you're on your way, now. Let us know how it goes!

[costo]

I think I may have killed the algae and can begin the removal process. Here is my next problem. I do not have the cya reagant and it doesnt look like i will have until next week. We are going out of town this weekend and would like to shock it so that it will be at a safe level for us to leave for the weekend. Can I go ahead and add some stabilizer. I am assuming I dont have any due to the fact that I can now maintain a level overnight but not after a day of full sun. Is this correct assumption? Any suggestions??

[aylad]

You can always go ahead and add it--but if you add it through the skimmer it's only going to dissolve while the pump is on. They do have a liquid version of CYA if you want to dissolve it in a hurry, but I understand it's quite a bit more expensive. You might have time to dissolve some before you leave by hanging in old sock or stocking in front of the return and giving it a squeeze now and then to speed it up.

If you're able to maintain chlorine overnight but not during the day, it's reasonable to assume you have zero, or at least too little, CYA in the pool.

[PoolDoc]

Hi Costo;

You can definitely add stabilizer. The trick is going to be to getting it dissolved by Friday PM.

Here's what you may want to consider>

1. For testing, go to Walmart and get an HTH-6 way testkit. This is a re-branded Taylor kit that is compatible with the K-2006, and it contains a CYA test. It is an EXCELLENT value, and appears to be available from most Walmarts in Oklahoma City.

2. The best way to get stabilizer in your pool quickly, and then to keep the pool over the weekend, is probably to add dichlor AND a trichlor floater. You can get ALL of those items locally. The problem is you'll have to be a label inspector to get dichlor and trichlor that is not diluted and does not contain copper. As far as I can tell, the chlorine products sold by Walmart and Costco should be avoided. Lowes and Home Depot vary from area to area. If you can find the products in the Amazon link below, those are sold at some Home Depot stores.

3. The other alternative is to buy from Amazon -- TODAY -- and get Amazon Prime, so it will be delivered Friday for no additional. I would recommend putting them in your Amazon shopping cart to make sure they can be delivered in 2 days before buying Prime. Prime is a good deal if you buy from Amazon a lot; otherwise not so much. (I live by it, at Christmas!! But, remember to cancel the trial, if it doesn't work for you!) Anyhow, here are the links:

Kem-Tek Dichlor 12lbs
Kem-Tek 879 Pool Floating Tablet Dispenser Pool and Spa Accessories
Kem-Tek 3" Trichlor 24lbs
Amazon Prime
(1 month free trial -- but remember to cancel if you don't like it!)

4. Wherever you get them, add 2 lbs of dichlor to the pool (~14 ppm) and then put the floater into your pool, filled with trichor. That should keep the pool for several days, even with low CYA levels.