starting up after winter

[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.

[costo]

GOOD NEWS!!! My CYA reagent came today. I tested my CYA. Filled the tube all the way to the top and the black dot never disappeared. So am I right to assume I have 0-very little CYA??

[PoolDoc]

So am I right to assume I have 0-very little CYA??

Yep.

[costo]

I added bleach since I had lost it today again. Also added stabilizer to sock in front of return. When would be the soonest i could check cya. I dont want to waste any tests. I know it usually takes a few days to disolve but Im hoping I can have a good estimate by saturday am before we leave.

[aylad]

Once you see it disappearing from the sock, you can assume it's in the water-- if you leave your pump running and give the sock an occasional squeeze, it will help dissolve faster. I think you can get it all in by Saturday.

[costo]

checked my cya...think its between 40-50. I was unable to get the chemicals ordered from amazon so i got some hth tri-chlor tablets and plan to put them in the pool before I leave. I figured with the cya in the pool and the tablets, hopefully i will be good until we get back. planning on running the pump on a timer for about 8 hours at a time. Does this sound right or any other suggestions??