How to weigh-down stairs?

[BigDave]

I sorta copied AnnaK's weights using soda bottles filles with pea gravel. To assure fresh water in the stairs, every once in a while, I run the vacuum hose to a hole in the steps and hold the other end over the pool return pushing water through the hose and into the steps.

[AnnaK]

Yes, I'm the one with the PVC tubes weighing down our wedding cake steps. We had initially used sand to fill the tubes but switched to concrete a few seasons ago. We also drilled additional holes in the sides of the steps to facilitate circulation. Whenever I brush the pool I push water against the holes and watch it swirl up from behind the steps. As well, I put the fill hose behind the steps when I refill, to displace the water in that space. We've never had algae under the steps.

[airraid1999]

how to weigh these down? IN-32 AT VINYL WORKS HTTP://www.vinylworkscanada.com/product.aspx?PID=49

[CarlD]

I used to use sand bags in my stairs but I found, with two rails, I don't need them at all! I DID drill air holes in each step so there's no air bubbles floating it. I also put a sheet of Plumber's Vinyl under the steps to keep it from abrading the liner.

[airraid1999]

You have same steps? As there is no place to lay bags? Instructions said to fill with gravel but very small opening to do so so would have to use aquarium gravel like?

[Steveromo]

After a few attempts, I wanted to let everyone know that my idea DOES NOT work. I'm not an expert in buoyancy, but appearantly when the stair rails are filled with water, they will still float. I guess the amount of water displaced is less than the amount of water filling the rails. Even jugs filled with water can't be used as weights for the same reason. So I filled milk jugs with sand and zip-tied them to the inside of the stairs. (6 1-gallon jugs worked.) So far so good. I can just snip off the zip ties to make for easy removal in the fall. Thanks for the replies!

[Watermom]

Thanks for coming back and reposting. That is how we all learn from each other!