new to pool stuff

[Red Gate Zoo]

Here are my numbers for the past few days: 6/15 @ 11:30p: FC=9 CC=1 pH=7.8, added 1.4 gal. bleach. 6/16 @ 7a: FC=8.5 CC=1 pH=7.6, FC dropped to 0 by noon & ranged from 0-3.5 throughout the day, added a total of 14.5 gal bleach, 76 oz. borax (pH drifted down to 7.2) & 7 lbs. cal-hypo 48%. 6/16 @ 11:30p: FC=10 CC=1 pH=7.8, added 1 more lb. cal-hypo. 6/17 @ 6a: FC=11 CC=1 pH=8. FC was down to .5 by 10:30a. Added a total of 17 lbs. cal-hypo throughout the day. 6/17 @ 10:30p: FC=11 CC=.5 pH=7.6, added 2 lbs. cal-hypo. 6/18 @ 7:30a: FC=11.5 CC.5 pH=7.6; @ 1:30p FC was down to 0, added 8 lbs. cal-hypo. Water is sparkling clear! Is it time to add cyanuric acid yet? I think I'm starting to figure this out with your help! Thank you!!!

[Watermom]

I think you can go ahead and start adding CYA since it is such a pain to have to keep adding chlorine so often but still keep a close eye on your overnight chlorine loss and your CC readings. Also, until that CYA levels starts to register, you will continue to lose chlorine fast and thus will need frequent additions. Once you have a CYA reading of 40-50 and still have no overnight chlorine loss and no greater than a 0.5ppm CC reading, then you should be able to go to testing and adding chlorine in the evenings only.

How are you planning to introduce the CYA to the pool?

[Red Gate Zoo]

Pool store sold me Instant Conditioner: *monosodium cyanurate monohydrate 35%, percentage of constituents ineffective as spray adjuvants 65%. *equivalent to 30% cyanuric acid. Directions say to pour in skimmer. They only sold me 1 gal. Now I see that I will need 3-5 gals. depending on what the actual CYA is now, right?

[Watermom]

I am not familiar with the instant conditioner as I have always used the granular. I know it is quite a bit more expensive than granular. Maybe Waterbear is familiar with it and can advise you on its use. If the price is ridiculous and you need a large amount, I think I'd consider taking it back and just buying granular. I'll ask Waterbear to have a look at your post.

[Red Gate Zoo]

I will definitely take it back. Price was ridiculous! I found granular 96% at Home Depot for MUCH less. Directions say to slowly add it to the skimmer & not backwash for 48 hrs.

[waterbear]

The stuff is a slurry of the monosodium salt of cyanuric acid. Its advantage is that the CYA is available in the water as soon as it is mixed. Its disadvantage is that is is VERY expensive compared to CYA. I gallon will add about 35 ppm in 10k gallons of water for around $30 whereas 3 lbs of granular CYA will do the same for about $5/lb or less (about half the price). Whether it is worth it depends on how quickly you want the CYA in the water. You would need about 6 lbs of dichlor to add about the same amount of CYA and at about $5/lb or higher average price works out to be about the same as the liquid stabilizer. Advantage is you also get the chlorine (about 40 ppm in all when you add 6 lbs), disadvantage is that you cannot add the entire dose at one time.

As far as the granuular CYA. add it slowly to the skimmer, run your pump continuously for the next 24-48 hours, don't backwash for a week, and don't test the level for a week.
Also, the Taylor number for your leslies 81-330 is K-2005. Since you have added the FAS-DPD test you have teh equivalent of a K-2006. You might want to consider adding the OTO test kit for quick daily checks (Taylor K-1000 or Leslies 18554, they are the same) If you do be aware that the pH reagents is NOT the same one as the one in the bigger kit so don't mix them up!

Hope this helps.

[Red Gate Zoo]

I have added the granular cyanuric in a sock. Waiting for it to dissolve. What FC level should I be aiming for now? What CYA level eventually?