1st test results of spring - few questions...

[mscans]

Glad to see everyone back. I lost the address a while ago after I got no response to normal attempts to connect. I just got my annual "Happy Birthday" so I knew you were alive.

My pool lives on tri-chlor tabs in a Hayward feeder and Borax. I insisted on a DE filter when it was built, had pools before and they are the ONLY way to go for clear water. I think I still have the bottle of acid the builder left with the pool 4 years ago, don't know, really haven't looked for it.

Live in central Florida and pool was 84 F. last weekend. Grandkids were in the pool all day. I couldn't believe how clear the water was. My daughter has one of the new digital underwater cameras and the pictures look like they were taken outside on a very clear day.

Again, glad to see you back and will be a frequent reader/poster.

[Watermom]

Hi mscans and welcome to the forum! Just wondering if you keep a close eye on your cya level since you say that your pool lives on trichlor tabs. Using those tabs exclusively will cause your cya level to rise to an undesirable level. Do you know what your cya reading is?

[court475]

Well I used 7 TriChlor tabs (the whole bugget - $20) and I'm still at 0 CYA and Cl. Guess I'll try the straight CYA. Ph wasn't really lower either. MAYBE 7.8.

[aylad]

To raise your CYA quickly enough to get "some" in the pool, go ahead and use straight CYA--I would target about 15-20 ppm when figuring how much to add. Then you can use the trichlor from there until it gets to where you want it. As far as pH goes, the trichlor WILL bring it down, and 7.8 isn't too bad to begin with so I wouldn't worry about that.

Janet

[CarlD]

Also remember that it take up to a WEEK for the CYA to completely dissolve and dissipate throughout the water.

While I generally avoid tabs in use or recommendation, when your pH is high and you have no CYA, they are a great way to add all 3 and convenient as well--plus, and this is important, they help keep a CONSTANT level of chlorine in the water when you need it most, as they erode.

But when your pH is good, or low, and your CYA is on target or a tad high, you have to abandon them for bleach / LC.