Cyanuric Acid

[Sue225]

Well we dumped 1/2 of pool water and are in the process of refilling. One question, the liner looks like it is rippling. Is this normal? Also. there is 0 chlorine in the pool. Should I add some bleach? Will it be OK through the evening and night. Looks like we have about 8 hours left to complete filling.

[polyvue]

Well we dumped 1/2 of pool water and are in the process of refilling. One question, the liner looks like it is rippling. Is this normal? Also. there is 0 chlorine in the pool. Should I add some bleach? Will it be OK through the evening and night. Looks like we have about 8 hours left to complete filling.

As it is refilling, try to straighten out any wrinkles. I don't have a liner pool but I've read that some people have used a clean toilet plunger to remove them.

As soon as the pool is filled, re-test the CYA level and add sufficient liquid chlorine or 6% bleach to increase Free Chlorine to about 7% of CYA. E.g. If the test result indicates CYA= 50 PPM, add enough bleach to your 15K pool so that Free Chlorine is about 3.5 PPM. Or just go by this chart:

The Pool Calculator is handy for estimating chemical additions.

[Watermom]

I asked Carl to talk to you about your liner rippling . He'll be better able to help you with that than I will. As far as FC of 0, you need to get some bleach (maybe 3 quarts) in there so you don't end up with a green pool. Just pour it in front of the hose so it will quickly disperse throughout the water. Then, once it is totally filled, run a complete set of numbers again and post them. May need to add more cl in the morning if you are below about 5 -- assuming that your cya will be around 50. If it is different than that, refer to the "Best Guess CYA Chart" to determine how much chlorine you'll need.

[CarlD]

You can sometimes move the liner with a toilet plunger, but obviously get a new one If there's too much water in the pool it may not work.

[Sue225]

Since I have just dumped 1/2 the water in our pool and refilled I will not be buying a new liner this year! All of the puckering kind of smoothed out and I have a few wrinkles which I can live with. New liner is on the list for next season. I will be getting the readings on the pool since the refilll in about 1 hour. Will post them asap.
I have ordered the testing kit you recommended. Will be glad when it arrives, probably Monday.
Thank you for helping me!!

[Watermom]

I think Carl meant a new plunger, not a new liner!

Happy the liner is smoothing out for you. Post your numbers when you get them. Good that you ordered a kit. You'll be glad you did. BTW -- you're welcome! We're glad to be able to help!

[Sue225]

ROFL Crazy me! I think he did mean a new plunger!
After refilling 1/2 maybe 3 inches) less of the pool, here are the reading:
TC 1.9
FC 1.9
Ph 7.0
Alk 60
CYA 110
Borate 80

According to the computer my last CYA reading before the ddump was 144. I am still terribly high. I am going to work around that with your help. Tell me what to do next
I am so thankful for you.

After 2 weeks of this pool not holding chlorine they just today said, "don't use granulated chlorine!" I have not all week! "Just go home and enjoy your pool if it is clear!" they said. When they finally called in the chemical guy he told me the CYA will evaporate with time!

[Sue225]

BTW I have a 9# alkalinity up in the garage should I use it?

[Watermom]

Wow! If your cya after dumping half of the water is 110, then it must have been 200 before! CYA of 110 is still high, but if you are extremely diligent about keeping cl levels in range, you can deal with it. (I know you don't want to do a partial drain again. But, if you don't do it again now, I'd suggest doing it next spring.)

You will need to keep your cl level between 8-15 ALL the time and your shock level is going to be 25. Since your cl level is so low right now, I'd suggest going ahead and shocking the pool now. In a pool this size, each quart of 6% bleach will raise the cl by 1ppm. If you can go overnight without losing more than 1ppm of cl, then you can let the cl level drift down but do NOT let it drop below 8. EVER! Or you risk an algae bloom. If you do lose more than 1ppm of cl overnight tonight (from sundown to sunup), then you'll need to shock it again and keep it at that high cl level by testing a couple or three times a day and each time adding enough bleach to get back to 25. Continue this until it holds overnight.

Uhhhh........ CYA does not evaporate, BTW.

Yes, you can use a little alk increaser --- it is just really expensive baking soda. Only a little at a time so you don't overshoot. 80-120 would be a good range. Also, the pH is on the brink of being too low. Add some Borax and try to raise it to around 74.-7.6. Start with about a third of a box of Borax. Again, gradual is better than one big dose that overshoots target.

Glad to be able to help. Repost with any questions and keep us posted how things are going!

[Sue225]

Is 1/3 box Borax the 4 pound box? How do I measure chlorine to 15 or 25 when i only have the strips anad my test kit has not arrived yet? I just put 1 gal of 12% bleach in pool. Looks a lot darker then the 10 measure. I have Aquachek strips. Thanks so much for all your help