Restarting pool after drain - Liquid Stabilizer question

gatorgrad · Apr 30, 2024

Hi all -

Recently completed a drain and refill last weekend. Working on restarting the pool (have only done it a couple of times) and am having issues getting CYA levels to register.

I used liquid stabilizer but have not gotten a CYA level to register yet. I shook the bottle well and poured the liquid into the skimmer, it was cloudy white as I remembered - around the consistency of milk, not very thick. I've added 91 oz at this point (which should target 35 ppm). It's been two days with the pump running and no CYA registering on the test.

I'm finally pretty sure of my pool volume (it's small -7500 gal) since I have a sensor on my water meter and was able to see the refill
I tested some of the leftover stabilizer and it's registering strongly so I know it's not the quality of the conditioner or my reagents.
My filter does need to be backwashed/cleaned (I hire out the filter cleaning - it's schedule next week) but I wanted to get the refill done during the last nice weather. I

Do I just need to be patient (I expected fast results using the liquid - it worked fast last time as I recall) or do I need to shake the bottle better and add more?
If so - is that just trial and error at this point since the bottle concentration will not be per the label?
And if that is so - how long do I wait between CYA additions to make sure I get a good reading? 24 hours?

I'm just concerned with overshooting CYA of course.

Thanks!

Bperry · Apr 30, 2024

gatorgrad said:
Hi all -

Recently completed a drain and refill last weekend. Working on restarting the pool (have only done it a couple of times) and am having issues getting CYA levels to register.

I used liquid stabilizer but have not gotten a CYA level to register yet. I shook the bottle well and poured the liquid into the skimmer, it was cloudy white as I remembered - around the consistency of milk, not very thick. I've added 91 oz at this point (which should target 35 ppm). It's been two days with the pump running and no CYA registering on the test.

I'm finally pretty sure of my pool volume (it's small -7500 gal) since I have a sensor on my water meter and was able to see the refill
I tested some of the leftover stabilizer and it's registering strongly so I know it's not the quality of the conditioner or my reagents.
My filter does need to be backwashed/cleaned (I hire out the filter cleaning - it's schedule next week) but I wanted to get the refill done during the last nice weather. I

Do I just need to be patient (I expected fast results using the liquid - it worked fast last time as I recall) or do I need to shake the bottle better and add more?
If so - is that just trial and error at this point since the bottle concentration will not be per the label?
And if that is so - how long do I wait between CYA additions to make sure I get a good reading? 24 hours?

I'm just concerned with overshooting CYA of course.

Thanks!

The liquid CYA tends to settle on the bottom and so its common for people to no see it register at first and then they add more (which is more highly concentrated sludge) and then over shoot the target when they add more. It also takes a day or two for the test to pick it up.

The powdered CYA is way cheaper and more reliable for that reason.

duraleigh · Apr 30, 2024

Thorough mixing should allow the liquid CYA to be distributed evenly throughout your pool water. It does not settle to the bottom once mixed. It should register on the CYA test just as soon as you put it in.

Why your CYA is defying that I am not sure. I would add enough CYA to get to 30 ppm and, if you use the liquid, pour it directly in front of a return............pump running, It should register within a few hours........let us know

Newdude · Apr 30, 2024

duraleigh said:
It does not settle to the bottom once mixed

He meant it settles on the bottom of the jug and it's very hard to accurately dose 91 of 128 ounces.

Dumping it into the skimmer is potential issue #2 as some may be trapped in the filter and taking its sweet time to disperse.

One thing is for sure that up to 35 ppm was added. I'd wait a few days and if it doesn't register, add doses of 10 with granuals until it does.

Bperry · Apr 30, 2024

Newdude said:
He meant it settles on the bottom of the jug and it's very hard to accurately dose 91 of 128 ounces.

Dumping it into the skimmer is potential issue #2 as some may be trapped in the filter and taking its sweet time to disperse.

One thing is for sure that up to 35 ppm was added. I'd wait a few days and if it doesn't register, add doses of 10 with granuals until it does.

Yes, i meant settling in the bottle.

gatorgrad · May 1, 2024

Yes, thanks - appreciate the help. So far I'm still not seeing anything register so I think I did not mix the gallon well enough (though I really thought I did). I'll give it a few more days and start adding granule doses slowly as recommended. I know the test is correct since I'm losing all FC over the course of a day.

I had an issue with solid granules first time I drained several years ago (they would not seem to dissolve... I think I eventually used liquid stabilizer which worked well) and the only other time I refilled was when I converted to salt & the installers added the CYA for me. I'm going back to liquid chlorine (for at least this season) so did the drain and refill myself.

Bperry · May 1, 2024

gatorgrad said:
Yes, thanks - appreciate the help. So far I'm still not seeing anything register so I think I did not mix the gallon well enough (though I really thought I did). I'll give it a few more days and start adding granule doses slowly as recommended. I know the test is correct since I'm losing all FC over the course of a day.

I had an issue with solid granules first time I drained several years ago (they would not seem to dissolve... I think I eventually used liquid stabilizer which worked well) and the only other time I refilled was when I converted to salt & the installers added the CYA for me. I'm going back to liquid chlorine (for at least this season) so did the drain and refill myself.

You can use up the bottle of liquid if you need to. Just be real careful in case it’s a little more extra concentrated.

Newdude · May 1, 2024

gatorgrad said:
So far I'm still not seeing anything register so I think I did not mix the gallon well enough (though I really thought I did)

Said the 9000 people who tried to make liquid CYA work before you.

It works great for full jugs, which would be 49 for you, and probably where you'll end up mid season anyway. It wouldn't be the worst thing ever to have a 50 CYA a bit early in Arizona.

gatorgrad said:
I had an issue with solid granules first time I drained several years ago (they would not seem to dissolve

Hang it in a sock(s), carrot on a stick like, in front of a working return. Some time later, or even tomorrow, it'll squish right out. People are way to impatient with letting it soak IMO. Walk away from it and give it time.