I need to add Cyanuric acid to my pool to bring up the CYA level (level is currently at 55 but want to raise to 70 to minimize settings on SWG). I read various recommendation for adding it to pool including hanging in a sock in front of return. I am thinking of just adding it to my skimmer basket and let the pump run until it dissolves. I have a nylon sock over my skimmer basket. Will this work OK or are I missing anything that could be negative doing it this way?
Adding Cyanuric to Pool
- Thread starter George Whitzel
- Start date
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,891
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Hi again, George. Oh boy, do I have an opinion about this. And you're right, there are various schools of thought on this at TFP. My first attempt at adding CYA was to use the liquid kind, dilute it in a bucket and then just pour it in around the pool perimeter. DON'T DO THAT!! I didn't mix it in well enough, or it came back out of solution, so when I dumped that last of it in my pool some of the CYA residue had clumped up and then it floated down to the bottom and made a pile. In just the span of time it took to run and get a brush to swirl it around, it left a permanent stain on my brand new pebble finish! My first DIY pool care mistake!!
So liquid or granules, I will NEVER again add any CYA directly into my pool. Which is why I don't use the sock-in-front-of-the-return method, nor the walk-around-in-the-pool-and-squeeze-out-the-sock method. Both of which, I'm sure, have worked fine for thousands of people. Instead, I like the skimmer method. Though I wouldn't just pour it into the skimmer, nylon sock or no, because I wouldn't want it to float out of the skimmer into the pool. I use only granulated CYA, and put that into a sock. Actually, one of those zippered laundry bag things (for washing fine delicates). I find those bags have a good sized mesh. The sock I once tried took too long, as it trapped the granules. So... CYA into the bag, and then I hang the bag in the skimmer by trapping the end of it in the concrete skimmer access opening lid. That way, the bag can't somehow work it's way out into the pool. (Super paranoid, or what!?!) I let the CYA find it's way to my cartridge filter, where it further dissolves, eventually, into the main pool.
The downside of this MO is that it can take a long time to see the results of the addition. It dissolves out of the laundry bag fast enough, that can take as little as a few hours. But the CYA can get caught up in my cartridge filter for a while (not sure how long), but I don't care. I check the CYA level after several days, and then add more if needed. I'm not in a hurry...
So liquid or granules, I will NEVER again add any CYA directly into my pool. Which is why I don't use the sock-in-front-of-the-return method, nor the walk-around-in-the-pool-and-squeeze-out-the-sock method. Both of which, I'm sure, have worked fine for thousands of people. Instead, I like the skimmer method. Though I wouldn't just pour it into the skimmer, nylon sock or no, because I wouldn't want it to float out of the skimmer into the pool. I use only granulated CYA, and put that into a sock. Actually, one of those zippered laundry bag things (for washing fine delicates). I find those bags have a good sized mesh. The sock I once tried took too long, as it trapped the granules. So... CYA into the bag, and then I hang the bag in the skimmer by trapping the end of it in the concrete skimmer access opening lid. That way, the bag can't somehow work it's way out into the pool. (Super paranoid, or what!?!) I let the CYA find it's way to my cartridge filter, where it further dissolves, eventually, into the main pool.
The downside of this MO is that it can take a long time to see the results of the addition. It dissolves out of the laundry bag fast enough, that can take as little as a few hours. But the CYA can get caught up in my cartridge filter for a while (not sure how long), but I don't care. I check the CYA level after several days, and then add more if needed. I'm not in a hurry...
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,891
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
- Jul 17, 2019
- 3,721
- Pool Size
- 13000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
The main concern is the CYA getting caught in the filter or sitting at the bottom of your pool. The particles are acidic and can cause damage to the filter or the pool finish. If it gets into the filter, you also run the risk of losing the CYA if you clean the filter before the CYA is fully dissolved.
The sock method is a bit odd, but prevents that. I'm sure the sock in the skimmer is fine too.
The sock method is a bit odd, but prevents that. I'm sure the sock in the skimmer is fine too.
Thanks Dirk for your help. I agree with you about not hanging a sock over the pool. Now that you brought that point about the stain it left on your pool I am wondering about the recommendation to squeeze the holder periodically to accelerate delivery to the pool. It seems to my this be toxic and not safe to do so as it still needs to go thru the filter. What are your thoughts on this?
I just use a skimmer sock which is a fine weave. It's the same skimmer socks I use in the spring to filter out pine pollen. I had to add 2 lbs last week and the CYA granules dissolved in about 2 hours since my water was around 92F at the time.
I actually using a skimmer sock over the basket that I bought at Leslie's. It is a fine mesh. I run my filter pump 8 hours/day so I will put the Cyanuric in the sock just before the pump starts and hope it dissolves in one cycle.
- May 3, 2014
- 58,522
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
It is a very mild acid. I am not as neurotic as @Dirk -- I typically start the thin sock of CYA in the skimmer and once it is really mushy, squeeze it out in the pool. No granules, just a white cloud -----
For reference, when my pool was new, the builder dumped a couple pounds of CYA granules into the skimmer. Straight to the filter. One year later I cleaned the filter. I found about a cup of CYA granules in the bottom of my cartridge filter.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,891
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Neurotic?! What do you mean neurotic? I'm not neurotic. Who's been saying that?!? Have you all been talking behind my back!!?? AAAaahahhaahhhaa!
Well, agree to disagree. Not sure what the definition of "mild acid" is, but I know that if you get enough CYA on your pool floor, even after it has been dissolving in a bucket of water, it'll permanently damage pebble in less than 30 seconds. As I said, thousands of you all have added CYA directly into your pool without issue. I'm just sayin' I'm never going to again. Even if it could somehow be shown to me that CYA can compromise my filter cartridges over time, I'd still gamble on $400 cartridges before I let any CYA loose over my $9000 pebble! OK, well, maybe I'm a little neurotic!
I agree that dumping granules into your skimmer can result in them collecting in your filter, perhaps in a section of the filter that is not getting great circulation. So that's why I put the granules in a fine mesh bag before they go into the skimmer, so that what does get to the filter's cartridge is less likely to get trapped there.
The real point is: to caution new pool owners to be careful with pool chemicals. I've burned my pebble with CYA. I've burned my concrete with muriatic. These compounds can be harmful, to persons or property, if used callously. Better to err on the side of caution, I say. Be patient. Handle all pool chemicals with respect. Wear reasonable protective gear when handling them. Ask lots of questions here if you're not sure. All things I had to learn the hard way...
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,891
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Sorry, to answer your question... I sometimes will squeeze the granules through the laundry bag a few times over a few hours. Helps to speed the process. But only in a way where the resulting cloud goes straight down the skimmer and not back out into the pool. I do this bare-handed, doesn't seem to affect me. But usually I just leave the bag alone. That's easiest, and safest. And if I do handle the CYA, I try to make sure I don't get any on the deck surrounding the skimmer lid. Same for when I remove the bag. I put it right into a bucket and then carry the bucket over the deck. Same for when I handle Muriatic. I learned the bucket trick from a friend who handles harsh chemicals daily. It's how he makes sure he doesn't let stray drops land on his client's stone or floors. Seemed like a good practice to me, so that's what I do.
ManiacalMama
Bronze Supporter
- Jul 18, 2017
- 228
- Pool Size
- 13500
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-30 Plus
I use the hairnets I bought as skimmer socks load them up and hang them in the skimmer. This has been the easiest way I've found.
- May 23, 2015
- 24,447
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
.... or you could float a few trichlor pucks in chemical floater. Then you get acidity, chlorine and CYA all at once ..... Just sayin’ .....
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,891
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
You'd think so. And I'd guess most times yes. But folks here have reported finding granules in the filter, way after they should have dissolved. The theory being the granules end up in a portion of the filter that doesn't get enough circulation to do much to the granules. Not sure if a dirty or clean filter contributes or helps that scenario. Also not sure if granules against the cartridge filter material can cause damage or not.
I weighed the trade offs involved and came up with with what feels the safest to me. Apparently I'm pool-accident prone! Who knew!?
Yeah, but I’ve been a victim of CYA creep back in my Frog Leap days. **shudder**
There are a lot of ways people add the stabilizer to the pool on here. I put it in panty hose and then in the skimmer. After 1-2 hours I go out with a pair of gloves and squeeze ALL of it out. It takes me 15 minutes to do 3 pounds if necessary. Done. Get out and get on with your life...
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,891
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
I don't look all that great wearing panty hose, so I don't use that method. I never understood that method. They're very uncomfortable.
I like the sock in front of the return trick: If you have the appropriately fine enough mesh, you should just get already-dissolvable powder wafting into your pool away from your filter.
seems a lot of people in this thread don't like the sock hanging in pool method, but i'll add myself as a data point...
i split my most recent CYA add (which was my first since taking over the pool myself) into two weekends. first weekend started with the sock in skimmer, then moved to sock in front of return, and a lot of squeezing during both methods. took about 40 hours to fully dissolve (i wasn't interested in sitting there squeezing constantly to get rid of it all).
second weekend: sock hanging in waterfall (see pic). no squeezing. CYA dissolved completely (sock completely empty) in under 12 hours.
i'll never do it another way again.
i split my most recent CYA add (which was my first since taking over the pool myself) into two weekends. first weekend started with the sock in skimmer, then moved to sock in front of return, and a lot of squeezing during both methods. took about 40 hours to fully dissolve (i wasn't interested in sitting there squeezing constantly to get rid of it all).
second weekend: sock hanging in waterfall (see pic). no squeezing. CYA dissolved completely (sock completely empty) in under 12 hours.
i'll never do it another way again.
I’ll go even one better: If I’m in a rush (or being lazy), I spread it widely on my (vinyl) liner and let loose energetic (i.e., young) swimmers. Everything’s gone in a COUPLE hours (and no, nobody feet got burned by the [weak] acid, which I figured after squeezing socks with bare hands resulted in nada).