Cloudy again..

[PoolStored]

I don’t even think I’ve backwashed since then! The loss would be from evaporation/refill only. My reagent is not expired and I’ve done this test successfully before.

I don’t know, but I’m not surprised given the FC loss. There are a bunch of threads on CYA loss. It happens, rarely, but there are many that have experienced it. At least you know.

cya does not evaporate. If you have 1000 gallons, evaporate 50, then add 50, you will have same cya level. Kinda like if you have glass of salt water and let it evaporate, all the salt will still be in the glass. Put water back in, you have salt water.

 

[3kidsAndAPool]

I don’t know, but I’m not surprised given the FC loss. There are a bunch of threads on CYA loss. It happens, rarely, but there are many that have experienced it. At least you know.

cya does not evaporate. If you have 1000 gallons, evaporate 50, then add 50, you will have same cya level. Kinda like if you have glass of salt water and let it evaporate, all the salt will still be in the glass. Put water back in, you have salt water.

I’m out of cya reagent and have ordered more. Should be here Monday. I’m going to take it to the pool store to be tested, just to see if they come up with a number for it. How often should I be checking my cya normally?

 

[3kidsAndAPool]

I was about to get the weir doors off. They were a little dirty, but I don’t believe there was any algae there. I scrubbed them just in case and put them back on.

 

[PoolStored]

I’m out of cya reagent and have ordered more. Should be here Monday. I’m going to take it to the pool store to be tested, just to see if they come up with a number for it. How often should I be checking my cya normally?

I test FC daily. I test everything else once a week. I've learned my pool and am comfortable that my pH doesn't change all that much since I added borates, even with rain. Until you get to know your pool, FC an pH daily. The others 1x or 2x a week until you get a feel for it. If you add SWG, the game changes. Others will have to chime in on SWG.

 

[3kidsAndAPool]

Took a sample to Leslies (I know, only place open) just to see what their results were. They had my cya at 21, which would make sense compared to the results I got, or didn’t get I want to get it back up to 50, so I think I need about 5lbs or 80 oz. can I just put 40 oz in each sock and tie it to the handle in each skimmer basket? Pantyhose? Do I need to take out the skimmer socks? Thanks!

 

[3kidsAndAPool]

Took a sample to Leslies (I know, only place open) just to see what their results were. They had my cya at 21, which would make sense compared to the results I got, or didn’t get I want to get it back up to 50, so I think I need about 5lbs or 80 oz. can I just put 40 oz in each sock and tie it to the handle in each skimmer basket? Pantyhose? Do I need to take out the skimmer socks? Thanks!

I guess I would actually need 6 lbs

 

[BoringDamo]

I guess I would actually need 6 lbs

Why don’t you add half then test again. You don’t want to accidentally overshoot with CYA as your varied results don’t give confidence we actually know the true level. Pool store testing doesn’t help with that confidence any.

 

[3kidsAndAPool]

Why don’t you add half then test again. You don’t want to accidentally overshoot with CYA as your varied results don’t give confidence we actually know the true level. Pool store testing doesn’t help with that confidence any.

I can do that. How long after adding should I retest?

 

[CTFocusST]

I can do that. How long after adding should I retest?

It usually takes 24 hours to get a good reading. Add chlorine based on the expected cya level per pool math

 

[3kidsAndAPool]

I’m back Ok, so today my cya reagent came in and I just did the test. It was definitely cloudy, but I could still see the black dot all the way to the top. It’s only been 48 hours since I added the 3 pounds of stabilizer. It did completely dissolve over night. Is it too soon to be testing? I’ve seen varying opinions about it and I don’t want to add more and over shoot. Some say test again after 24 hours and some (most) say to wait 7 days? Any thoughts? I’m really trying to learn how to do all of this the TFP way. Thanks for being so patient with me while I’m still learning!

 

[Newdude]

I’m back

What a coincidence, so ARE we.

It’s only been 48 hours since I added the 3 pounds of stabilizer. It did completely dissolve over night. Is it too soon to be testing? I’ve seen varying opinions about it

Refresh our memory? Hanging in a sock or in a skimmer in a sock ? If it was in the skimmer it could take a week being trapped in the filter. If it dissolved in the water it should be fine/mixed after 48 hours.

I’m really trying to learn how to do all of this the TFP way.

You are doing AMAZING.

Thanks for being so patient with me while I’m still learning!

I will answer you with your own words :

I’m really trying to learn

We will really try as long as you do.

 

[3kidsAndAPool]

What a coincidence, so ARE we.


Refresh our memory? Hanging in a sock or in a skimmer in a sock ? If it was in the skimmer it could take a week being trapped in the filter. If it dissolved in the water it should be fine/mixed after 48 hours.

You are doing AMAZING.

I will answer you with your own words :

We will really try as long as you do.

Thank you! I promise I’ll keep trying
I put the stabilizer in a stocking and put it in the skimmer. If the pool store was right, and my cya was at 21, the 3 lbs I added should’ve brought it up to 35ish according to pool math? It definitely didn’t show that today in my testing. If I’m to trust this reading after 48 hours, I’m guessing it’s in the 20’s now since it was cloudy but I could still see the dot at the top of the tube?

 

[Newdude]

I put the stabilizer in a stocking and put it in the skimmer. If the pool store was right, and my cya was at 21, the 3 lbs I added should’ve brought it up to 35ish

Then most of it is probably a slurry in the cartridge. If you cleaned the cartridge in the meantime you *may* have washed it out. Give it a few days either way as it's not worth over shooting.

I’m guessing it’s in the 20’s now since it was cloudy but I could still see the dot at the top of the tube?

20 or below really can't be read with any accuracy. Give it some time and we will come back to this. Keep a close eye on the FC in the meantime because it will burn off easy in the sun. 10A and 2P would be ideal so you don't end up low and back where we started. If you'll be out for the afternoon check, dose further up in the morning. Easy and cheap insurance for a week.

 

[3kidsAndAPool]

Then most of it is probably a slurry in the cartridge. If you cleaned the cartridge in the meantime you *may* have washed it out. Give it a few days either way as it's not worth over shooting.

20 or below really can't be read with any accuracy. Give it some time and we will come back to this. Keep a close eye on the FC in the meantime because it will burn off easy in the sun. 10A and 2P would be ideal so you don't end up low and back where we started. If you'll be out for the afternoon check, dose further up in the morning. Easy and cheap insurance for a week.

I have a sand filter and have not backwashed since adding the stabilizer. I did read that you should wait at least a week before doing so?

I will continue to monitor FC because I definitely don’t want to end up back where I started! Today I checked about every 2 hours with very little change. I lost right around 3ppm total today, which is better than what I have been losing! I’ll go to 10A and 2P tomorrow.
Also, I have been losing water, to what I assumed was evaporation, since the cover has been off more this year and there has been about a 20 degree difference in daytime and nighttime here. Now, I’m wondering if maybe there isn’t a leak and that could be where all of my cya went? Am I over thinking? I don’t have a bucket deep enough to sit on my steps to do the bucket test properly, but I did use painters tape to mark the water level on my skimmer. I did that around 12:30 today. Do I wait to measure until 12:30 tomorrow? Is it a full 24 hours?

 

[Newdude]

I have a sand filter and have not backwashed since adding the stabilizer. I did read that you should wait at least a week before doing so?

Sorry had my wires crossed with someone who we had wash their cartridges. Great !! Then it's in the sand and will take a few more days to show up. Or you were really low and will need more but like we said, go slow here. We'll get there.

Today I checked about every 2 hours with very little change. I lost right around 3ppm total today, which is better than what I have been losing! I’ll go to 10A and 2P tomorrow

Your vigalence is paying off. Once we get the CYA to hold the FC you can go to daily tests once you relearn how the pool is behaving after that. But you're a pro now so it won't take but a few days to see the trends and prove that you're on the right path.

Also, I have been losing water, to what I assumed was evaporation, since the cover has been off more this year and there has been about a 20 degree difference in daytime and nighttime here.

Warm water and cool nights will cause alot of evap.

don’t have a bucket deep enough to sit on my steps to do the bucket test properly, but I did use painters tape to mark the water level on my skimmer. I did that around 12:30 today. Do I wait to measure until 12:30 tomorrow? Is it a full 24 hours?

Without a bucket to compare it too, you're only testing the pool loss. Which is fine because that is something to know as well. 1/4 inch a day, etc. Let it sit for days to get an average. If you aren't losing tons of water there is no reason to rush it.

You can put the bucket half full and marked with the same tape on the patio and compare it to the tape on the skimmer. It will be close enough to see any glaringly obvious differences.

 

[3kidsAndAPool]

Sorry had my wires crossed with someone who we had wash their cartridges. Great !! Then it's in the sand and will take a few more days to show up. Or you were really low and will need more but like we said, go slow here. We'll get there.

Your vigalence is paying off. Once we get the CYA to hold the FC you can go to daily tests once you relearn how the pool is behaving after that. But you're a pro now so it won't take but a few days to see the trends and prove that you're on the right path.

Warm water and cool nights will cause alot of evap.

Without a bucket to compare it too, you're only testing the pool loss. Which is fine because that is something to know as well. 1/4 inch a day, etc. Let it sit for days to get an average. If you aren't losing tons of water there is no reason to rush it.

You can put the bucket half full and marked with the same tape on the patio and compare it to the tape on the skimmer. It will be close enough to see any glaringly obvious differences.

Ok! I will plan to use the bucket tomorrow and see what I come up with. I will also plan to retest my cya on Saturday. You are right, I do NOT want to over shoot! That should give my time to figure out my water loss as well so I can report back!

 

[PoolStored]

I have a sand filter. It has taken a week to a week and a half for mine to get to "Max." I'd trust pool math and be patient.

 

[Newdude]

*also worth noting that we *thought* the CYA was 50 but it turns out to be 20 or less. Not knowing the actual level opened the door for quick FC burn off from the sun leaving little/no FC. We've been chasing our tails ever since.

Know your levels/#s future reading folks, especially once there is any suspected problem. You may be out of a test because it's always something, but get a replacement PRONTO as it as it may change the entire plan of attack.

3kaap I suspect you will never go without CYA mix again. So in the end this was a good thing without too much struggle to teach the lesson.

 

[PoolStored]

Retest your CYA. It was 50 a month ago. ...

Check your CYA.

I will be surprised if your CYA is 50.

My gut tells me your CYA is not where you think it is. Call me crazy, but we will see in the morning!

Niiiice! Congrats on the testing. You have another arrow in your quiver.

 

[3kidsAndAPool]

Niiiice! Congrats on the testing. You have another arrow in your quiver.

You were right! I had no idea I needed to be testing my cya so often. I assumed, after reading how difficult it’s supposed to be to lower/get rid of, that it would go unchanged for quite some time. I never dreamed I would lose so much in 4 weeks. I feel certain it WAS at 50 when I tested it a month ago. My husband and I both looked at it and got between 40-50 (without sharing our numbers with each other ) and then I confirmed the next week with the pool store, who also came back with 50. Good call on the retest!!