Refill Inquiry

[chanvsmith]

Moved into a house with a pool in October and the previous pooltender told me it hasn't been drained and refilled in years. That can be an issue in Arizona. Hardness and CYA are extremely high so I think it's time for a drain and refill. My question is about the start-up chemicals. What's the process for determing how much of what I need to add in the beginning. I have a Taylor K-2006 test kit so I can monitor it as need be. Somebody suggested a "start-up kit" but that doesn't make a lot of sense considering I already have the chemicals contained in those kits! Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Newdude]

What's the process for determing how much of what I need to add in the beginning

With a full drain, you can test your fill water and go from there.

With a partial drain or a no drain exchange that mixes a little, complete the process and mix well once refilled. Then test and go from there.

*At no point* do you buy a one size fits all chemical kit. They are often laced with copper and sulfates and are really bad for the pool. Do not ever buy one for startup, maintaining, or winter. Zero. Times.

 

[chanvsmith]

With a full drain, you can test your fill water and go from there.

With a partial drain or a no drain exchange that mixes a little, complete the process and mix well once refilled.

The test and go from there.

*At no point* do you buy a one size fits all chemical kit. They are often laced with copper and sulfates and are really bad for the pool. Do not ever buy one for startup, maintaining, or winter. Zero. Times.

I will probably do the full drain along with a filter clean to give me the best possible start on my first summer with this pool. Likely to need all the help I can get. Thanks for the advice on the chemical kits. I never thought it seemed like a good idea and you confirmed that.

 

[Newdude]

I will probably do the full drain along with a filter clean to give me the best possible start on my first summer with this pool

I would want a fresh start. I've seen too many stories here about inheriting the last guys chemical stew. I myself inherited a high 300s CYA and the top of the sand in the filter was no longer sand, it was rubber mulch.

Likely to need all the help I can get.

We got you. Ask anytime.

I would rather you over ask than under ask. If you do anything you are the least bit unsure of, we may have multiple things to fix.

Rest assured, we still got you and we'll help fix that too, but it's far better for all parties to have only one task at hand.

 

[mknauss]

Just Filled Your Pool with Water? Here's What To Do Next - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[clambert1273]

I know how you feel lol the previous owners of ours wrecked the pool & house. Pool was so bad we renovated it in 2021. We're here and a few of us close together here in the valley.

 

[chanvsmith]

Okay. Got the drain and refill done. Now I need to add about 5 pounds of stabilizer to get my chem started. What is the most effective way to do this? I've heard about a sock method but that seems difficult with 5 pounds.

 

[mknauss]

Do it in stages. One pound at a time. Or get an old t-shirt and tie it up to hold more.

It should dissolve pretty fast as your water warms up.

 

[chanvsmith]

Do it in stages. One pound at a time. Or get an old t-shirt and tie it up to hold more.

It should dissolve pretty fast as your water warms

No good to release it into the skimmer?

 

[mknauss]

Not a good practice.

 

[chanvsmith]

Not a good practice.

I wear ankle socks. This may take a while.

 

[mknauss]

Ha! Go to a dollar store. Get ladies knee high hose.

Or, if you use hairnets in the skimmer, just put 1# in the hairnet and run the pump.

 

[chanvsmith]

Ha! Go to a dollar store. Get ladies knee high hose.

Or, if you use hairnets in the skimmer, just put 1# in the hairnet and run the pump.

Add chlorine now or wait for the CYA to enter the picture?

 

[mknauss]

Add chlorine. Chlorine is king. Always keep FC in the pool water.

 

[clambert1273]

I used old panty hose legs and knee highs. Tied em off and sit them in skimmer squeezing every hour or 2.

 

[Newdude]

This may take a while

I got you fam

How to add large batches of CYA

Hey Folks !!! With a large pool, I need 4lbs of CYA to only raise it 15, and I don't think I have that many socks without holes in them. So I use a Tshirt. Plus, I like that it's doubled up for redundancy. But it can also be scaled down with socks. So I measure out my dose and...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[chanvsmith]

Okay, next question. Tested my water today. FC is at 6, CYA is 50, TA was running about 140 and PH was 8. Splashed some muriatic acid in to get my PH down to 7.2 then ran my aerator for a few hours. Looks like the PH is up to 7.4 but my TA hasn't budged. Might have ticked up, if anything. Is the TA something I need to fight?

 

[PoolStored]

Is the TA something I need to fight?

No. Manage your pH. Any pH from 7.0 up to and including 8.0 are just fine.

 

[chanvsmith]

No. Manage your pH. Any pH from 7.0 up to and including 8.0 are just fi

That's what I wanted to hear. Thanks!

 

[PoolStored]

The only impact of high TA (ignoring CSI), is that pH will rise faster.
Are you using Pool Math? Link-->PoolMath
Test your fill water for TA and CH.