First time adding CYA.

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R

rev29k

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May 8, 2018
84
Tampa
I have a newly built pool, for which I have never had to add CYA until now. Through research, I have purchased the hth brand of stabilizer, as I read that it has a nice fine grain that dissolves faster. My question is in regards to how to add it to the pool. I have read many different instructions/opinions on it, but am still unclear if I am ok. I was going to just pour however many pounds I need into the skimmer, swoosh it around until it passes through, and then I believe I need to keep the pump running for 24-48 hours to help it dissolve. My understanding is that it will all catch in the filter (cartridge), and then dissolve from there. I also read I should turn off my main drain valves to prevent anything from backflowing once the pump is off, thus preventing it from possibly bleaching out my finish around the main drains. Do I understand this correctly? Do I need to run my pump longer? Or should I do the panty hose/sock method, and tie it to the lid and let it dissolve from there? My concern with that is how often do I need to "squeeze" the sock, and wouldn't it be doing the same if I just let it dissolve at the filter?

Anyways, I am a little paranoid about it bleaching my dark blue finish, so I am trying to do what is safest in that regard, but also doesn't take 3 days of manual work to get it to dissolve. Any ideas are definitely welcomed.
 
Lots of tips and tricks out there. Here's mine:

For the "sock" method, nylon knee highs or pantyhose legs (don't tell my wife) work best. I use about one pound in each and hang them inside of a 5-gallon bucket. Add some hot/warm water and let them soak a couple hours. Place the bucket on a step or bench inside the pool and run a hose with fresh water in the bucket. Start squeezing the socks in the bucket as the water flows. Make sure the pump is on to maintain circulation.

It took me about 45 minutes to an hour to completely dissolve 5 pounds. Leave the pump running and brush to help disperse the CYA.
 
Use a panty hose in front of the return and let the flow hit it . Once in a while give it a squeeze it'll be gone in a short time. You can brush the floor area just below and in front to disburse it some more. Never a problem doing it this way. Good luck.
 
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So what about the sock method inside the skimmer? Is that ok? Why is pouring through the skimmer bad? My acid gets injected right before the Chlorinator, so why would CYA down the skimmer be any worse? It’s all gonna get caught in the filter and dissolve slowly from there.
 
The sock method in the skimmer is what I use. Just be sure it is in small amounts so flow is not restricted. You will have to squeeze the sock some to disperse. After a couple days the granules will be mush and can then be slowly washed out into the skimmer if you wish.

We in general do not recommend pouring anything directly into the skimmer. High concentrations of whatever chemical is passed through the pump, etc and is not good for all those systems.

Anecdotally, when my pool builder added raw CYA to my pool via the skimmer, I found a small amount of it in the bottom of my Pentair cartridge filter when I cleaned the cartridges several months later. There is a no flow area at the bottom of the filter housing.
 
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Thanks mknauss.

So, add roughly a pound or two per pantyhose and tie it off through the top? How do you hang it? And then just wait until it’s mushy and then start squeezing and/or working it through the basket?

Sorry for the specific questions.
 
I don't like the idea of adding back pressure and/or possibility the granules get through to the heater. I use the sock method Marty suggested and I've done it with wife's old panty hose. Both work well but sock is more durable. Takes about 2 days to dissolve with a squeeze couple of times per day. Never had a problem this way and it's pretty cheap. If you have some old trichlor pucks around that's a way to get rid of them but I like to keep them for emergencies/spot cleaning of any mold or algae on the coping grout.

Hope this helps and your new pool sound great!

Chris
 

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I just put the sock/panty hose of CYA in to the skimmer basket. Again, not so much that it limits the water flow to the pump.
 
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So, I ended up just pouring a few pounds at a time into a panty hose and leaving it in the skimmer. I came back about an hour later and it was now mushy, so I spent maybe 5 minutes squeezing it until all of the mush had dissolved through the hose. Very easy I must say. Thanks all for the help and suggestions!
 
rev29k said:
So, I ended up just pouring a few pounds at a time into a panty hose and leaving it in the skimmer. I came back about an hour later and it was now mushy, so I spent maybe 5 minutes squeezing it until all of the mush had dissolved through the hose. Very easy I must say. Thanks all for the help and suggestions!
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Brush the immediate area floor to the right and left. Lots of it that fast ends up on the bottom. Not that it won't end up doing what its intended to do but just takes longer to fully turn your CYA numbers. Brushing the floor several times to kick it up helps it get in to the water stream that much faster.
 
I've been using a cotton (as in T shirt like material) pillow case. I zip tie it closed with a string attached to that zip tie. Then attach that to a large brick or cinder block so it can hang over the side in front of return jet. I've done as much as 6 lbs like this in one dose, and it only took a few hours for it to dissolve.
 
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