Is HTH stabilizer (from Walmart) just as good as...
- Thread starter Lil Davy
- Start date
Sometimes better.
That is good to know. I saw it one time at Lowes and was going to get it, but it said 4% other so opted not to get it. It was a smaller one than I bought. I went to warehouse pool supply and 4.5 lbs of stablizer was 19.99.
Just this week I got 4 lbs of the HTH 96% CYA (stabilizer) at WalMart for $15. I need more, but am hesitant to put too much given the PITA it is to get rid of CYA. I will re-test tomorrow.
Great thanks... from reading posts on this forum many talk about the stabilizer being a solid (putting it in a sock and sticking it in the skimmer). If I remember what I saw at Walmart, the HTH is a bottle of powder. Is there really any difference?
No difference...it's all granulated, not really powder consistency. Just put the granules in an old sock...(no holes of course) 
Winger 03 said:
Give it about a week and see what happens when you test. How did you add via the sock method or through the skimmer?
I like the HTH from Wally's the best. I usually put 2 lbs in a knee high stocking, in front of a return. I tie a string to the stocking and wrap that around a rock. A couple of bricks will work, also. Sometimes, if I get it just right, I don't have to readjust the stocking, in front of return. The HTH, being almost a "powder" leaves the stocking much faster than others; even faster if you massage the stocking some. In front of my fastest return almost 2 lbs will be gone in a few hours, even if I don't massage the stocking, very important if you have pets that might play with it. The warmer the water the faster it disperses. I know this because I keep my pool open year round, and have to replace CYA pretty frequently due to frequent backwashing. I do have "dust bowl" conditions year round.
gg=alice
gg=alice
mynewpool said:
I did the sock method. I kind of rigged it up by running a string line attached to the fence across the pool, and then dangled the sock from it in front of a return. It looked odd, but worked great. I know I am supposed to wait to test, but I thought I could cut the time a bit by using the sock method.
I agree with GG, Wal-Mart CYA is almost a powder consistency, guess they changed something about it recently. It's all I've ever used too, I don't set foot in a pool store unless there's no other option.
So, can someone explain to me why the stabilizer is put in a sock and not just poured into the skimmer?
Lil Davy said:
If you pour it in the skimmer, it will be captured in the filter. If you have to backwash in the week or so it takes to dissolve, you lose whatever hasn't dissolved yet. If you put it in the sock, it dissolves before entering the filter.
but if I have a cartridge filter and dont ever backwash then i should be OK by pouring into the skimmer, correct?
Yes, adding CYA to the skimmer is just fine as long as you aren't going to backwash. Pour slowly, with the skimmer basket in, but no skimmer sock.
I'm using the HTH from Wally....dissolves quickly with my sock in front of return method. I also periodically squeeze the sock during the process.
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