My CYA level was zero or very close, so added the recommended amount on the packaging. How soon after adding can i add additional chlorine or shock? I've been battling algae and my chlorine levels are almost non-existent, hence the CYA. The algae appears to be gone, pool is still a bit cloudly, but can see the bottom. I'm thinking I need to add chlorine ASAP so the algae doesn't have a chance.
How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding CYA
- Thread starter Shaz
- Start date
Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C
Did you use liquid or dry CYA, if dry how did you add it?
Ike
Did you use liquid or dry CYA, if dry how did you add it?
Ike
Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C
And while we are asking questions ...
What test kit are you using?
Are you following the Shocking Your Pool PROCESS?
And while we are asking questions ...
What test kit are you using?
Are you following the Shocking Your Pool PROCESS?
Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C
Welcome to TFP!
Also, how are you testing for CYA?
Welcome to TFP!
How much did you add and how did you add it? Suggest using the Pool Calculator to determine dosing amounts for all chemicals, including CYA. Note that it will take granular CYA about a week to appear in your test results.Shaz said:
Also, how are you testing for CYA?
Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C
I'll try to answer all of your questions in this one post. I'm using a 'strip' test kit that does measure CYA, as well as FC, TC and PH, alkalinity (sp?). I have been doing my best to follow the instructions to get rid of my 'green swamp'. I've used bleach continuously and dichlor once. I added granular CYA as thats what the product instructions specified. I'm aware that I need to order another test kit, but I do work full time and have been battling this algae hoping to have the pool cleared up & swim ready by Father's Day. I do appreciate your help!
I'll try to answer all of your questions in this one post. I'm using a 'strip' test kit that does measure CYA, as well as FC, TC and PH, alkalinity (sp?). I have been doing my best to follow the instructions to get rid of my 'green swamp'. I've used bleach continuously and dichlor once. I added granular CYA as thats what the product instructions specified. I'm aware that I need to order another test kit, but I do work full time and have been battling this algae hoping to have the pool cleared up & swim ready by Father's Day. I do appreciate your help!
Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C
Without the good test kit, I am not sure your goal is attainable. The strips are just not going to be reliable enough to maintain the correct FC levels and certainly not accurate enough to monitor the low CC and verify the OCLT.
Where are you located?
Without the good test kit, I am not sure your goal is attainable. The strips are just not going to be reliable enough to maintain the correct FC levels and certainly not accurate enough to monitor the low CC and verify the OCLT.
Where are you located?
Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C
You don't want to add powdered "shock", because that will just add more CYA.
You can add bleach right away, the granules won't dissolve very fast. Liquid CYA will mix within minutes, especially if you help mix by brushing.
You don't want to add powdered "shock", because that will just add more CYA.
You can add bleach right away, the granules won't dissolve very fast. Liquid CYA will mix within minutes, especially if you help mix by brushing.
Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C
This gets back to my question, of how did you add the CYA, as instructed on the package does not tell us much
This gets back to my question, of how did you add the CYA, as instructed on the package does not tell us much
Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C
I'm in Kansas, very hot this week, 98 degrees today. I will order the TFP test kit straight away - I realize that you're right I'm probably not getting accurate levels and I do NOT want to take a sample to the pool store. I did purchase the CYA and Power Powder Plus Shock (Leslies) today. The shock is not supposed to contain any CYA. I followed the instructions on the packaging for the amount of CYA needed based on gallons - 2.5 lbs per 10,000 gallons of water. Thanks!
I'm in Kansas, very hot this week, 98 degrees today. I will order the TFP test kit straight away - I realize that you're right I'm probably not getting accurate levels and I do NOT want to take a sample to the pool store. I did purchase the CYA and Power Powder Plus Shock (Leslies) today. The shock is not supposed to contain any CYA. I followed the instructions on the packaging for the amount of CYA needed based on gallons - 2.5 lbs per 10,000 gallons of water. Thanks!
Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C
We need to be specific to give advice before you have the kit. Fill in these blanks
:
I, Shaz, added ____ lbs of granular stabilizer and I added it by ___________________________.
I, Shaz, added ____ lbs or ____ oz of "shock" powder. {Although you are right that is cal-hypo so this is not as important}
{Added method of addition blank after Isaac's point below}
We need to be specific to give advice before you have the kit. Fill in these blanks
:I, Shaz, added ____ lbs of granular stabilizer and I added it by ___________________________.
I, Shaz, added ____ lbs or ____ oz of "shock" powder. {Although you are right that is cal-hypo so this is not as important}
{Added method of addition blank after Isaac's point below}
Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C
Also did you dump the CYA powder into the pool, add it to the skimmer, or use the sock method that we suggest using here. I ask because if you added it into the pool CYA stabilizer dissolves very slowly and is acidic so can damage your liner, if you added it to the skimmer then you need to avoid backwashing your filter for several days to give it time to fully dissolve.
Ike
Also did you dump the CYA powder into the pool, add it to the skimmer, or use the sock method that we suggest using here. I ask because if you added it into the pool CYA stabilizer dissolves very slowly and is acidic so can damage your liner, if you added it to the skimmer then you need to avoid backwashing your filter for several days to give it time to fully dissolve.
Ike
Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C
I added 7.5 lbs of granular stabilizer today to the skimmers. i've added nothing else for 24 hours - the dichlor was added Sunday or Monday. Since then nothing but 16-121 oz bottles of 8% chlorine. As i said no green in the pool I manually vac'd last nite. tested water this AM chlorine levels appeared to be non-existent & the CYA barely registered. i know these readings are not anywhere near the accuracy of the TFP test kit. Hope this is enough info....
I added 7.5 lbs of granular stabilizer today to the skimmers. i've added nothing else for 24 hours - the dichlor was added Sunday or Monday. Since then nothing but 16-121 oz bottles of 8% chlorine. As i said no green in the pool I manually vac'd last nite. tested water this AM chlorine levels appeared to be non-existent & the CYA barely registered. i know these readings are not anywhere near the accuracy of the TFP test kit. Hope this is enough info....
Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C
As mentioned CYA Stabilizer can take days to dissolve, so avoid backwashing the filter for at least the next 3 or 4 days, also once dissolved it can take up to a week to fully register on tests.
Ike
As mentioned CYA Stabilizer can take days to dissolve, so avoid backwashing the filter for at least the next 3 or 4 days, also once dissolved it can take up to a week to fully register on tests.
Ike
Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C
Whoa whoa ... now you just said you added dichlor ... which is NOT the product you said you bought which is cal-hypo. I am thinking that your last post was not correct.
7.5 lbs (120oz) of stabilizer will only raise the CYA by 26ppm. But I would hesitate to add any more until you get a real CYA test.
Did you pour it through the skimmer so it is not slowly dissolving in your filter? Or is it in a sock or something in the skimmer basket?
Whoa whoa ... now you just said you added dichlor ... which is NOT the product you said you bought which is cal-hypo. I am thinking that your last post was not correct.
7.5 lbs (120oz) of stabilizer will only raise the CYA by 26ppm. But I would hesitate to add any more until you get a real CYA test.
Did you pour it through the skimmer so it is not slowly dissolving in your filter? Or is it in a sock or something in the skimmer basket?
Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C
I took the baskets out of the skimmers and added half of the mixture to each skimmer directly. I apologize - i did add some dichlor early on in this process approximately 24 oz - I have not added any chlorine in any form for the last 24 hours. I purchased the Power Powder today, but have not added as I didn't know if it was safe to do so (my original question). If necessary I can backwash the filter & go buy the liquid stabilizer, but I have no idea at this point whether there is any CYA in the pool. While I'm waiting on my test kit and trying to get this CYA issue sorted is it ok for me to add the shock I purchased today (calcium hypochlorite is the only active ingredient). As I mentioned, I don't want the algae to come back - the pool is much clearer and no green. I don't have time to run to the store & buy more bleach - can I use the cal hypochlorite safely? Thank you
I took the baskets out of the skimmers and added half of the mixture to each skimmer directly. I apologize - i did add some dichlor early on in this process approximately 24 oz - I have not added any chlorine in any form for the last 24 hours. I purchased the Power Powder today, but have not added as I didn't know if it was safe to do so (my original question). If necessary I can backwash the filter & go buy the liquid stabilizer, but I have no idea at this point whether there is any CYA in the pool. While I'm waiting on my test kit and trying to get this CYA issue sorted is it ok for me to add the shock I purchased today (calcium hypochlorite is the only active ingredient). As I mentioned, I don't want the algae to come back - the pool is much clearer and no green. I don't have time to run to the store & buy more bleach - can I use the cal hypochlorite safely? Thank you
Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C
The dichlor would have added about 2.6ppm of CYA in addition to your 26ppm from the stabilizer that is now in the filter. Just leave it and assume you are at around 30ppm until you have your kit.
Yes it is safe to use the cal-hypo, but it is adding calcium which you do not need. And actually liquid chlorine / bleach is usually cheaper in terms of the FC ppm you get.
The dichlor would have added about 2.6ppm of CYA in addition to your 26ppm from the stabilizer that is now in the filter. Just leave it and assume you are at around 30ppm until you have your kit.
Yes it is safe to use the cal-hypo, but it is adding calcium which you do not need. And actually liquid chlorine / bleach is usually cheaper in terms of the FC ppm you get.
Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C
Without knowing your CH levels we can't tell you if you can safely use the cal-hypo, which raises both FC and CH, the only way to lower CH is through water replacement.
Without knowing your CH levels we can't tell you if you can safely use the cal-hypo, which raises both FC and CH, the only way to lower CH is through water replacement.
Re: How soon is it safe to add shock/chlorine after adding C
Thank you for the assistance. I do appreciate this website and your methods - I dislike the 'pool store' and would be happy to never go back. I will order the test kit and post the real levels as soon as I receive. In the meantime I'll leave the CYA alone and add nothing but chlorine. Again, appreciate all the advice - you guys are great!
Thank you for the assistance. I do appreciate this website and your methods - I dislike the 'pool store' and would be happy to never go back. I will order the test kit and post the real levels as soon as I receive. In the meantime I'll leave the CYA alone and add nothing but chlorine. Again, appreciate all the advice - you guys are great!