I need to add 4 pounds of stabilizer to my pool to get CYA to 30 so I can start a SLAM since my water is dark green at opening. (CYA appears to be zero because I drained a lot of water out of my mesh-covered pool during the winter). I’m going to be using HTH Stabilizer Pods to achieve this since I have an old bag in my garage that I bought several years ago and never opened. What is the best and fastest way to add 4 pounds of these stabilizer pods to my pool? Directions on the container says to add 1 pod (1/2 lb) at a time to the skimmer and let it dissolve completely before adding more. Directions on this site says to put the stabilizer in a sock and put it in the skimmer or dangle a sock of stabilizer in front of a deep end return. If I’m going to use these HTH pods, should I cut them open and pour the stabilizer into a sock or will they dissolve just as quickly if I just put them in the sock without cutting them open? Can I put all 4 pounds in several socks and put them all in the skimmer basket or could this clog the filter or damage the pump if I added this much to the skimmer at once since stabilizer is very acidic? Since I’m going to be backwashing often during the SLAM to prevent the filter from getting clogged, should I avoid putting the stabilizer socks in the skimmer and use the “sock in front of a deep end return” method instead so I don't lose CYA to backwashing as much? I tried that method once and the sock got knocked into the pool somehow so I’m reluctant to try that again. If that is the best way to add stabilizer to a pool during a SLAM, I need some suggestions on how to tie it to something so high winds or a critter can’t knock it into the pool. 4 pounds is a lot to add at one time but I really don’t want to add it over several days since I need to clear the pool up as quickly as possible.
I also need to lower the PH of my water before starting a SLAM. Pool math says that 4 lbs of stabilizer will lower the PH by .52 which will lower the PH from 8.0 to 7.5. Should I skip the muriatic acid since I’m adding so much stabilizer?
I also need to lower the PH of my water before starting a SLAM. Pool math says that 4 lbs of stabilizer will lower the PH by .52 which will lower the PH from 8.0 to 7.5. Should I skip the muriatic acid since I’m adding so much stabilizer?
