I just opened our 18x9 Intex above ground pool this weekend. It hold 4500 gallons and had fresh water delivered. I added 115 lbs. of salt and the 48 0z of cya yesterday that the pool calculator recommended and it is fully dissolved. I turned the SWG on today to start the chlorinating process and checked all levels. My CYA is at 100 (I did do the diluted test twice to check). My FC is slowly rising as the SWG runs but I know that I have an issue with the CYA being that high. Should I drain water now?
Just opened
- Thread starter Kelli2
- Start date
By the way, it’s best to boost your FC to your target with liquid chlorine, then use your SWG to maintain.
So when starting you boost with liquid and add the 115lbs of salt? That won't be too much once the SWG converts?
Also, what is your method for testing CYA. Are you doing outside with sun behind you, just glancing for the dot?
So when starting you boost with liquid and add the 115lbs of salt? That won't be too much once the SWG converts? To test CYA I used the Tips section in pool school, no sun today but back was to it, hold at waist level and glance at dot. I tested 4 times and also completed the diluted CYA test once it kept coming back at 100. The Intex book said to add 1.1 lbs and maintain at 30 but the pool calculator said to add 48oz and maintain 70-90, so I am going by the calculator
Nope, but you also don’t add salt until you test what your current salt level is, so you don’t overshoof.
In fact, since this isn’t a new pool but one you are opening from last year, did you test for CYA before adding more? That would explain how you overshot.
Draining is the only way to remove CYA (and salt, if you are too high there as well).
We had to drain all the water this year, there was only about 3 inches from last year left when I opened this year, so it was basically a new open. My salt level is slightly high too at 3600 instead of 3500
Please check your set-up in Pool Math to make sure your pool details are correct. Your results are reading as if you have much less water in the pool.
We drained the pool and refilled, there were only 3 inches of water in there since last year
Yes, but please check to make sure you’ve got the right number of gallons plugged in.
Well, that’s just really odd. I think your CYA may be lower than you think. Adding the 48 ounces to 4500 gallons of water that did not already contain CYA should not yield a result of 100. I think you should hold off on draining and let your water circulate for another day and test again.
- May 3, 2014
- 58,345
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
42 oz of dry stabilizer will add 66 ppm CYA into 4800 gallons. So there was a measurement error or is now a testing error if your CYA is testing at 100.
Will do! Should I continue to let the SWG run? I currently have it on Boost since I just put the salt in yesterday
I weighed out the CYA on a food scale to make sure I used the correct amount