Leak advice on how to detect

[Nectarologist]

Hi. I know my pool is leaking either at the liner or the lights (Jandy led) since the pool was winterized and is still plugged up. I thought it was one of the Jandy lights as the cover was a bit lose. I filled it back up but the water leaked out again. The cover is on and I'm looking for advice on how to detect the leak. The water is about 1/8 to 1/4 below the lights so I don't think it's the lights anymore. My plan is to remove the cover and try to find the leak from above (too cold to get in). The pool has leaked as much out as it's going to so that's good (been at this level for a while). When using dye to detect it (if I don't see anything obvious) will i need to add water first? I assume it would be hard to tell if the pool was still draining water once it stops so the dye would't get sucked in the hole/tear etc. On a positive note I just got the RJ 45 salt system (circupool) but I can't worry about that until I get the leak fixed.

 

[Texas Splash]

I would let it continue to go until it stops - or it sounds like it has stopped huh? Then you'll have a waterline idea where the suspect area is. You say it's leaked as much as it's going to? So no more dropping for sure? Then I'd inspect very closely along that waterline for a tear - perhaps from the freezes this year. If you do find a suspect spot, you could add a little water just so that you can try the dye test, but then if you can actually see it, I suppose the dye test is irrelevant.

 

[Nectarologist]

Yes, it's stopped. I'll do a close look over first. Hopefully I can see it or at least feel something. He's hoping to report back with an easy fix. It's about 2 feet down so this should be interesting with me hanging over the side If I fell in it would be COLD, haha. Thank you for the advice.