Is CYA the same as Trichloro-s-Triazinetrione tablest?

[aylad]

And just as a footnote to Carl's post, some trichlor tabs contain copper, so make sure to check your active ingredient list before you buy them, if that's what you decide to use. If it says "dual acting", or has copper in the ingredient list, don't buy them--copper is the culprit that turns hair and nails green. There are still some out there that do not contain copper. They may be a little more expensive, but not if you catch them on sale. Besides, in the long run the "cheap comes out expensive" because copper is a real PITA to deal with once it gets in your pool in levels high enough to start staining.

That being said, Please post your water testing results, as Watermom suggested, and we can help you go from there.

Janet

[herb396]

OK, I have a 25,000 gal gunite pool. Just at the tail end of opening. Water is clear after 6 days of 24/7 filter and at least 20 gal of bleach over that time to keep my CL levels up to clean up the green. Current reading are:
FC - 3.5
CC - .5
pH - 7.2
CYA - 0
ALK - 130

So I was assuming my next step was to get my CYA up. But I'm looking for proper direction at this time. (and exactly what product to purchase to do it) thanks

[aylad]

You could use trichlor, but the CYA rise will be slow, and your pH may tend to fall, which you don't need. I would just buy the stabilizer by itself--you can get it in the spa section at WalMart in 4 # jars. It's labeled "conditioner" or "balancer", I can't remember which--but look at the active ingredient--you're looking for cyanuric or isocyanuric acid. You can add it through the skimmer but not backwash for several days, or add it in a sock or old knee hi and hang it in front of the return.

If you do opt to use trichlor instead, go ahead and pick up a box of Borax too, and keep an eye on your pH.

Janet

[herb396]

Thanks for the advice, I think I'll look for the "conditioner". But I still have a question. What is "trichlor"? Is this a tablet? Is that the actual name of the product (becasue I can never find anything called "trichlor") And when I ask in the pool store, they don't seem to know) So where do you buy it?

Thanks again for the help, herb

[Watermom]

Trichlor is sold as tablets that you put in a floater or a chlorinator. If you go to a pool store that doesn't know what trichlor is, RUN FROM THAT STORE!!

[CarlD]

Ha!-Ha! Lisa's right. A pool store that doesn't know what Tri-Chlor is, isn't a pool store.

When you look a container of chlorine tablets or powder it will say on active ingredients Trichlor...something. That's Tri_chlor. If it says Dichlor...something...that's Di-Chlor. If it says Calcium Hypchlorite, that's Cal-Hypo.

Frequently Tri-Chlor tablets are labeled as Stablized Chlorine, but the ingredient is Trichlor...etc. If it says "Double-Acting" or contains copper do NOT,NOT buy it!

With a gunite pool you also need to watch your Calcium Hardness levels. You T/A as at the high end, or just past. If your T/A is too high and your calcium is too high, you'll get cloudy water.

For now, I wouldn't even add Borax to raise pH. Instead, I'd use aeration of the water, which will increase it. Doing that will keep your T/A from rising.

If you don't have tri-chlor or dichlor around, just use bleach and add CYA.

But most important is to watch your numbers.

Carl

[herb396]

OK, found the cyanuric acid (aka: Stabilizer & Conditioner by hth). So I now have two 4lb bottles. Do I just fill a floater and drop in in the pool? If my floater is busted can I just hang a sock full of this stuff over the edge?

Thanks for the great guidance!
herb

[madwil]

If you have trichlor or dichlor, you can use it to get your CYA up; if you get the powder, use it to add Cl and the CYA will come up over time. quit using it once your CYA reaches 30-50, and use straight bleach after that for Cl...
if you don't have trichlor/dichlor already, I would get stabilizer/CYA and add direct, and just use bleach for Cl...
Remember what someone said about new gunite- drives pH up! so you may need acid to keep it in check
and later, you'll want to keep your CH up to prevent the gunite from leaching into pool over time...