Cyanuric Acid

[Sue225]

Since I have just dumped 1/2 the water in our pool and refilled I will not be buying a new liner this year! All of the puckering kind of smoothed out and I have a few wrinkles which I can live with. New liner is on the list for next season. I will be getting the readings on the pool since the refilll in about 1 hour. Will post them asap.
I have ordered the testing kit you recommended. Will be glad when it arrives, probably Monday.
Thank you for helping me!!

[Watermom]

I think Carl meant a new plunger, not a new liner!

Happy the liner is smoothing out for you. Post your numbers when you get them. Good that you ordered a kit. You'll be glad you did. BTW -- you're welcome! We're glad to be able to help!

[Sue225]

ROFL Crazy me! I think he did mean a new plunger!
After refilling 1/2 maybe 3 inches) less of the pool, here are the reading:
TC 1.9
FC 1.9
Ph 7.0
Alk 60
CYA 110
Borate 80

According to the computer my last CYA reading before the ddump was 144. I am still terribly high. I am going to work around that with your help. Tell me what to do next
I am so thankful for you.

After 2 weeks of this pool not holding chlorine they just today said, "don't use granulated chlorine!" I have not all week! "Just go home and enjoy your pool if it is clear!" they said. When they finally called in the chemical guy he told me the CYA will evaporate with time!

[Watermom]

Wow! If your cya after dumping half of the water is 110, then it must have been 200 before! CYA of 110 is still high, but if you are extremely diligent about keeping cl levels in range, you can deal with it. (I know you don't want to do a partial drain again. But, if you don't do it again now, I'd suggest doing it next spring.)

You will need to keep your cl level between 8-15 ALL the time and your shock level is going to be 25. Since your cl level is so low right now, I'd suggest going ahead and shocking the pool now. In a pool this size, each quart of 6% bleach will raise the cl by 1ppm. If you can go overnight without losing more than 1ppm of cl, then you can let the cl level drift down but do NOT let it drop below 8. EVER! Or you risk an algae bloom. If you do lose more than 1ppm of cl overnight tonight (from sundown to sunup), then you'll need to shock it again and keep it at that high cl level by testing a couple or three times a day and each time adding enough bleach to get back to 25. Continue this until it holds overnight.

Uhhhh........ CYA does not evaporate, BTW.

Yes, you can use a little alk increaser --- it is just really expensive baking soda. Only a little at a time so you don't overshoot. 80-120 would be a good range. Also, the pH is on the brink of being too low. Add some Borax and try to raise it to around 74.-7.6. Start with about a third of a box of Borax. Again, gradual is better than one big dose that overshoots target.

Glad to be able to help. Repost with any questions and keep us posted how things are going!

[Sue225]

Is 1/3 box Borax the 4 pound box? How do I measure chlorine to 15 or 25 when i only have the strips anad my test kit has not arrived yet? I just put 1 gal of 12% bleach in pool. Looks a lot darker then the 10 measure. I have Aquachek strips. Thanks so much for all your help

[Watermom]

Borax is usually sold in 4 lb. 12 oz. boxes.

How can you use strips to test that high? Simple. You CAN'T. Can you look and see if your Walmart has a 5-way test kit that uses drops? It will suffice until your test kit arrives. Or, let a pool store test for you but just don't let them talk you into buying a bunch of stuff.

One gallon of 12% in a 15K pool will only take the cl up to about 8. I'd go ahead and add more chlorine. You may not have anything trying to grow in there but since your cl level dropped so low and your cya level is so high, I think you better shock it on up to 25 just to make sure you don't get an algae bloom starting. Go ahead and add more this evening. Then, test early in the morning and if you haven't lost more than 1 ppm overnight, you can let it drift down to 8-15.

If you can find that kit tonight, repost and we'll give you info about a dilution method to try. (Or you can search for "shot glass method" and find it yourself.)

[Sue225]

my kids and grandkids will be here this weekend. Forecast is for 90 degrees.
they will want to swim. I have the chlorine at about 10-12. Could I keep it there until Sunday and shock at that time? Is it safe for kids to swim in water with that high of a chlorine reading? It scares me to allow little kids to swim in that amount of chlorine but
i suppose public pools keep their reading high also. Any thoughts? You guys r the best!
American Sales had liquid chlorine 4 gal for 9.97. Cheaper than Walmart bleach considering American Sales shock is 12%. Aldi has 6% bleach 1.07 for 3 qts. Yes, I went to Walmart before I read your post and did not buy the 5 way test. I will get one tomorrow!!

[Sue225]

BTW I have a 9# alkalinity up in the garage should I use it?