Adding chemicals, what order?

[jdjintx]

Hi! Taking over maintenance of my pool, will likely have many posts in the coming weeks. I'm impressed with the Pool Math app, but I'm not seeing any information about the order in which to add chemicals or any wait times between chemical additions. Am I missing something?

FWIW, right now I need to add over 3 gallons of liquid stabilizer and 25 oz acid. I'm guessing i don't add all the stabilizer in one big dump, and I may need to wait before eventually adding acid?

Answers to this specific issue are appreciated, but it would be great if someone could point me to a best practices guide that addresses the broader range of chemicals I'm likely to deal with weekly. It would certainly cut down on future questions!

35,000 gallon salt pool, need to add a signature...

 

[PoolStored]

Use dry stabilizer...liquid is expensive. Put some in a sock and hang on a stick in front of a return. After 30 minutes start squeezing. Add acid anytime.

ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry

There are several items things every pool owner should know about swimming pool water. We share details on the basics of Pool Water Chemistry.

www.troublefreepool.com

Recommended Pool Chemicals

Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[pjt]

best practices guide that addresses the broader range of chemicals I'm likely to deal with weekly.

Since you have a SWCG, the only weekly chemical you'll need is Muriatic Acid (MA).

In the winter, you'll need a few gallons of liquid chlorine (LC) when your water is too cold to operate your SWCG. Chlorine demand in the winter is very low.

You'll probably add CYA and salt a couple times a year, especially after periods of extended rainfall and overflow.

You'll get all the calcium and alkalinity you need from your fill water.

More importantly, how are you testing?

 

[jdjintx]

Use dry stabilizer...liquid is expensive. Put some in a sock and hang on a stick in front of a return. After 30 minutes start squeezing. Add acid anytime.

ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry

There are several items things every pool owner should know about swimming pool water. We share details on the basics of Pool Water Chemistry.

www.troublefreepool.com

Recommended Pool Chemicals

Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.

www.troublefreepool.com

Thanks. I need several lbs, do you recommend I just heep refilling the sock or do I find a way to get it all in the pool at once? The Leslies stabilizer i bought recommends adding it to a pool skimmer, which is clearly a lot different from your advice. Can you educate me on the downside to the skimmer approach?

 

[jdjintx]

Since you have a SWCG, the only weekly chemical you'll need is Muriatic Acid (MA).

In the winter, you'll need a few gallons of liquid chlorine (LC) when your water is too cold to operate your SWCG. Chlorine demand in the winter is very low.

You'll probably add CYA and salt a couple times a year, especially after periods of extended rainfall and overflow.

You'll get all the calcium and alkalinity you need from your fill water.

More importantly, how are you testing?

Hi! I'm using a TF Pro kit- it just arrived and that's why I'm here with questions. I'm actually testing myself and at Leslies to look for glaring differences, so far the only one is they show a lot higher TC and lower FC than I'm reading.

 

[PoolStored]

Thanks. I need several lbs, do you recommend I just heep refilling the sock or do I find a way to get it all in the pool at once? The Leslies stabilizer i bought recommends adding it to a pool skimmer, which is clearly a lot different from your advice. Can you educate me on the downside to the skimmer approach?

You have a few choices.

1) do it in batches.
2) You can put it in the skimmer, but know that it is mildly acidic. If you just dump it in the basket, there is a risk that it gets into the pipes and clogs/slows water, which can cause problems with the pump. IF YOU DECIDE TO GO THIS ROUTE...get some hairnets and put them in the skimmer. Get a rock, bigger than the skimmer exit pipe (so IT doesn't get sucked in) and put it in the hairnet. Then add 1-2lbs per dose into the skimmer basket inside the hairnet.
Hairnet link-->https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XK2FS0
3) Use @Newdude method. Make sure you don't use a shirt that is too thick, it tends not to dissolve.

How to add large batches of CYA

Hey Folks !!! With a large pool, I need 4lbs of CYA to only raise it 15, and I don't think I have that many socks without holes in them. So I use a Tshirt. Plus, I like that it's doubled up for redundancy. But it can also be scaled down with socks. So I measure out my dose and...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[ajw22]

Thanks. I need several lbs, do you recommend I just heep refilling the sock or do I find a way to get it all in the pool at once?

I can get 3lbs into a sock and get multiple socks dangling around the pool.

The Leslies stabilizer i bought recommends adding it to a pool skimmer, which is clearly a lot different from your advice. Can you educate me on the downside to the skimmer approach?

If we are discussing liquid stabilizer then pour it into the pool water as you walk around the pool.

Dry stabilizer can clog the skimmer or pipe if it does not fully dissolve before it gets sucked in. And it may not all dissolve once it is in your filter.

Never add any chemicals to your skimmers. They are not made for chemical additions.

 

[pjt]

I'm using a TF Pro kit

Add that to your signature.

I'm actually testing myself and at Leslies

Don't go to the pool store. You have the best residential testing kit possible.

 

[jdjintx]

You have a few choices.

1) do it in batches.
2) You can put it in the skimmer, but know that it is mildly acidic. If you just dump it in the basket, there is a risk that it gets into the pipes and clogs/slows water, which can cause problems with the pump. IF YOU DECIDE TO GO THIS ROUTE...get some hairnets and put them in the skimmer. Get a rock, bigger than the skimmer exit pipe (so IT doesn't get sucked in) and put it in the hairnet. Then add 1-2lbs per dose into the skimmer basket inside the hairnet.
Hairnet link-->https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XK2FS0
3) Use @Newdude method. Make sure you don't use a shirt that is too thick, it tends not to dissolve.

How to add large batches of CYA

Hey Folks !!! With a large pool, I need 4lbs of CYA to only raise it 15, and I don't think I have that many socks without holes in them. So I use a Tshirt. Plus, I like that it's doubled up for redundancy. But it can also be scaled down with socks. So I measure out my dose and...

www.troublefreepool.com

Rocks & nets are already in my skimmers, I use them to remove fine floating particles that seem to sift in through the screened enclosure. Will try this with a small batch & if I don't have problems will add more. Thanks!