Draining Pool

[Kmaese909]

Looking for advice on which method I should use to drain my pool. (Current CYA level is 70. Goal is to reach roughly 40ppm. Unfortunately my pool service was using trichlor tablets.. I have since cancelled their service and switched to liquid chlorine thanks to TFP).

I have a DE filter with a two port valve so I won’t be able to direct outflow to waste. Would it be okay to attach my vacuum to skimmer port and backwash until water line level is acceptable? Siphoning with a hose seems a bit mundane but if that’s the preferred route I suppose I’ll go with that.

 

[pjt]

Current CYA level is 70

What specific test kit are you using?

Goal is to reach roughly 40ppm

70 is on the high side for LC pools, but it's manageable for a couple months. CYA degrades slowly over time, and by summer your CYA will be ~50, which is great for your area. I personally wouldn't bother with a drain and fill, and definitely don't add any more CYA products to your pool in the meantime. How's the rest of your water chemistry, specifically CH?

 

[Kmaese909]

Purchased the Taylor K-2006 kit last week. Chemical balance is stable. As of today: TA 100 PH 7.4 FC 5.5 CH 220. Pool was re-plastered last October.

Okay, so I’ll plan on keeping my FC around the 6 mark and see what happens with CYA in a couple months then.

 

[pjt]

Purchased the Taylor K-2006

Do you have a SpeedStir?

CH 220

Minimum recommended CH for a plaster pool is 250. Unless you have high CH fill water, add a little calcium.

I’ll plan on keeping my FC around the 6 mark

Keep your FC higher than that. For CYA 70, target FC is 8-10. Stay far away from minimum FC.



Have you considered a SWCG?

 

[wireform]

As it has been said before me that 5.5 is skirting with danger for the CYA you have, get it up to 10 and keep it there.

 

[Newdude]

+3 There is no 'keep around' with a FC target.

Its like saying you keep your gas tank around 1/2 with a 2 hour commute to work each way. You use 1/2 a tank and put it back in every day.

If you're losing 4ppm a day in sunny CA, you start at 6 and end at 2. At the bare minimum when it's peak season, add to 10 and land at 6. Dose higher for any forseen FC loss events before they happen.

 

[Kmaese909]

Do you have a SpeedStir?


Minimum recommended CH for a plaster pool is 250. Unless you have high CH fill water, add a little calcium.


Keep your FC higher than that. For CYA 70, target FC is 8-10. Stay far away from minimum FC.

View attachment 639437

Have you considered a SWCG?

No I don’t have a speedstir.. but I’ll definitely pick one up. I haven’t done much research on a SWCG yet but I’ll look into that if you recommend it. Does it make maintaining proper FC levels easier to manage ??? Okay, so FC 8-10 will be my goal now

 

[Kmaese909]

+3 There is no 'keep around' with a FC target.

Its like saying you keep your gas tank around 1/2 with a 2 hour commute to work each way. You use 1/2 a tank and put it back in every day.

If you're losing 4ppm a day in sunny CA, you start at 6 and end at 2. At the bare minimum when it's peak season, add to 10 and land at 6. Dose higher for any forseen FC loss events before they happen.

Very good analogy.. I’ll definitely dose on the higher end now.

 

[pjt]

No I don’t have a speedstir.. but I’ll definitely pick one up.

You'll love it. Makes testing much faster, easier, and enjoyable. It's almost mandatory.

I haven’t done much research on a SWCG yet but I’ll look into that if you recommend it. Does it make maintaining proper FC levels easier to manage ?

Yes, much easier. SWCG is by far the cheapest, easiest, and most convenient way to chlorinate. There is an upfront cost, but the overall cost of chlorination is significantly less with a SWCG.

FC 8-10 will be my goal now

Good. Aim on the high side ~10 until you get some experience/practice.

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