Stabilizing Your Swimming Pool

Stabilizer (Cyanuric Acid)

Because chlorine is very unstable in the presence of sunlight, it dissipates very quickly, especially on a sunny day. Stabilizer is a chemical that is added to outdoor pools and keeps the chlorine from being used up quickly. If it is too low, your chlorine dissipates at a fast rate. If it is too high, the effectiveness of the chlorine is greatly reduced.

Stabilizer can be added by itself, or as part of chorine compounds called Trichlor Tablets, or Dichlor Granules.

Important - A standard tab of stabilized chlorine, (trichlor) contains up to 5+% of stabilizer. If someone has convinced you that you can use trichlor tabs instead of chlorine, remember that each time you use a this tab, it raises your stabilizer level.

Note: Cal Hypo tabs and do not contain stabilizer so be sure to discuss this product with the people at your pool store.

Any time you use triclor tabs, or, add dichlor stabilizer granules, you need to keep a close eye on your stabilizer levels. If the level exceeds 100 ppm, your chlorine becomes ineffective. Yellow algae and poor sanitization are among the problems you will encounter. You may have to dilute the water in your pool. If so, consult with a professional at your pool store.

Adding Stabilizer (Dichlor Granules)

1. Once you establish your stabilizer level on the next page, if the stabilizer is too low you will have to add the required amount to bring the level up. Typically, you will find the suggested dosage on the back of the container it comes in.
2. Make sure you clean your filter before adding stabilizer as the granules settle into the filter. If you clean the filter after adding stabilizer, you are literally washing your money away.
3. With pump running, remove skimmer lid and slowly pour the required amount of stabilizer granules into the pump system. ADD IN SMALL AMOUNTS! Do not put more than 1 pound of stabilizer* into the skimmer over the course of an hour as the particles could jam your pump basket. Wait 24 hours to read stabilizer level in water.

Important: Be patient when adding stabilizer! If you put too much in at one time, you could have a “big ol’ mess” on your hands that jams the skimmer, or even worse... the plumbing system (don’t ask me how I know this).

Note: Again, the above steps are dependent on pool size, so it may take some experimentation on your part. If you have a small pool, start with 1/2 lb of stabilizer or less.

If, after testing your water and your readings makes no sense to you, have it re-tested by a professional. If you add too much stabilizer, you can’t remove it without diluting the water in the pool.

Testing Stabilizer

1. Your TAYLOR test kit contains a small, clear, plastic dispensing bottle. Fill this bottle halfway to the 7 mL mark with pool water and an equal amount of reagent R-0013, then mix vigorously for 30 seconds.
2. On the left side of your comparator block (test vials) you will see numbers on the back of the small vial ranging from 30 -100 and a black dot at the bottom.
3. Dribble the reacted test sample into the test vial until the black dot at the bottom of the vial is no longer visible and then take the reading from the markings at the side of the vial. If the water comes up to the 60 marking, the level is 60 ppm (the more stabilizer that is in the water, the cloudier the test sample will become).
4. A proper test level is 30 - 50 ppm. By 80 ppm, you run the risk of having too much stabilizer in your pool; inhibiting the sanitizing ability of the chlorine in the pool. Do not use any more trichlor tabs if you reach this level.