How to Increase CYA

[MrLeadFoot]

I understand how CYA works. I'd like to ask you experts what you would do to raise CYA if you were in my shoes.

After installing my new pump motor a few days ago, I cleaned my cartridge filter yesterday. Took a water sample into the local Leslie's today. FC is 3.76, PH is through the roof at 8.3, Calcium is a little low at 178, TA is 93,and CYA is at a record low of 13.

I added some muriatic acid (2 step process) on my way to bringing PH into check. Would you use chlorine tabs to increase CYA, or something else? What about calcium hardness, leave it alone?

 

[ajw22]

I would lead foot my way out of Leslie and buy a Taylor K-2006C test kit or the TF Test Kits

Test Kits Compared

Then I would wait to do my own testing before any chemicals.

CYA is best added using dry stabilizer and the sock method.

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

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I would lead foot my way out of Leslie

 

[MrLeadFoot]

The only reason I use Leslie's is for the water tests. I've been testing with my own Taylor kit for years, but the CYA test stuff runs out quickly and is expensive to replace. I periodically compare my Taylor tests with Leslie's tests because I always thought they might be scamming people with their test result, but I've found them to be accurate and honest with their tests. I don't buy any chemicals from Leslie's, though.

Thanks for the suggestion for using dry stabilizer. Since it has to dissolve over time, I'm actually wondering if chlorine tabs might be a smart way to raise CYA, because I'd be chlorinating at the same time. I just don't know how much CYA is in tablets, and how long it takes to dissolve to the point where I'm balanced.

 

[ajw22]

What you don’t know is why we recommend adding dry stabilizer.

You know how much you added to the pool and the stabilizer dissolves faster.

Do you have PoolMath?

 

[mknauss]

but the CYA test stuff runs out quickly

R-0013 CYA Reagent (8oz)

tftestkits.net

 

[MrLeadFoot]

What you don’t know is why we recommend adding dry stabilizer.

You know how much you added to the pool and the stabilizer dissolves faster.

Do you have PoolMath?

Well, now I know why you recommended it.

Yes, I do have Poolmath, and have been using it for quite some time.

What brand/type of dry (we're talking granular, correct?) stabilizer to do you recommend, and where do you get it? Also, can I suspend a sock from a tablet floater/dispenser, or do you recommend I take the time to rig something to hang it in front of return jet?

As far as running a pump for 24 hours after adding the stabilizer, is running a VSP at 1150 rpm ok,or should I run it at full speed?

 

[MrLeadFoot]

R-0013 CYA Reagent (8oz)

tftestkits.net

Thank you for the link.

 

[jsygrls]

I used this product the last time using the sock method in front of a jet, it didn't take all that long squeezing it every 15- 20 minutes.

https://www.amazon.com/Puri-Tech-Stabilizer-Conditioner-Protection/dp/B011AFBUJS/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3VQ823B5HKJIL&keywords=stabilizer+pool+chemicals&qid=1682282212&sprefix=stablizer%2Caps%2C250&sr=8-2-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzUzRRN1lBNUJSS1ZVJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwOTc2ODIyRThSWExBWE9aMDRSJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA0NjE1NTIxTlNWUzQxUkY5VENEJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

 

[VinnyinNJ]

I would think if your water is clean, stick the stabilizer in a sock in the skimmer basket(s).

 

[MrLeadFoot]

What do you all use for the socks?

 

[ajw22]

What brand/type of dry (we're talking granular, correct?) stabilizer to do you recommend, and where do you get it?

Brand does not matter if it is 100% CYA.

If I need 8 lbs I get a bag at my local pool store. For 20 lbs the PuriTech on Amazon.

Also, can I suspend a sock from a tablet floater/dispenser, or do you recommend I take the time to rig something to hang it in front of return jet?

You can. I prefer Suspending in front of a return.

As far as running a pump for 24 hours after adding the stabilizer, is running a VSP at 1150 rpm ok,or should I run it at full speed?

I would run your pump around 2400 rpm to get a good flow threw the sock.

Squeeze the sock once in a while to release the dissolved chemical.

 

[MrLeadFoot]

While I need to up my CYA, I also need to increase my Calcium Hardness. I ordered some SnowJoe Ice Melt 94% Calcium Chloride, but it won't be here for a week. I've been reading about the order in which to add chemicals, and from what I've read, I'm supposed to add Calcium Chloride BEFORE adding CYA. I hate that my CYA is so low because I'll be burning through quite a bit of chlorine while I wait for the Calcium Chloride to arrive and we all know how expensive chlorine has become. Would it be problematic if I were to add the CYA in the meatime BEFORE the Calcium Chloride arrives in a week?

 

[ajw22]

Add your CYA now and your calcium when you get it.

 

[MrLeadFoot]

OK, thank you. To be sure I understand, no ill effects, then, doing it in reverse order?

 

[ajw22]

OK, thank you. To be sure I understand, no ill effects, then, doing it in reverse order?

No, I don't even know where you read that.

 

[MrLeadFoot]

No, I don't even know where you read that.

To ME, it makes sense to add first add CYA, then Chlorine before anything else, but I'm just a lowly homeowner, so thought I should follow some guidelines set about by experts. Quite a few sites offer the order in which to add chemcials, albeit, I don't think I read anything on TFP about that. Hence my question. Below is only one site that specifically states to add Calcium Hardener before CYA. But, it's an Australian site so maybe everything is upside down there?

What Order Should You Add Pool Chemicals? (Answered!)

Whether you're opening your pool after winter or maintaining it, it's essential that you add the chemicals in a specific order. Learn more here.

www.myperfectpool.com.au

Here's another:

Here's the Right Order to Add Pool Chemicals - Pool Research

Adding your pool chemicals in the wrong order can have drastic consequences. I will go over the right order to add pool chemicals and explain why it is important to do so.

poolresearch.com

 

[ajw22]

Ok, you never read it here.

Ask them about them science of what they recommend.

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

There is no order chemicals must be added:

• Add chlorine and acid at least 15 minutes apart
• Stabilizer will lower your pH a bit so if you were going to adjust your pH down then add the stabilizer first
• Adjusting TA and pH affect each other. If TA needs an adjustment then do it first.

So there are factors to be considered and those sites dumb it down to a set of rigid rules. It is not that way.

 

[MrLeadFoot]

Thank you for that. Turns out I did the pH down too soon, darn it. I just did that the other day. Now I'm adding stabilizer. Oh well, not to fret because I seem to have to lower pH quite often for some reason, so it'll likely go back up not too long from now.

BTW, I'm doing the sock method for the CYA in front of a return using one of my wife's pair of pantyhose. Good thing she's not on this forum.

I put 3 lbs. in one of the legs, and it's dissolving quite quickly. Almost seems like I can just continuously squeeze the bag and be done in an hour because it just keeps releasing a cloud every time I squeeze. That doesn't seem right because every post I've read here says it takes a long time to dissolve. So I stopped squeezing and am just letting it get blown on by the jet. Is something wrong? I'm using the Clorox brand of CYA, if that matters.

 

[ajw22]

Nothing wrong. Feel free to squeeze all you want.