CYA - Confused

[Ben W]

Moderator comment: This post was separated out from this thread: High CYA

First off, thanks for the great info on CYA here, my level is to high as well..probably because I have been using tricolor tablets in an automatic feeder. Is this just a NO NO no mater what? Or to put it another way, is it liquid chlorine added by hand or nothing? I guess tablets only come with the stabilizer added, not possible to buy pure chlorine tablets? I am new here and just figuring out all this stuff. Thanks!!

 

[tim5055]

No, "pure" chlorine tablets are not available.

In it's natural state, chlorine is a gas. Many large commercial pools actually use gas injection systems to chlorinate their pools.

Now, to change chlorine into something we can use at home it needs to be chemically bound to something to turn it into a solid. The "somethings" that are commonly used are stabilizer (also known as CYA), calcium, lithium, or --- get this water. All of these add a little salt to your water, but they add something else.

Cal-Hypo add calcium

Tri-Chlor and Di-Chlor (tabs and most granules) add stabilizer

Lithium hypochlorite adds lithium

liquid chlorine adds - water.

All of these things can be bad for your pool (except the water) in large quantities. The stabilizer helps shield the chlorine from UV degradation, but at higher levels it also impairs the ability of chlorine to do it's work. The higher the stabilizer level you have the higher the amount of chlorine you need. Too much calcium and you start to get scaling on the walls and floors of your pool.

 

[ipfudge]

Thanks for the clarification. I was wondering the same thing. I don't wish to add any CYA. Can I use my Pentair Rainbow for injecting 10% liquid chlorine into the pool? Fill it up with chlorine and set the dial to control the dose? This would be more convenient since I keep the jugs next to it anyway.

 

[jblizzle]

No you can't put liquid in the rainbow. You could add a stenner pump setup to inject liquid chlorine though.

 

[kimkats]

Thanks for the clarification. I was wondering the same thing. I don't wish to add any CYA. Can I use my Pentair Rainbow for injecting 10% liquid chlorine into the pool? Fill it up with chlorine and set the dial to control the dose? This would be more convenient since I keep the jugs next to it anyway.

Nope That would not work as it is not a sealed system and the liquid would leak out too fast. Now you can do something like this: Stenner pump install There are many threads about how to do this.

 

[mknauss]

No. The chlorinator is not designed for liquid chlorine. Never combine liquid chlorine with solid chlorine.

 

[domct203]

No. The chlorinator is not designed for liquid chlorine. Never combine liquid chlorine with solid chlorine.

Just to add to that great advise, never mix any form of chlorine. That includes Trichlor, Dichlor, Cal-Hypo, and Sodium Hypochlorite.

 

[ipfudge]

I appreciate the support. Thanks all. Love this site.