Thoughts on bio-active cya reducer

[JasonLion]

Re: thoughts on bio-active cya reducer

I figure your CYA level is over 500. Here is a good double check: fill the view tube with pool water (no reagent, just pool water). If you have trouble seeing the black dot, or can't see it at all, then something is up with your pool water and the CYA test isn't going to work correctly. Otherwise you are doing everything correctly and CYA is probably over 500.

None of the CYA tests are especially accurate when CYA is over 100. I can easily imagine that the pool store test and your test strips showed 150ish for a level that was actually over 500.

Here is one more double check. Try mixing 1 oz of pool water with 9 oz of tap water and doing the CYA test on that. If you still loose the black dot instantly I will be much more inclined to suspect some kind of interference I have never heard of before.

 

[heugeneo]

Re: thoughts on bio-active cya reducer

Ok,

Filling it with pool water only I was able to see the dot up to the top, however it was very cloudy.

Doing the 9:1 I got to 55, so I'm guessing that's gonna be multiplied by 10 for a grand total of 550? Testing the 9:1 ratio with strips indicated 30-50.

Yippy skippy, guess we'll see how good this stuff really is!

 

[JasonLion]

Re: thoughts on bio-active cya reducer

Filling it with pool water only I was able to see the dot up to the top, however it was very cloudy.

That means there is some interference, though probably only about +10, from the water being cloudy.

Doing the 9:1 I got to 55, so I'm guessing that's gonna be multiplied by 10 for a grand total of 550?

Yep, something around 550. It might be 450 due to the cloudy water. However keep in mind that this is something like +-150 or +-200 because of the dilution.

 

[seeesjames]

Re: thoughts on bio-active cya reducer

I think that I've got the same problem as heugeneo, I'm not sure exactly what my CYA is/was. I added Bio-Active last Saturday and tested yesterday, a little more than 72 hours later. I'm still >100. Before I doubt the product I need to dilute and figure out my real CYA number. My pool was 73 deg last Saturday and 71 deg yesterday. My pH was 7.4 and FC at 4 prior to adding the product. I don't imagine it matters, but my pool was also under a solar cover the entire time.

Unless I hear adverse news from the forum, I'll probably spend $50 more on another bag.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Re: thoughts on bio-active cya reducer

Ok,

Yippy skippy, guess we'll see how good this stuff really is!

Yes, Yippee and Skippy are anxious to hear!

 

[PSW]

Re: thoughts on bio-active cya reducer

I am testing this product in 2 of our demo pools (one of which has high CYA, the other has average CYA level), as well as a few isolated containers where I am raising the CYA first (a bit worried about the lack of circulation). Can't wait to see how it goes! If this product works... could be a huge improvement for the industry. I will keep you guys posted.. and am eager to hear of your results!

 

[heugeneo]

Re: thoughts on bio-active cya reducer

Finally got the product in yesterday, I waited until Chlorine was down to 2 ppm. After 24 hours, as expected, didn't notice a change in readings.

4/11 - with 9:1 dilution cya of 400, with 4:1 cya of 500
4/12 - with 9:1 dilution cya of 500, with 4:1 cya of 450

I spoke with a rep at the company again and he gave me some further info. Suggested I use a total of 3 of the 8 oz. bags because of the high level. Some retailers will also be getting a 16 oz. size. It should be out in my area this week so I will get two more whenever available. I also asked about using other products such as algaecides and he stated that the cya reducer will prevent algae. He further advised not to add any other chemicals to the pool while the bioactive is working and if you have a cover to leave it off for at least the first 72 hours.

 

[Patrick_B]

Re: thoughts on bio-active cya reducer

Yes, I am watching this closely as well.

Thank you for posting the results so far. Your efforts are appreciated.

- - - Updated - - -

I am testing this product in 2 of our demo pools (one of which has high CYA, the other has average CYA level), as well as a few isolated containers where I am raising the CYA first (a bit worried about the lack of circulation). Can't wait to see how it goes! If this product works... could be a huge improvement for the industry. I will keep you guys posted.. and am eager to hear of your results!

Great to hear Blake, keep us posted on yours too. Please make a new thread with all the details.

 

[lenayres]

Re: thoughts on bio-active cya reducer

I am a "newbie"....joined TFP a few minutes ago, after reading this thread. I had my water tested at LPS earlier this morning, and they sold me the Bio-Active cya reducer. It is definitely pricey, but if I can avoid draining water in our drought situation, it would be a great thing. I look forward to hearing the collective results from this forum on this and future topics.

 

[JasonLion]

Re: thoughts on bio-active cya reducer

lenayres, welcome to TFP! We would love to hear how bio-active cya reducer ends up working for you.

 

[jblizzle]

Re: thoughts on bio-active cya reducer

I am a "newbie"....joined TFP a few minutes ago, after reading this thread. I had my water tested at LPS earlier this morning, and they sold me the Bio-Active cya reducer. It is definitely pricey, but if I can avoid draining water in our drought situation, it would be a great thing. I look forward to hearing the collective results from this forum on this and future topics.

Welcome to TFP!!!

Please note though that we do not trust pool store testing, especially for CYA. So, if you truly want to see if this product causes any change ... AND want to take control of your pool, I highly recommend the investment in one of the Recommended Test Kits.

 

[JamesW]

I would suggest doing a daily CC test. One of the intermediary products described in the literature is ammonia. Therefore, if the product is working, I would think that there would be some increase in CC levels.

 

[robstar]

I'm another TFP newbie in California that's interested in giving Bio-Active a try. Leslie's in-store test estimated me at 150, but they also said that's their max readout, so it could be anything. I'll look into getting a kit that includes CYA (from the recommendations).

 

[Patrick_B]

I'm another TFP newbie in California that's interested in giving Bio-Active a try. Leslie's in-store test estimated me at 150, but they also said that's their max readout, so it could be anything. I'll look into getting a kit that includes CYA (from the recommendations).

Welcome to the forum Robstar!

If you give it a go, please post your results in a new thread. Its a hot topic this summer and lots of us are anxious to see how this goes. So far, it hasn't been promising, but it's early.

 

[heugeneo]

48 hour update...

4/11 - with 9:1 dilution cya of 400, with 4:1 cya of 500
4/12 - with 9:1 dilution cya of 500, with 4:1 cya of 450
4/13 - with 9:1 dilution cya of 400, with 4:1 cya of 400

I will discontinue with the 9:1 from this point forward and only go with the 4:1. If it gets low enough will decrease dilution accordingly. I've been doing the tests about 5 times each. On the last 4:1 I got between 350-400 each time so I'm going with the 400 for now. I have added no other products, it has not rained, and no additional water added. FC is down to .6.

 

[Leebo]

heugeneo,

Can you try the CC test as JamesW mentioned? This will give us a small clue as to how this product works? How much of the Bio-Active have you added total so far?

 

[JasonLion]

At 4:1 the error in the CYA test is roughly +-75. That is enough "noise" that we can't say anything either way just yet. Hopefully with a few more data points we will have some useful results.

 

[heugeneo]

heugeneo,

Can you try the CC test as JamesW mentioned? This will give us a small clue as to how this product works? How much of the Bio-Active have you added total so far?

I've been doing full tests every day since opening, but haven't included them since I have quite a few other issues, I wanted to focus on only the bioactive / cya relationship. With that being said the CC reading for today was 1.4. That normally might help in understanding of the product, however that's the lowest mine has been this year. My request of no chemicals didn't make it to the service tech when he opened the pool last week. When I came home I learned he set off an atomic bomb of shock (12 bags - in case my cya wasn't high enough made sure to add plenty more to it). My Chlorine last Monday evening was FC 34 and CC 8. Both numbers have drifted down. My Chlorine numbers since I put the bioactive in are:

FC 2.8 / CC 3
FC 1 / CC 2
FC .6 / CC 1.4

So far only one 8 oz. of bioactive. The second bag will be here Wednesday and will add immediately.

 

[Divin Dave]

This is excellent info! Im keeping my eyes peeled!

 

[Patrick_B]

Great Scott!! Just incase....how about you test it first pool guy?

Ok, look forward to seeing what another bag will do.