Quick history. I switched to BBB three months ago. At that time my cya was pretty high. Since then, I have let the cya level drop via dilution. I have now reached the point that I need to add some. I've never used "straight" cya before. I read on this forum that the cya from Leslie's isn't very good. Is there a particular brand/manufacturer/retailer that you folks recommend?
Any particular brand of cya?
- Thread starter Poseidon
- Start date
Do you have any powdered dichlor or trichlor tabs left from before? If yes, you can revert back to using them until your CYA hits your target (keep an eye on your PH if you use trichlor).
I've used the Blue Wave brand of CYA in the past. Both stand alone CYA and dichlor/trichlor. If I had to add CYA now, I'd probably just switch to using dichlor to chlorinate as it dissolves pretty much instantaneously, or if I had to use slow dissolving stand alone CYA I'd put it in a pantyhose in front of my return or in my skimmer basket.
I've used the Blue Wave brand of CYA in the past. Both stand alone CYA and dichlor/trichlor. If I had to add CYA now, I'd probably just switch to using dichlor to chlorinate as it dissolves pretty much instantaneously, or if I had to use slow dissolving stand alone CYA I'd put it in a pantyhose in front of my return or in my skimmer basket.
Rangeball,
Thanks for the reply. Being a "purist" BBB'r, I'd prefer to stay away from trichlor or dichlor, but that's just me. Instead of using the pantyhose method, would it be ok to just dump some cya into the skimmer and let it trap in the filter, so long as I don't backwash for a week or so?
Thanks for the reply. Being a "purist" BBB'r, I'd prefer to stay away from trichlor or dichlor, but that's just me. Instead of using the pantyhose method, would it be ok to just dump some cya into the skimmer and let it trap in the filter, so long as I don't backwash for a week or so?
Lowes and HomeDepot are both inexpensive and neither has any reported problems, but neither has it in stock consistantly.
Poseidon said:
I don't think "proper" use of dichlor/trichlor goes against the BBB grain
With dichlor, you're adding "instant" CYA and chlorine. Or you can add bleach (chlorine) and slow dissolving CYA. Both ways end up with the identical result- CYA and chlorine in the water That's how I did it in the past, and it works just fine
Rangeball said:I don't think "proper" use of dichlor/trichlor goes against the BBB grain
Hard core BBB people might well disagree with that. I am more pragmatic. The danger with admitting that dichlor and trichlor have their place is that many people, under the pressure of pool store sales people, will take an admission of any use as permission to use them all the time.
Also, I believe that dichlor/trichlor ends up being more acidic than bleach/CYA, so the result isn't exactly the same. Plus handling and storage issues are noticably different. Those are minor points if you are aware of them, but can cause problems if you don't keep track of them. Trichlor users allow their PH to get way too low reguarly.
More signifcantly, dihlor/trichlor force you to specific ratios of chlorine to CYA. That almost always results in overdosing of one when paying attention/measuring for the other. The net result is that dichlor/trichlor are more complex to use wisely. Most people, who don't want to spend the time to fully understand the chemistry, will have difficulty using them properly.
Trichlor is handy when starting up a pool with fresh plaster. Then you want all three of it's attributes. Dichlor is handy to use when shocking in the spring when the pool is a green swamp and all your CYA is gone, but keep an eye on the PH (which is tricky to do when shocking).
Jason, I see both as tools, and assumed one would understand the tools proper application before using them
I fully agree. But if one takes the time to understand, they do have their uses
JasonLion said:
I fully agree. But if one takes the time to understand, they do have their uses
Poseidon,
CYA into the skimmer is fine.....don't backwash for a couple of days and run the pump a lot.
CYA into the skimmer is fine.....don't backwash for a couple of days and run the pump a lot.
Personally, I'd prefer bleach and pure CYA -- if I can find a consistant source of it. I'm hoping the HD brand will work well. Dichlor is more expensive than trichlor, for me, and trichlor is more expensive than bleach and CYA, not to meantion slower to administer. I manage my spa with bleach, adding 2 - 4 oz each night. It's so much easier than wondering what the floater is putting out.
Thanks everyone for all the input. I'll probably hang out in the bleach and cya camp.
itabb said:
chemgeek recently did a chlorine cost comparison and tri-chlor came out the cheapest (though not much cheaper than bleach). It's definitely cheaper than bleach plus CYA.
There's nothing inherently bad about tri-chlor. It's the lack of understanding about the CYA-chlorine relationship and the resulting overuse of tri-chlor that causes problems.
My CYA dropped to near zero over the winter and spring so I've been using tri-chlor in my in-line chlorinator since the first of June; it's a very handy way to chlorinate. My CYA is still under 20 ppm so I'll continue to chlorinate this way for the forseeable future; probably through mid-August at least.
What makes CYA from Lesslie's not as good as other sources? Does it have something extra in it?
I've put in 24 lbs of CYA in my pool in the last 2 months and I have a CYA level of 60. That's the problem with Leslie's Conditioner (100% pure CYA). It's just my experience with it. You should certainly try it yourself, and if you get the results you expect, then maybe your store has a better supply. I think my store has cut something in, maybe CH, along with the CYA to make more money. Crooks! One of my 4lb containers I put in did not increase my CYA at all!!! The last one I put in gave me 15ppm, and should have given me 40ppm.
itabb said:
That's interesting. I had the same problem. I dumped a 4lb container in my pool and it should have raised my CYA level about 15 PPm but I only got 5 PPM.
Do you recal what brand? I waited a whole week to test, of course. You did the same, I presume?
I am having the same trouble with CYA from Walmart!
I think I am going to go get some Trichlor and try that.
Here are my #'s this morning after adding 6 gals of bleach last night, and 10 + lbs of CYA in the last few weeks, but my cya always tests 0
FC 3
CC .5
TC .5
PH 7.5
ALK 120
cal 110
Liner pool 20x40 8ft deep end 30-35,000 gal I think??
Can something be eating the CYA?????
I think I am going to go get some Trichlor and try that.
Here are my #'s this morning after adding 6 gals of bleach last night, and 10 + lbs of CYA in the last few weeks, but my cya always tests 0
FC 3
CC .5
TC .5
PH 7.5
ALK 120
cal 110
Liner pool 20x40 8ft deep end 30-35,000 gal I think??
Can something be eating the CYA?????
None of the usual sources had any CYA when I opened my pool (Home Depot, Wal-Mart, etc) so I ordered some from In The Swim.
A bit more expensive I am sure, but they delivered FedEx overnight at no charge and it worked perfectly.
A bit more expensive I am sure, but they delivered FedEx overnight at no charge and it worked perfectly.
Well, I may have to eat my words a bit. Still, I find Leslie's to be unreliable. However, the last batch of CYA appears to be full strength. I had a CYA of 50 (read as 45 in the tube). I added 60oz, which should bring me to 80 (75). Well, here I am, 3 weeks later after dumping it into the tank, and I just did a CYA test. 80! Well, just slightly under, so what, 75? So I am guessing that it takes 2-3 weeks for all of the CYA to dissolve from Leslies, assuming you get a batch that is uncut.
FC 6
PH 7.4
CA 370
CYA 80
Temp 85
Borates 50
FC 6
PH 7.4
CA 370
CYA 80
Temp 85
Borates 50