2nd summer of new pool and CYA too high

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bigdogmg

bigdogmg

0
May 30, 2017
27
Mesa/AZ
I completed my owner/build pool last summer and had little issue with the water chemistry (did not check CYA at pool start up nor during summer). Now this summer (hot summers in Arizona) I've been going thru a lot more 3" stabilized chlorine tablets than I did last summer and pool has had light green tint to it. My chlorine level would dip under 3.0 and I'd add a gallon of liquid Chlorine (from local pool supply). Several times it would require 2-3 gallons to get the pool clear with pump running overnight. In trying to get the root of the water problem I thought maybe it was the phosphate levels. I had that checked a few times and it was close to zero. Last I thought maybe the stabilizer (CYA) was too low and my chlorine was burning off faster than it could work. So I took sample to pool store and they tell my my CYA is around 110ppm. Reading the threads on TFP I know thats not a good thing and it explains why I've been struggling with a light green pool most of the summer.

First question, how did the CYA get that high? I do realize and its a lesson learned, without a reading at fresh pool water start up I dont know where I started. Is it possible my pool start up guy put too much stabilizer in the pool? Or would going thru six 3" tablets a week cause this?

Second question: I know draining my pool is the only way to lower CYA, but do I need to drain the whole pool or just some of the water? 20x40 rectangular pool, 3x5x3 depth around 24,000 gallons.

Thank you!
 
Trichlor tablets add chlorine and CYA. That builds up. In Arizona, where we do not have rain and thus the water is never changed out during the year, the CYA builds up. I suggest you remove the tablets now.

You need to follow the SLAM Process. To do that, you need a proper test kit, see Test Kits Compared. I suggest the TF100. A proper test kit is needed to get the accurate water chemistry results needed to follow the TFP protocols.

While you are waiting on your test kit, add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine / plain bleach to your pool each evening with the pump running. This will replenish the FC lost each day to the sun and also inhibit any algae in the water from growing further.

Once you get your test kit and have reliable test results, a water exchange process can be discussed to get your CYA levels in range.
 
Six trichlor tablets a week would raise your CYA by 8 ppm a week. That adds up fast, it is entirely possible your CYA is way over 100 but tests usually top out at 100 (a pool store reading of 100 or more is usually code for "off the scale").

You are going to need to dump a lot of water, but without some more reliable numbers it is impossible to say just how much.
 
Hello Neighbor,

1st, please pay attention to mcknauss. This member has provided excellent, consistent advice. Also, as a fellow Arizonan with my new pool, I have realized the insidious nature of Trichlor 3" Pucks. My pool builder utilized them at start up and soon after I started to see the results of CYA creep. According to the TFP App "Effects of adding" 6 tabs a week would bump your CYA 1.4 PPM PER PUCK! just as Donaldson stated.
To reduce your CYA, yes, a water exchange is in order for quick results and an immediate reduction in Chlorine target and minimums. Or, Like I have seen myself, with time, sunlight and pool water temperature, you could realistically see around a 10 PPM or more reduction in CYA per month in the summer.

Good Luck, Cheers!
 
I drained and refilled my pool this past weekend. While it was refilling I also cleaned the cartridge filter. Once filled I let my pump run for about 48 hours. No chemicals added other than a gallon of liquid chlorine on the second night of pump running. Pool water looks great and is crystal clear. I checked my chemistry yesterday and as expected the chlorine burned off and is 0. PH is 7.5. Alkalinity is 140 and CYA is 15. For a pool in Arizona, as I calculate how much stabilizer to add what CYA level am I trying to reach?
 
As it appears you will be using liquid chlorine on a daily basis, I would target 40-50 ppm CYA for right now. Follow the FC/CYA Levels

In the future, consider doing a no-drain water exchange. Much safer on your plaster.
 
Also -- there are no tests that can measure a CYA of 15. So assume you have zero right now and add 30 ppm worth of CYA. Let that fully dissolve and circulate for a few days and then re-test. For FC purposes, assume you have 40 ppm CYA until you re-test.
 
Thank you Marty! I was going to continue to use the trichlor tablets on a daily basis (just not as many as I had been) and Liquid Chlorine when I need to SLAM or just get my Chlorine levels up. I've ordered the Taylor K2006 test kit, so for now I was relying on the water test from local pool supply for the readings.
 
Up to you. Not how I would handle the water chemistry for my pool -- but -- it is your pool -- so do as you see fit.

Take care.
 
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