Advice for high CYA level

[Brandon0413]

Fairly new pool owner. For the past year I've been maintaining our pool. I only test pH and for chlorine so far. Main source of chlorine is the jumbo tabs.

In the past I was adding about 1 cup of muriatic acid per week to keep the ph down around 7.4 to 7.6. lately I've been having to add more and more and have been adding around a cup per day to keep the ph down around 7.8.

I tested cya levels and came up with over 100 using the tf100 kit I bought a year ago.

Water is nice and clean and blue. What should my next step be? I'm thinking about partially draining the pool but I'm not sure how to check if I have a hydrostatic valve in place and if I do how it works. Do I have to open it?

 

[mknauss]

Can you use that TF100 and run a full set of tests? Post them here.

 

[Texas Splash]

I'm not sure how to check if I have a hydrostatic valve in place and if I do how it works. Do I have to open it?

It would be under your drain cover, but it's not used to drain water. It's a valve designed to relieve pressure from underneath from a rising water table. Things have been fairly dry in our area, so I doubt your water table it very high right now.

 

[Mdragger88]

Be sure to do the diluted cya test since your result was over 90
Step 8

CYA - Cyanuric Acid Test

Cyanuric Acid (CYA) is the chemical name for what is commonly referred to as Stabilizer … Read more…

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Brandon0413]

Better late than never? My pool started losing water pretty good soon after my last post. We found the leak and had it repaired.

I noticed the alkalinity was high recently according to some test strips I have which made me remember I need to keep an eye on it. I've been trying to bring it down.

Current tests this evening:
pH somewhere between 7.5 and 7.8. having a hard time getting it to 7.4.
Free chlorine 8ppm
Combined Chloramines 0.5
Total Chlorine 8.5ppm
Calcium Hardness 325ppm
Total Alkalinity 180
CYA 90

 

[Mdragger88]

The ta will fall over time as you continue to add acid to maintain ph.
Don’t sweat it too much especially if you are planning on a water exchange to lower cya.
Here’s the info on that

Draining - Further Reading

www.google.com