CYA jumped drastically over a month

[poweranimal]

I fully drained my pool 6 months ago, and have had no issues with chemicals until now. Ever since buying the Chlorox tablets from Costco, my CYA has jumped from under 50ppm to 140ppm in a month. My CYA was constantly at 50ppm or under until now.

Is it possible it went up that fast? This isn’t making sense to me.

 

[ajw22]

TriChlor is 10 ppm FC and 6 ppm CYA, no matter the brand.

If your pool was using 4ppm of FC per day then you were adding about 3ppm of CYA per day. Over 30 days that would be around 90ppm of CYA added. About what you measured.

More concerning should be that if the Chlorox Trichlor said it was XtraBlue then it contains copper and you have been adding copper to your pool.

Do a water exchange of around 3/4 of your pool to get rid of the CYA and copper…

Draining - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Then chlorinate with liquid chlorine or a SWG.

Copper in Pool Water - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[poweranimal]

TriChlor is 10 ppm FC and 6 ppm CYA, no matter the brand.

If your pool was using 4ppm of FC per day then you were adding about 3ppm of CYA per day. Over 30 days that would be around 90ppm of CYA added. About what you measured.

More concerning should be that if the Chlorox Trichlor said it was XtraBlue then it contains copper and you have been adding copper to your pool.

Do a water exchange of around 3/4 of your pool to get rid of the CYA and copper…

Draining - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Then chlorinate with liquid chlorine or a SWG.

Copper in Pool Water - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

So that doesn’t make sense. Just using any chlorine tablets will put my CYA high enough to warrant draining the pool twice a year?

How to I chlorinate the pool without raising the cya?

 

[ajw22]

So that doesn’t make sense. Just using any chlorine tablets will put my CYA high enough to warrant draining the pool twice a year?

That is correct.

Use of Trichlor is not sustainable in areas like yours.

How to I chlorinate the pool without raising the cya?

chlorinate with liquid chlorine or a SWG.

 

[poweranimal]

That is correct.

Use of Trichlor is not sustainable in areas like yours.


chlorinate with liquid chlorine or a SWG.

Any opinions on a SWG that’s reputable? I was thinking of going that route anyway.

And why do they sell so many buckets of Trichlor tablets if we aren’t supposed to use them?

 

[Donldson]

And why do they sell so many buckets of Trichlor tablets if we aren’t supposed to use them?

Profit.

How are you testing your CYA level?

 

[proavia]

How are you testing your water?
I see test strips listed in your signature.
Test strips are not accurate or consistent - and as bad as pool store testing.
Get one of the recommended test kits.
Test Kits Compared
Since you are considering converting to a SWG, the TF-Pro will be a good fit.

Look into the Circupool RJ45+ SWG for pools without automation.
We recommend a SWG rated for 2 times your pool volume.
Since you're in AZ, one a bit larger will be better.
DicountSaltPools usually runs specials - look at the RJ30+ and upgrade to the RJ45+ for a few dollars more.

Update your signature with manufactures and model numbers of all of your pool equipment.

 

[poweranimal]

Profit.

How are you testing your CYA level?

I’m using test strips (Aquachek 7). Occasionally, I’ll have Leslie’s test it which is always exactly what the test strips show. Leslie’s tested it yesterday and had the same high reading for cya.

So I retested my water this morning, and it shows my CYA back at 50ppm where it has been for the past 6 months. Not sure if yesterday’s reading was a fluke or I grabbed a water sample from a weird spot.

 

[mknauss]

You need a proper test kit. I suggest the TF-100/Pro or Taylor K2006C. A proper test kit is needed to get the accurate water chemistry results needed to follow the TFP protocols.

 

[Donldson]

Just had a post this morning about someone with a fresh fill and their brand new test strips showed 300 CYA. Fresh water has no CYA in it.

So you said yesterday both the strips and Leslie's showed high CYA, now the strips show it where you think it should be? No way you had a spot in your water with 100 ppm more CYA than the rest of the pool, one or all of the test results you are working with are wrong. And there's no way for you to know which is which. That's why we require a good test kit. Throw the strips in the trash and lose Leslie's address, they're not helping you.

 

[Mdragger88]

Get
Test Kits Compared so you know where you really stand
Read

How to Chlorinate Your Pool

Before chlorinating your pool, you should know these simple tips. Learn the best way to add chlorine to your pool.

www.google.com

&
Pool Care Basics

Understand that clorox along with other manufacturers & pool stores aim to sell you other products to solve the problems that the cya & copper laden, acidic Trichlor creates.
Like-
- Ta & ph up (expensive baking soda & washing soda)
- sequestrants to hide copper stains from the products themselves & possibly corroded copper components due to their acidity
- algaecides & clarifiers to mask the algae growth because of the fc/cya imbalance which occurs after a short time of daily chlorination with Trichlor.
- other powdered chlorine products “shock” , because the pucks aren’t enough so you must prescribe to a weekly “shock” regimen to keep the pool clear.

We don’t do any of that here-

What is TFPC?

We believe any pool owner can achieve and maintain safe, crystal clear pool water, by using the science-based, Trouble Free Pool Care (TFPC) methodology.

www.google.com

 

[poweranimal]

Just had a post this morning about someone with a fresh fill and their brand new test strips showed 300 CYA. Fresh water has no CYA in it.

So you said yesterday both the strips and Leslie's showed high CYA, now the strips show it where you think it should be? No way you had a spot in your water with 100 ppm more CYA than the rest of the pool, one or all of the test results you are working with are wrong. And there's no way for you to know which is which. That's why we require a good test kit. Throw the strips in the trash and lose Leslie's address, they're not helping you.

I will do just that! I’m not worried about the $90 for the kit, I just was unaware they existed. Thank you all for the advise on throwing away the strips.