So, after our pool was finished a few weeks ago, I've used my TF-100 kit almost daily, just trying to learn the relationship with all the chemistry. My recommended CYA with a SWCG is 60-80, according to the charts in my test kit, and also here in Pool School. Mine CYA is consistently 50 in all the tests I'm running. My FC is hovering between 4.5-5.5 and my CC is 0 (occasionally .5, but no higher). Everything else is right on point. My water is clear and feels great. Water temp is 86 in the afternoons and 83 in the mornings right now, if temp matters, and affects the chemistry. I know I add stabilizer/conditioner to raise the CYA, but then the recommended FC goes up, too. Should I leave it alone, and allow my CYA to stay at 50, or do I need to raise it somewhere between 60-80, even if I'm not seeing an immediate problem?
CYA Low, FC Normal..What to do?
- Thread starter mayberry32
- Start date
32,
You can run your CYA at whatever level you want... The whole point about have a CYA of 60 - 80 with a SWCG is so that you do not have to run the cell as hard to generate the chlorine your need.. This time of year, that is not much of a problem compared to the middle of the summer.
Thanks,
Jim R.
You can run your CYA at whatever level you want... The whole point about have a CYA of 60 - 80 with a SWCG is so that you do not have to run the cell as hard to generate the chlorine your need.. This time of year, that is not much of a problem compared to the middle of the summer.
Thanks,
Jim R.
It's middle of summer here. In GA, we've had a big heat wave, with highs around 96-98 every day, and no rain. I'm running my SWCG at 60%, because I upsized it during the build, per recommendations here. So, I am not running my SWCG hard at all, and my levels are where they are.
So, would you recommend not adding the conditioner and leaving things where they are? I don't want to screw anything up by adding it, if it's not needed.
So, would you recommend not adding the conditioner and leaving things where they are? I don't want to screw anything up by adding it, if it's not needed.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,406
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Sounds like you are doing fine. I would not tinker with things.
What is your % setting on the IC60 and how long do you run your pump for?
What is your % setting on the IC60 and how long do you run your pump for?
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,406
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Heat is not the reason for CYA level. CYA protects the chlorine from the suns UV rays. Intensity of UV depends on sun angle. Sun angle is at its peak in late June. So UV intensity has been declining as we get into fall. CYA 50 is likely fine for you in the coming months. Monitor it and increase it next Spring.
Hot pool water will degrade CYA. If it drops below 50 then I would increase it to 60-70.
Hot pool water will degrade CYA. If it drops below 50 then I would increase it to 60-70.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,406
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
You are generating 2ppm/day which is a very reasonable usage of your cell and daily chlorine usage by your pool.
Also forgot to mention that my TA is running 100-120, so that is also a little higher than recommended levels. Should I do anything to get that down, or is it okay running 100-120?
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,406
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Please post a complete set of test results. You need to look at the overall water balance not just pick on one chemical. Best way is to share Test Logs using PoolMath. Or post:
FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,406
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Thanks. It's been 2 weeks and it's staying the same. So, over another few weeks or month, I should see TA reduce on its own?
My pH naturally wants to stay in the 7.8 range. The pool builder said that saltwater pools want to run a little on the high side of pH and I'd have to dump acid in it every week to keep it below 7.6. So far, he's been correct. Even when I added acid last week, it went down to 7.2 that night and was back to 7.8 the following afternoon.
My pH naturally wants to stay in the 7.8 range. The pool builder said that saltwater pools want to run a little on the high side of pH and I'd have to dump acid in it every week to keep it below 7.6. So far, he's been correct. Even when I added acid last week, it went down to 7.2 that night and was back to 7.8 the following afternoon.
32,
Your pool builder is not giving you very good advice... You should just let your pH sit at 7.8 and only add acid when the pH hits 8.0.. Then, only add enough acid to reduce the pH to 7.7 or so... As long as your TA is above 50, you are just fine.
Thanks,
Jim R.
Your pool builder is not giving you very good advice... You should just let your pH sit at 7.8 and only add acid when the pH hits 8.0.. Then, only add enough acid to reduce the pH to 7.7 or so... As long as your TA is above 50, you are just fine.
Thanks,
Jim R.
Sorry, I said that incorrectly. He didn't say I SHOULD add acid every week. He said that's what I'd have to do to keep my pH low. He said to let it sit around 7.6-7.8 naturally and it would be fine...same as you are saying.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,406
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Your TA is fine at the level it is. If it comes down due to pH adjustments that is ok. You don't need to do anything specifically for TA. Just manage pH.
So, reading through this, I shouldn't add the conditioner to raise my CYA to 60, and my levels are fine, as is?
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,406
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Lol....Already done. Huge thunderstorm rolled through last night and completely covered the pool in leaves. I cleaned it while watching football earlier. Now, I'm bored and looking for something to do.
Seriously, sorry for all the repetitive questions. I'm just working to understand the chemistry and thought everything needed to be within the recommended ranges. Pool looks great, water is clear. This is just my first pool and I don't want to slip up and let it get away from me.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,406
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
No problem with the questions.
The ranges are there to simplify the chemistry and have been designed to keep most pools out of trouble.
If you want to learn more about the chemistry then learn about the CYA Chlorine Relationship - Further Reading and the pH/TA relationship. I have not seen a simple writeup ont he pH/TA relationship and plan to write one soon.
CH and TA affect your CSI. You don't have to worry much about CSI with your vinyl pool. But you do need to keep an eye on your CSI to prevent scaling of your SWG.
So you cannot just focus on an individual number when changing one changes other chemistry.
TA only needs to be adjusted if the pH is having problems staying stable, high or low. If the pH is stable then any value of TA is fine. Except that TA also contributes to CSI. And if CSI is out of range then TA may be the best one to be adjusted.
That is the bigger picture of water chemistry that some of us look at when you ask if a single value is good. And why we ask for a complete set of test values.
beautifulpool
Silver Supporter
My favorite chlorine of all time (once upon a time) was Di-chlor. The water didn’t cloud and was instantly sparkly. But continued use of di/chlor caused a colossal Pool nightmare! And more than once!
How I learned CYA doesn’t degrade but continues accumulating, was having a front row seat at my backyard pool! As my cya levels rose, my pool’s chlorine’s ability to Sanitize, slowed and eventually QUIT!! Mentally, i knew I had to quit using stabilized chlorine. But, in full disclosure ..., it took another Pool drain and 3 more years to completely wean off CYA pool products looking back, i now think cya users are more addicted than they realize and have bought in deeper to the Pool industries CYA culture than we know .I needed CYA users anonymous..... cause I kept running back when time ran short in a day ....
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