High CYA. Need to add 2/3 jug(3.6l) of liquid chlorine every 2 days

[rdesgagn]

Hi fellow TFP members,

I'm a brand new member and this is my first post. I just bought the TFT-100 test kit because the el cheapo strips weren't enough for me. I have an automatic chlorinator (using those "bad" chlorine pucks that increase CYA). I have stopped using the pucks and the chlorinator is currently only filled with water. For the past week or so, after stopping using the chlorine pucks, every couple days I have to add about 2.5 liters of liquid chlorine(10.3%) to keep it at 5 ppm or so. I have just tested my CYA level with the TFT-100 kit and I'm really close to 100ppm. By only using liquid chlorine and not the pucks anymore, I understand that the CYA level "should" be stable and not go up anymore. Unless I drain the swimming pool water and refill with tap water, will my chlorine demand be like this until the CYA level goes down (normal water evaporation and me filling up the pool to account for that water loss) ?

Thanks for your help,

René

 

[YippeeSkippy]

helloooooo! We're all happy to help out, we've all been new to this stuff.
CYA only leaves via splash out, draining and lastly very slow degradation. Evaporation takes water but leaves behind calcium, CYA, salt, etc.

How hard or easy would it be to drop your pool level by about half and refill again? That would help get rid of excess CYA.
We have a chart that shows how high your FC *needs* to be based on your CYA level. FC/CYA Levels

Maddie

 

[V___25]

Hi and welcome! Great job on getting yourself a good kit. Yes, CYA only decreases by water leaving the pool and being replaced. Do you drain your water level down at the end of each season for closing? That can take down a good 15-18” of water, or more depending, and then be replaced with rain/snow/ice melt over the spring and winter. That is, assuming you can manage all of this season with your current high FC demand.

 

[jeffchap]

Your daily FC use is not unusual and will probably stay about the same regardless of your CYA level. You should plan to add chlorine daily.

However, your FC level is critically low for your CYA. Normal FC should be 8 to 10% of CYA to keep algae at bay. Add enough chlorine to raise it to 10 ASAP.

Then perform an overnight chlorine loss test tonight to make sure you don't already have algae. Perform the Overnight FC Loss Test (OCLT)

If you pass the OCLT and your water is clear, you can live with your high CYA as long as you keep on top of the FC. *NEVER* let it drop below 8. If you get an algae outbreak, it'll take a lot of chlorine to perform a SLAM so you'd probably want to do a partial drain to lower it first.

 

[rdesgagn]

Thanks for all your replies. It's really appreciated. I do drain my pool for the winter about 6" or so below the water return jet. In the spring, when it's pool opening season, I do fill it up with tap water and start putting the opening pool chemical kit in.

 

[CTFocusST]

If you are getting a cya of 100 I would recommend doing the diluted cya test (steps below) to make sure you are at 100 and not much higher. CYA test is not linear so always round up to nearest 10

If your CYA level is 90 or higher, repeat the test adjusting the procedure as follows:

1. Fill the mixing bottle to the lower mark with pool water.
2. Continue filling the mixing bottle to the upper mark with tap water.
3. Shake briefly to mix.
4. Pour off half of the contents of the mixing bottle, so it is again filled to the lower mark.
5. Continue the test normally from step 2, but multiply the final result by two

 

[jeffchap]

...and start putting the opening pool chemical kit in.

We need to talk about that too. Here we only add what is indicated by testing. Usually my opening consists of bringing my salt and CYA back to desired levels and then a quick SLAM just to clear things up again. I don't add anything "just because".

 

[rdesgagn]

@jeffchap sorry if this is a newbie question but you don't suggest to buy pool opening chemical kits but rather make sure FC, CYA, PH and TA are within acceptable levels by adding only what is necessary and that's it ?

 

[Newdude]

but rather make sure FC, CYA, PH and TA are within acceptable levels by adding only what is necessary and that's it ?

^^^^^ *exactly* that's it. Why buy a kit full of things that you don't need ? Half of the kit probably has copper additives or other bad things going on.

Whatever your pool needs, you listen to it and are happy to do what it asks. We'll help you at every step. Welcome to TFP.