Need help lowering CYA

KatyPoolOwner

Member
Mar 22, 2025
9
Houston, TX
I just started taking care of my own pool this week. My CYA is REALLY high - - over 100 on my TF pro kit. It was 186 on Monday per Leslie's testing. I put the hose in my pool for 4 hours as instructed and it was 178 the next day. I am on day 4 of filling the pool for 5 hours per da and letting it overflow and my TF pro kit still shows CYA over 100. What else can I do? Should I just let the hose run all night? Run the pump? Don't run the pump? Looking for advice.

Thanks in advance for your help! Glad I took over my own maintenance - - shame on me for paying $200 a month to someone and not double checking my pool chemistry.
 
Welcome to TFP!!!

Welcome to #TeamPoolStored. Unfortunately...

To get an accurate CYA, do the diluted test at #8 here:

The way to lower your CYA is to replace water. Read "no drain water exchange" here:
 
I just started taking care of my own pool this week. My CYA is REALLY high - - over 100 on my TF pro kit. It was 186 on Monday per Leslie's testing. I put the hose in my pool for 4 hours as instructed and it was 178 the next day. I am on day 4 of filling the pool for 5 hours per da and letting it overflow and my TF pro kit still shows CYA over 100. What else can I do? Should I just let the hose run all night? Run the pump? Don't run the pump? Looking for advice.

Thanks in advance for your help! Glad I took over my own maintenance - - shame on me for paying $200 a month to someone and not double checking my pool chemistry.
Do you have a dedicated overflow for that? Hopefully so, it’s not good to just let it overflow over the coping.
 
The problem with multiple drains is you are pitching good water with the bad so they get less efficient with each round. Read up on the draining link and decide which way works better for you so you can get much more out with one attempt.
 
I had similar CYA levels last year and ended up dumping about 20% for my pool (1500 gallons) then refilling it. Repeated this for about 5 times, maybe more don't remember. I didn't want to do more than 20% to protect the liner a little bit from the sun. Was able to get it down to 30 CYA after doing all that, which was a little lower than what I wanted, but its easier to raise CYA.

I got myself the Taylor K-2006, but then read about the larger “C” commercial size bottles, which I'm regretting not buying from the start. take a look at the Swimming Pool Test Kits Compared
 
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+1. There's 2 price brackets and TFtestkits wins both by a mile.


The TF100 has 2.7x the supply of the K2006.

The TFpro includes a $45 stirrer that you want no matter the kit you buy, has supplies rationed out for how we test and a nicer case. You simply waste all the extra CH and TA tests with the K2006C, and will probably run out of the smaller FC tests.

TFtestkits also have salt options for both kits for $20, including the $30 salt test. Again, I'd like to see somebody argue how an even better value is somehow not as good. Lol.

But nonetheless they all use the same reagents so we can TFP per any of their results.