Noob to the forum. Looking for CYA advice

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Kaptain

Member
May 5, 2025
12
Washington state
Pool Size
28000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
I've had my pool for 8 years no and relied on my local pool store ever since. This pool season they closed the doors so I decided to take matters into my own hands.
I have a taylor test kit these are my current readings.
FC 1.0
pH 7.4
TA 170
CYA 0?
CH 270

A bit of history.
  • I am using 3" tabs in my chlorinator set to 3. And shocking weekly with 73% CAL-Hypo.
  • 4 years ago I had seriously high CYA levels that was using up every bit of shock I dumped in. Very expensive year.
  • Following 2 years I drained 1/2 my pool. Test strips would show zero CYA. I figured I solved the problem. 0 is better than 400 or whatever it was in 2021
  • For the last 3 years I could not get a FC reading on test strips or at the pools store. Water was always clear so I just shrugged it off.
  • In the last 2 weeks since opening I have added 6 gallons of liquid chlorine

I tried my new Taylor kit last night CYA I am assuming is zero. The sample never got cloudy therefor the black dot at the bottom of the tube never went away. When I tested for FC I called it a 1 but it was questionably zero as well.
So, I have done a lot of reading today in regard to CYA and FC. My plan is to get 4lbs of dry stabilizer tonight to start with. I believe if I can get the CYA up to 30 I may start getting FC readings,
I also need to get some acid and start lowering my TA.

And yes I am switching to SWG next year. I was lied to. Pool store told me there's a reason they don't sell them... I never asked for their reason, I just trusted them.
 
You have apparently been rumbling along and getting lucky if you have no algae and have had no algae. Your FC is super low and if you really don't have any CYA in the water that is why the FC is disappearing so fast. You need to add granular CYA in a sock that is hung in front of a pool return so it can dissolve. Don't add anything to your skimmer. Dump the tabs RIGHT NOW and get 4 gallons of liquid chlorine. You can get it at Walmart. You probably need to put two gallons in right now and let it circulate. Then test 30 mins later to see where you are. Get in the habit of testing every morning so that you can get your FC back up to 6-8 ppm each day before the sun hits the pool for very long. You need a better test kit so view the following link. Also view the CYA/FC link to understand their relationship. You might also have algae that you can't see right now so you should do an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test once you get chlorine in the pool. You can use the PoolMath app to calculate what your pool needs based on it's parameters and your other test readings.
Pool Care Basics
FC/CYA Levels
Test Kits Compared
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
PoolMath
 
Hey Kaptain and Welcome !!! :wave:


Something is way off here. Please detail your CYA test steps in detail.

Are the tabs 'non-stabilized' / cal-hypo ?
 
PLEASE DO NOT ADD STABILIZER YET!
Some pools can get bacteria that eats CYA and creates ammonia.
Hallmarks of ammonia
Low pH,
0 CYA and
high CC
If you add stabilizer, it will be harder to recover.

We need your CC before you do anything.
Please retest FC and CC report your CCs before you add anything...please.
 
TinFoilHat said:
You have apparently been rumbling along and getting lucky if you have no algae and have had no algae. Your FC is super low and if you really don't have any CYA in the water that is why the FC is disappearing so fast. You need to add granular CYA in a sock that is hung in front of a pool return so it can dissolve. Don't add anything to your skimmer. Dump the tabs RIGHT NOW and get 4 gallons of liquid chlorine. You can get it at Walmart. You probably need to put two gallons in right now and let it circulate. Then test 30 mins later to see where you are. Get in the habit of testing every morning so that you can get your FC back up to 6-8 ppm each day before the sun hits the pool for very long. You need a better test kit so view the following link. Also view the CYA/FC link to understand their relationship. You might also have algae that you can't see right now so you should do an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test once you get chlorine in the pool. You can use the PoolMath app to calculate what your pool needs based on it's parameters and your other test readings.
Pool Care Basics
FC/CYA Levels
Test Kits Compared
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
PoolMath
Click to expand...
Question about the test kit. I was comparing the k-2005 to the k-2006c, so correct me if I am wrong. The only differences that I can find is that the 2006c comes with the FAS-DPD kit (which I have ordered) and the bottles that the 2006c comes with are larger. It appears I can just buy the missing solutions.
 
Kaptain said:
Question about the test kit. I was comparing the k-2005 to the k-2006c, so correct me if I am wrong. The only differences that I can find is that the 2006c comes with the FAS-DPD kit (which I have ordered) and the bottles that the 2006c comes with are larger. It appears I can just buy the missing solutions.
Click to expand...
Yes, get this... Link--> SLAM Option
 
Since you do not have FAS-DPD, you cannot test CC, nor can you slam.
Order what I posted today, and add 3ppm of liquid chlorine per day until you kit arrives,
When it arrives, to the FAS-DPD FC and CC test and report values.
 

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Kaptain said:
I already ordered the FAS-DPD from Taylor, do I need both?
Click to expand...
No, what I posted is the same, just cheaper and has more reagent.

Kaptain said:
Can I use trichlor tabs in my chlorinator and add bags of calcium hypochlorite until Monday?
Click to expand...
We can get going on the ammonia with the DPD.
Do you have pool math?
Do you have liquid chlorine and what %?
 
Ok, go to walmart and get 15 gallons of liquid chlorine. May take more, may take less, but you can use it to add FC after ammonia and slam.They have Pool Essential Liquid chlorine.
Also, if you don't have it, get at least 8 pounds of chlorine stabilizer, should come in a bag. It's dry granules.
Might check your local store online to see if they have both in stock.
When you have your LC, I want you to add 10ppm of LC pump running. Use pool math to determine how much (Walmart LC is 10%). Post how much and I'll confirm you are using PM right.
Then, test FC with your DPD after 30 minutes, post a pic of the comparator.


This is what we are going to do. We can get rid of the ammonia with the DPD test.

Ammonia - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
Last edited:
PoolStored said:
Ok, go to walmart and get 15 gallons of liquid chlorine. May take more, may take less, but you can use it to add FC after ammonia and slam.They have Pool Essential Liquid chlorine.
Also get at least 8 pounds of chlorine stabilizer, should come in a bag.
Might check your local store online to see if they have both in stock.
When you have your LC, I want you to add 10ppm of LC pump running. Use pool math to determine how much (Walmart LC is 10%). Post how much and I'll confirm you are using PM right.
Then, test FC with your DPD after 30 minutes, post a pic of the comparator.


This is what we are going to do. We can get rid of the ammonia with the DPD test.

Ammonia - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
Click to expand...
I'll head to wallyworld.
I need 4.5 gallons to slam it.
 
NO we are not slamming, we are going to attack the ammonia, then we wait for test kit before slamming.
We can only do ammonia.
I don't want to SLAM. I want you to add 10ppm, nothing more, try PM again. How much to add 10ppm?
Get 15 gallons. You can always use if for chlorinating afterwords. There will be a imprinted set of number in black by a printer on the jugs. Make sure the first two digits are 25.

Chlorine Date Code Decoder - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
PoolStored said:
Ok, go to walmart and get 15 gallons of liquid chlorine. May take more, may take less, but you can use it to add FC after ammonia and slam.They have Pool Essential Liquid chlorine.
Also, if you don't have it, get at least 8 pounds of chlorine stabilizer, should come in a bag. It's dry granules.
Might check your local store online to see if they have both in stock.
When you have your LC, I want you to add 10ppm of LC pump running. Use pool math to determine how much (Walmart LC is 10%). Post how much and I'll confirm you are using PM right.
Then, test FC with your DPD after 30 minutes, post a pic of the comparator.


This is what we are going to do. We can get rid of the ammonia with the DPD test.

Ammonia - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
Click to expand...
It's ironic that you suggested 15 gallons. That's what fits in the walmart cart. 5.57 a gallon in WA state.

What's next.
 
PoolStored said:
NO we are not slamming, we are going to attack the ammonia, then we wait for test kit before slamming.
We can only do ammonia.
I don't want to SLAM. I want you to add 10ppm, nothing more, try PM again. How much to add 10ppm?
Get 15 gallons. You can always use if for chlorinating afterwords. There will be a imprinted set of number in black by a printer on the jugs. Make sure the first two digits are 25.

Chlorine Date Code Decoder - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
Click to expand...
All 25.

2 gallons 3 quarts
 
Close enough.
Pump on.
Pour it in about 12" out in front of a return. Slooowly, like a gallon every two minutes, pencil thin stream.
Mark your time, or set a timer for 30 minutes.
Brush around a bit on the bottom (a minute).
After 30 minutes, do your dpd test and post the results (picture of the comparator). I'll be on.
 
Last edited:

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