Tablets & CYA

[Jasper21]

I had a pool installed about 3 years ago. They installed a chlorine tablet feeder.

Pool has been super easy to maintain until the last few months. I tested my CYA level and they are insanely high. Like diluting my water 9 to 1 finally gets it into range.

I am draining it today and will refill. Which brings me to my question:

How often should I be partially draining and how much does 10 tabs raise CYA level (on the CYA scale - tabs are something like .9ppm for a 15,000 gallon pool, but don’t know what the CYA level 30 is in PPM) for a 12,000 gallon pool? I had a SWG in another pool and it was a non-stop headache. I have looked into liquid chlorination (I did that manually a lot in my SWG pool because I got sick of the salt cell dying every 2 years).

I have also looked into the hypo-chlor tablets, but they make me nervous because my feeder previously had tri-chlor and all my pluming and everything has had tri-chlor run through it for 3 years at this point.

 

[PoolStored]

You will need to drain/replace water when your CYA gets to about 70/80.

In your pool (12Kgallons), 10 tabs will raise your CYA by 28ppm. CYA of 30 is 30ppm.

You should NEVER put hypo-chlor tablets in a tri-chlor feeder. Never.

 

[Bperry]

I had a SWG in another pool and it was a non-stop headache. I have looked into liquid chlorination (I did that manually a lot in my SWG pool because I got sick of the salt cell dying every 2 years).

You had something wrong with the system if the cell was dying in two years. Would recommend looking into it again using TFP guidance.

The SWG folks sometimes say you need to clean the cell with acid every x months and that cleaning shortens the life of the cell. Theres no need to clean the cell if its not scaled and mines going on 4 years of service and never needed cleaning.

 

[proavia]

Are you draining or doing a no drain water exchange?
If the former - keep the plaster/pebble damp until the pool is completely refilled.
It's going to be 115 here today. You don't want the plaster/pebble to dry out and crack.

You're in PHX, chances are you have hard water.
With our high evaporation, your calcium level will go up.
Using calhypo will only add more calcium you don't need.

Never ever mix different types of chlorine in the same container or feeder.

How are you testing your pool water?
Test Kits Compared

A SWG used in a pool maintained using TFP methods is truly your best option.
What issues did you have with the SWG at your previous pool?

Also, test your fill water for TA, CH amd pH. Post those results here.

 

[Jasper21]

I was able to get 2 years with TFP help. Followed all suggestions religiously except. Our municipal water supply was extremely hard so I fought scale a lot. I cleaned the cell once a month.

New pool is on a well and water is much softer so I may consider going back to a SWG. It was such a pain in the last house I swore them off. Didn’t help that an installer installed a cheap version of a cell, but gave me the box for an expensive one. When I checked serial no/part no and called them out the same day they installed it, it got ugly. That’s a different story though.

Does CYA ever breakdown? With the rate of 30min per 10 tabs I would be draining every few months.

 

[PoolStored]

Does CYA ever breakdown?

Very slowly. 5-10 per month is typical. You might get a drop of 15 in a month if your pool water is consistently over 90 degrees.

 

[proavia]

What test kit are you using?

Fill out your signature with pool, all pool equipment (including manufacturers and model numbers) a d test kit info.
This assists us in providing you help without needing to ask you each time for this important information.

https://www.troublefreepool.com/account/signature

The scaling on a SWG can be minimized by keeping CSI in the 0.00 to -0.30 (negative 0.30) range.
This is done by adjusting pH downward (still staying within the 7's) as your CH rises. Also, keep TA in the 60-ish range. If using hard water, without a water softener plumbed to the autofill, the pool will need to be drained every 2-3 years to get the CH back down.

 

[Bperry]

I was able to get 2 years with TFP help. Followed all suggestions religiously except. Our municipal water supply was extremely hard so I fought scale a lot. I cleaned the cell once a month.

Thats probably what killed them. Managing the CSI to keep under zero can help avoid ever having to clean it. Many in that area inatall a softened fill line to avoid the extra calcium buildup.

 

[Jasper21]

Oof, thank you for recommendation on keeping it damp. Was planning a drain and refill …. However, may do an exchange, or setup a sprinkler for when it gets lower?

I will look into SWG again. Any issues with dogs drinking water from a salt water pool or swimming in it and their skin?

Edit: Taylor K2005

 

[hexabc]

No worries - it’s a little over 3000 ppm concentration - 10 times lower than in the ocean.

 

[Jasper21]

Thank you, I updated my signature. I think that is the info most commonly asked for?

 

[Jasper21]

I am guessing my pool was mostly CYA w/some water added in.

Replaced about 9,000 gallons of water and CYA is down to 100. Did not drain and refill due to temps and sun load. In the future I will plan better and drain refill when it isn't 115 deg.

Currently getting all my numbers balanced and completing a slam. Water looks crystal clear, calcium level is much better, and now just need to work TA down. Overall very happy with how it is progressing. I plan to stick with liquid chlorine and let the CYA come down naturally the rest of the way. Will take a few months, but I can manage it with this level.

Thank you all for your help. I also subscribed to the Pool Math App, glad to support a group that helps so much.