What's the reasoning behind a higher CYA level recommendation from TFP?

[SoDel]

I hope this doesn't come across as un-trusting, or arrogant, I'm just trying to learn. I came across this article from Orenda Tech last night, and it seems to directly contradict the recommendations from TFP:

Minimal CYA | Pillar 4

Pillar 4 is Minimal Cyanuric Acid (CYA). CYA (aka Stabilizer or Conditioner) protects free chlorine from sunlight. Some CYA is good, but too much is bad.

blog.orendatech.com

TFP says I should have my CYA at about 80ppm, the link above says that will put my chlorine at being pretty much completely ineffective. If I understand correctly, TFP just recently even increased their recommendations for how much CYA a pool should have. Again, not trying to step on toes here, just trying to understand and learn.

To add maybe 2c from the peanut gallery, there’s lots of ways to manage a pool but there’s also more than meets the eye. My friendly unsolicited advice is follow the guidelines, in total, as given by TFP. They all work together as a cohesive whole and once you get going, are surprisingly simple to follow (my daily pool care routine is about five minutes each day, max, plus throw the robot in the water once a week). Definitely keep reading and learning and asking questions, but in tandem, follow the proven recipe at first to make a suitable everyday loaf of bread.

As you watch your pool and the chemistry as the days go by, you’ll pretty quickly get to know your pool. Your interest in learning more will provide deeper understanding of the data and reasoning behind the recommendations. At that point you can decide on departures, if any, which fit your new level of understanding and the quirks of your particular pool for reasons you are comfortable with.

As an example, I run my pool at around 40 ppm CYA and keep FC between a low of 12.5% and and a high of 20% of CYA. I don’t live where the sun is particularly blazing and doings things “my way” gives me peace of mind on a variety of issues related to a pool as well as makes it very easy for me to manage in the way I do things. My way might not work for you or anyone else. My SWG might be working harder than it “needs” to and may die a little sooner than it otherwise would. I don’t care. Pool always looks great, safe and comfortable to swim in, easy for me to deal with. Your pool, your priorities and your way of doing things may differ.

 

[Pool_Medic]

Just an FYI, Richard didn’t figure out this ratio, it was Ben Powell from the old Pool Forum. I believe Richard took the industry to task regarding their poor understanding of CYA. We used to use 7-11-40 with 11% being your target level. That got bumped down to 7.5%.
Certainly a far cry from the age old 1-3ppm chlorine is fine, 100 ppm cya meant to drain 50% of your water and dilute with fresh water…cya of 90 ppm was ignored and that’s where the pool stores loved to sell snake oil remedies.