Jandy SWCG's "optimal" water conditions: why raise CYA?

[waterbear]

"You're starting to believe, but I don't think you're quite there yet."

You're right. The proof (for me) will be how this forum's methodology holds up in *my* pool, right? But everyone here has convinced me that I don't have to blindly and ignorantly follow a local pool store's advice on how to care for my pool (for which I heartily thank you!). Moreover, you've raised an interesting, viable alternative that I'm willing to try -- keep up my CYA level, keep up my FC level, watch over my CC level, and shock only when the pool needs to be shocked. Doesn't have to be once a week. Doesn't have to be once a month, even. Just when I need it.

You have just stumbled on to the secret on how commercial pools are maintained!

So, I'll give it a go. My "insurance policy" against algae, though, is that I'll still add a maintenance dose of polyquat each week. The relatively low cost of doing that gives me peace-of-mind. What I need to work out now is how much time the SWCG needs to operate to keep up the FC level. Over this week and next, I should be able to nail that answer down.

Adding borates to 50 ppm is a better insurance policy, only has to be done once and you don't need to worry about it until the level drops to 30 ppm (for most people this is once a year), and they also help keep the pH from rising as fast so your pH becomes even more stable.

[waterbear]

I just posted this in another thread about an hour ago. Please read.

I raised my CYA to 45 ppm

NOW raise it up to where it SHOULD be (around 80 ppm), drop you TA to 70 if it is higher than that, and start saving money on acid and maintenance and stop being a big tall dumb guy and become a big tall smart guy!

[BigTallGuy]

NOW raise it up to where it SHOULD be (around 80 ppm), drop you TA to 70 if it is higher than that, and start saving money on acid and maintenance and stop being a big tall dumb guy and become a big tall smart guy!

I ordered my Taylor K2006 test kit via Ben's link and I am waiting for it to arrive so I can do proper testing. You may remember that I had an extremely bad experience with CYA a few years ago and I would like to know who sets the 80 PPM standard for SWCG Pools, and why.

My SWCG owner's manual says 50 PPM of CYA, and I believe I read one of ChemGeek's post that says the higher above 50 you get the CYA, the more it actually counter acts with chlorine. In addition, I still need to run my filter at least 4 hours a day for a good turn over.

SO HERE IS MY QUESTION TO ANY AND ALL POOL OWNERS WITH A SWCG THAT KEEP THEIR CYA AT 80 PPM AND THEIR CHLORINE AT 4.0 OR HIGHER, DO YOU EXPERIENCE OR GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT BURNING EYES? BE HONEST, BECAUSE THAT WAS MY EXPERIENCE.