Pool chemistry

[jcarroca]

I am really upset at my situation. I am hoping that my CYA numbers are lower than what I tested. I bought 40 lbs ($$$) of these pucks becuase both the pool contractor and the pool shop told me they were the best maintenance product that I can use. Why do trichloro pucks have CYA. I know this stuff sells like hot cakes and I got a good deal for the bulk quanity (Atleast I thought I did). Where will I get if complain to my pool store. Why am I the only one with this problem. Is there chlorine pucks with out CYA. I don't want to get rid of my chlorinator.

[aylad]

There are chlorine (cal-hypo) pucks without CYA, but YOU CANNOT USE THEM IN YOUR INLINE CHLORINATOR, EVEN IF YOU CLEAN IT WELL FIRST!!! You run a serious risk of explosion and injury if you try. The chlorinator you have is designed for trichlor, and trichlor only. And no, trichlor isn't available without CYA.

If it makes you feel any better, you're not the only one with this problem--it is a very common problem among people that trust their pool store to balance their water for them--but forget that pool store people make their money by selling you stuff to fix problems! Trichlor is not a bad thing, if you understand the chemistry behind it. If you have a pool with low CYA and a pH trending upward, trichlor pucks are exactly what you need to fix it. HOwever, if your CYAis already that high, use of the trichlor will only drive it higher, requiring you to use more and more chlorine as a maintanance level, as Watermom said. If you want to continue to use the chlorinator, I suggest that you drain/refill a large enough quantity of water (not all at the same time unless you use the sheet method) to get your CYA back down to20-30 or so, and then set your chlorinator at the lowest setting. Toward the end of the summer you may find yourself having to supplement with bleach, but that's one of the caveats of trichlor.

Janet

[aquarium]

I am really upset at my situation. I am hoping that my CYA numbers are lower than what I tested. I bought 40 lbs ($$$) of these pucks becuase both the pool contractor and the pool shop told me they were the best maintenance product that I can use. Why do trichloro pucks have CYA. I know this stuff sells like hot cakes and I got a good deal for the bulk quanity (Atleast I thought I did). Where will I get if complain to my pool store. Why am I the only one with this problem. Is there chlorine pucks with out CYA. I don't want to get rid of my chlorinator.

Nope, you're not the only one with this problem.

The CYA addition from the trichlor appears to be a recurring issue for a lot of people here. Click on my user name and read the posts that have CYA in their titles. I got some good advice here, and I'm new at this game too.

Lowe's wants $96 for a 40 pound tub of trichlor pucks.

TW

[JohnT]

I am really upset at my situation. I am hoping that my CYA numbers are lower than what I tested. I bought 40 lbs ($$$) of these pucks becuase both the pool contractor and the pool shop told me they were the best maintenance product that I can use. Why do trichloro pucks have CYA. I know this stuff sells like hot cakes and I got a good deal for the bulk quanity (Atleast I thought I did). Where will I get if complain to my pool store. Why am I the only one with this problem. Is there chlorine pucks with out CYA. I don't want to get rid of my chlorinator.

They wouldn't be trichlor if they didn't have CYA. That's why most of us are using bleach. It isn't as easy as a chlorinator, but it doesn't have the side-effects. The only difference between us (and I'm including you) and the rest of the pool owners out there is that we're aware of the problem.

[jcarroca]

I am trying to understand what caused my elevated CYA #'s. I have had this pool for 2.5 years, run it only for 3 months out of the year and use ~ 2-3 trichloro pucks evey 2 weeks for maintenance and shock with granular chlorine. I am taking a sample of my water to a local pool store and see what he says.

[waste]

J, until you can accuratly test the water yourself, taking it to a reliable pool store that does free testing with reliable and calibrated equipment is your best option - you need to know what your chem values are. If they try to sell you a bunch of stuff, don't buy it, bring the numbers they give you here and let the good folks help you, without spending $$$. If on the other hand, you want to keep your pool builder and pool store's wallets full - that is your choice and I wish you well with your pool and shed full of chems.

What you seem to need is POP (pool owner patience) - a problem that has been caused over the course of years can't be errased in a couple of days nor with the addition of 'miracle product "X"' You're on the right track comming here and taking control of your pool, but it takes time - if you stick with it, by the end of the summer you'll know more about pool water chemistry than either your builder or the pool store tester!

[Watermom]

I am trying to understand what caused my elevated CYA #'s.

That is easy. Using trichlor pucks. Many people think that using the pucks is the only way and so they do it without realizing that the pucks are stabilized and thus with each puck, add more and more cya into the pool. At some point, the cya level will reach a point where the '"recommended" chlorine level of 1-3 (which it seems is what most pool stores tell their customers) is insufficient and they then begin to have algae problems. Take a look at the chart at the following link and you'll see how cya (stabilizer) levels and needed chlorine levels are related.

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=365

[gitchesum]

That is easy. Using trichlor pucks. Many people think that using the pucks is the only way and so they do it without realizing that the pucks are stabilized and thus with each puck, add more and more cya into the pool. At some point, the cya level will reach a point where the '"recommended" chlorine level of 1-3 (which it seems is what most pool stores tell their customers) is insufficient and they then begin to have algae problems. Take a look at the chart at the following link and you'll see how cya (stabilizer) levels and needed chlorine levels are related.

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=365

This is EXACTLY what happened in my case.

Pool was nice and birght when I bought the house. Previous owner left what chemicals hadn't been used yet. I brought samples to the pool store and let them run them and tell me what I needed to do to keep it that way. Started getting an algae problem that never would completely go away. That prompted more trips to the pool store for even more costly chemicals. I just recently spent over $200 on granular shock, 3" pucks, and a product called "Green to Clean". Still have spots of green on the perimeter walls of the pool.

Decided to take things in my own hands. Another member referred me over to this place.

Tested my water and found I had a CYA of well over 100, I could only get about 3/4" of water in the test vial before the black dot would disappear.


Drained 9000 gallons last night(half the pool) and refilled overnight. Stopping on the way home to stock up on bleach and I'm going to have this pool nice and clear before the big party on July 2nd.

[jcarroca]

Finally have gone to the pool store and here are my results,

CYA>>> 65
TC>>>> 0.2
FC>>>> 0.2
Ph>>>> 7
TA>>>> 42
Adj Alka> 22
THard>>>179


Pool guy said I have nothing to worry about my CYA#. He said that the range is 30 to 200. I told him that I didn't want to use any trichloro tabs because it would increase my stabilizer. He pretty much told me that I was crazy. Any way I shocked my pool and dropped about 25lbs of baking soda. Pool water is still brilliantly clear w/o issues. Also, I got some calcium hypochlorite 4" pucks and placed these in my chlorinator. I haven't used trichloro for a while so i know I am OK. This stuff though seems to disolve quite rapidy, does not stay in there for a week like the bucket indicates. (I think I am seeing non disolved chlorine dust in the bottom of my pool) However, it also says that it should be used in the skimmer. Does anyone see a problem with using it in the skimmer. Is it a problem to use it in the chlorinator. I like it for maintenance purposes. Will I have calcium hardness issues if I continue to use it.

[Watermom]

Cya at 65 is OK as long as you keep your chlorine between 5-10 all the time. Having it at 0.2 is an open invitation to algae. (No more trichlor for your pool.)

Your ph is a little low. Add a fourth of a box of Borax slowly to the skimmer. Retest it after it has circulated for several hours and redose if needed to get ph to 7.4-7.6.

I'm not the expert on chlorinators, so I'll let someone else address that question. People typically don't have issues with calcium hardness until they get above 500 or so, although it does vary.