NJPools.club Community

Hey everyone! Weekend warrior here with a similar issue last summer. My CYA was around 160ppm and I was dreading a partial drain in our dry Colorado climate. I tried the **Bio-Active CYA reducer** tablets from PoolSupplies.com - they claim to break down cyanuric acid biologically. After 4 weeks of running the filter 24/7 and adding these weekly, I got it down to 110ppm. Not perfect, but bought me time until winter. Water stayed clear, but it's slow and costs about $120 for the treatment. Anyone else try these?

As a marathon runner, I approach pool care with endurance strategy! **Dilution through backwashing/splash-out replacement** is your marathon. At 180ppm, you need to replace ~70% water to hit 50ppm ideal. Instead of one big drain: 1. Backwash aggressively (waste setting) after each filter clean 2. Use solar cover to reduce evaporation refills with fresh water 3. Time major top-offs during Colorado's summer rainstorms I lowered from 200ppm to 80ppm over 4 months this way. It's free but requires patience - track your refill gallons!

Fellow health nut here! 🍓 Chemical alternatives worry me - who knows what byproducts they create? I swear by **activated charcoal filtration**. I rigged a DIY system with 25lbs of aquarium-grade charcoal in a large canister filter parallel to my main pump. Ran it for 6 weeks last August and CYA dropped from 175ppm to 130ppm. The charcoal needs replacing every 2 weeks ($40/batch), but it's natural! Also, **stop using stabilized chlorine** immediately - switch to liquid chlorine or salt system if possible. Prevention is key!

Science enthusiast chiming in! 📊 Let's examine the chemistry: Cyanuric acid (CYA) is **triazine-based and remarkably stable** - that's why draining is the standard recommendation. The only peer-reviewed method showing measurable reduction is **enhanced photodegradation using titanium dioxide catalysts** under UV light. There's a 2018 study where they achieved 30% reduction in 48 hours under controlled conditions. Practically? You'd need a UV system with TiO2 coating ($300-500) plus possibly hydrogen peroxide additions. Has anyone replicated this at home? I'm skeptical of commercial 'reducers' without published data.

Minimalist perspective: Sometimes the simplest solution is best. At 180ppm, **partial drain is actually the most resource-efficient** method. Calculate: Draining 50% uses ~5,000 gallons in typical pool, refilling costs ~$50 in Colorado. Compare to months of electricity for extra filtration, chemical treatments, or DIY systems. The environmental impact of continuous pump runtime often exceeds one-time water use. I tried various 'solutions' for 2 seasons before accepting this. Drained half last spring, refilled with rainwater collection system, now maintain with liquid chlorine only.

Bob makes a good point about resources! But for those of us on water restrictions or with new plaster, draining isn't simple. **Cathy's gradual approach** combined with **Gummy's charcoal filter** might work? I'm thinking: - Use rain barrel water for top-ups (Colorado gets those afternoon storms!) - Build a charcoal canister like Gummy described - Switch to cal-hypo temporarily (lower stabilizer than dichlor) Has anyone combined methods with measurable results?

**Tracking update**: Just tested my neighbor's pool using my dilution method PLUS **reverse osmosis mobile service**. They exist in Colorado! Company came, filtered 80% of pool water through RO system over 2 days, reduced CYA from 190ppm to 40ppm for $400. No draining, minerals balanced. This might be the 'marathon sprint' solution - professional but effective. Cheaper than replastering if you have new finish!

**Fascinating data point on RO!** That physically removes CYA molecules through semi-permeable membranes rather than breaking bonds. The mobile services use ~10% water waste versus 50%+ for draining. Energy use is concerning, but for emergency reduction, it's scientifically sound. **Important**: After any reduction method, test with **liquid reagent kits** (not strips) for accuracy. CYA testing has ±15ppm margin of error - ensure you're actually at 180ppm before investing in solutions!