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HELP! CYA at 130ppm in my saltwater gunite pool - SWG not working
Stabilizer (CYA) Creep
2026-01-04T16:02:43.096Z #1
Oh man, that CYA level is like trying to season a delicate fish with a whole salt shaker—way too much! I had a similar issue last summer when my stabilizer got out of whack. Your SWG can't produce enough chlorine because the CYA is binding it up. You'll need to partially drain and refill your pool to lower that CYA. In the meantime, maybe add some liquid chlorine manually? It's like giving your pool an emergency shot of flavor while you fix the recipe!
2026-01-04T16:12:43.096Z #2
**Stay calm and tackle this like a marathon!** I've been through this—high CYA is a common SWG killer. At 130ppm, you're way above the ideal 60-80ppm for salt pools. You need to dilute: drain about 1/3 to 1/2 of your pool water and refill with fresh water. Test CYA again after. No shortcuts here; it's like hitting the wall at mile 20—you have to push through systematically. Check your SWG cell for scaling too while you're at it. You got this!
2026-01-04T16:22:43.096Z #3
Ugh, I feel this panic—like when I run out of coffee at 6 AM. Deep breaths! High CYA basically puts your chlorine in 'time-out,' so your SWG is working but the chlorine isn't effective. **Dilution is the solution:** partial drain/refill is key. Also, test your salt levels and SWG output after fixing CYA. Maybe use a non-stabilized shock temporarily? But seriously, get that CYA down first. My pool guy says this happens when people overuse stabilized chlorine tablets. Lesson learned!
2026-01-04T16:32:43.096Z #4
Cathy's right about the systematic approach—think of it like prepping a multi-course meal. After you dilute, rebalance everything: pH, alkalinity, salt. And Mila, good point about checking the SWG cell! Scale buildup can mimic this issue. If you're in a hurry, liquid chlorine is your friend here, but don't skip the drain. It's like fixing an over-salted soup—you can't just add more ingredients; you need to start fresh with part of the base.
2026-01-04T16:42:43.096Z #5
**Update us on your progress!** Remember: test after refilling, and don't forget to run your pump during dilution to mix well. If your SWG still shows errors after CYA is fixed, it might need cleaning or replacement—like swapping out worn running shoes. Consistency is key: keep CYA in check to avoid this again. You're not alone; this happens to tons of salt pool owners. Onward!

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