1. What is Cyanuric Acid (CYA)?

Cyanuric acid (CYA) is a pool stabilizer that protects chlorine from degradation by sunlight. Proper CYA levels help maintain effective chlorine levels while preventing chlorine loss.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the cyanuric acid dose formula:

Where:

• \( V \) — Pool volume in gallons
• \( CYA_{target} \) — Target cyanuric acid level (ppm)
• \( CYA_{current} \) — Current cyanuric acid level (ppm)

Explanation: The formula calculates how many pounds of cyanuric acid are needed to raise the CYA concentration from current to target level in your pool.

3. Importance of CYA Levels

Details: Proper CYA levels (30-50 ppm for outdoor pools) protect chlorine from sunlight while maintaining effectiveness. Too low and chlorine degrades quickly; too high and chlorine becomes less effective.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter pool volume in gallons, current CYA level, and desired target CYA level. For new pools with no stabilizer, enter 0 for current CYA.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the ideal CYA level?
A: 30-50 ppm for outdoor pools. Indoor pools typically don't need CYA.

Q2: How often should I test CYA?
A: Monthly during swim season. CYA doesn't evaporate but can dilute from splash-out or backwashing.

Q3: What if my CYA is too high?
A: The only way to reduce CYA is by partially draining and refilling the pool.

Q4: Can I add all the stabilizer at once?
A: Add no more than 10 ppm at a time, waiting 24 hours between additions to prevent over-stabilization.

Q5: What's the difference between liquid and granular stabilizer?
A: Liquid works faster but is more expensive. Granular must be dissolved in a sock in the skimmer.