How to Raise Cyanuric Acid Levels in a Pool

How to raise cyanuric acid in pool

You’re certainly aware that your pool requires frequent chlorine adjustments, but cyanuric acid levels must also be balanced. Cyanuric acid is often offered as a pool conditioner or stabilizer because it stops chlorine from degrading in the sun. To determine how much acid to put to your pool, use test kits or strips designed to detect cyanuric acid. Dissolve powdered cyanuric acid or add a liquid form to greatly increase levels. For routine maintenance, you may also apply stabilized chlorine.

1. Cyanuric Acid Levels Testing

1. Make it a habit to test the water at least once a week. Because cyanuric acid must be balanced with the other chemicals in your pool, it is critical to monitor this balance once a week. For example, you may discover that although your cyanuric acid levels are OK, your chlorine levels are not.

2. After the water has been diluted, retest it. If you don’t have a cover on your outdoor pool and there’s a lot of rain, the cyanuric acid may get diluted and useless. If the pool’s water gets diluted, remember to check the cyanuric acid levels.

• You may check the cyanuric acid levels as often as you like. If you suspect your pool’s balance is wrong, test the cyanuric acid levels again, even if it hasn’t been a week since the prior test.

3. Utilize test strips. Purchase cyanuric acid detection strips that are chemically manufactured. Remember that many simple kits only test for chlorine and pH levels, so you may need to get a more sophisticated kit. To use a strip, soak it in water for 30 seconds and then compare the color on the strip to the color on the chart that came with the strips. This will tell you how much cyanuric acid is in the water.

• Test strips may be purchased online or at your local pool supply shop.

4. Consider purchasing a liquid turbidity testing kit. Some kits may include a tiny jar for collecting a water sample. Add the powdered solution and stir the container until the solution dissolves. Wait 1–3 minutes before filling a sample cell with untested pool water. When the timer goes off, fill another sample cell with some of the pool water that has been examined. You may now compare the findings to an untested sample. To determine the cyanuric acid level in your pool, use the chart that comes with the test kit.

• If you don’t want to test the water yourself, fill a container with water and bring it to your local pool supply shop, where they will do it for you. You will need around 2 teaspoons (30 ml).

5. Determine if your pool requires the addition of cyanuric acid. Cyanuric acid levels in your pool should be between 30 and 50 ppm, while some people find it more beneficial around 80 ppm. Remember that the greater your cyanuric acid levels, the weaker your chlorine.

• Cyanuric acid levels should not exceed 100 ppm, according to the World Health Organization.

2. Cyanuric Acid Addition

1. Buy some cyanuric acid. Cyanuric acid, either powdered or liquid, may be purchased at your local pool supply shop. Remember that if you purchase anything online, you may need to buy in quantity.

2. If required, modify the chlorine, alkalinity, and pH. If you need to make changes to the other chemicals in your pool water, start with the free accessible chlorine. Then, before adding the cyanuric acid, add chemicals to modify the total alkalinity and pH. After 3 hours, repeat the cyanuric acid test.

3. Determine how much cyanuric acid to use. Follow the cyanuric acid manufacturer’s instructions to figure out how many pounds of cyanuric acid you’ll need. You’ll need to know how many gallons of water your pool contains and how many parts per million (ppm) of cyanuric acid you’ll need to add.

• For example, if your 10,000 gallon (37850 l) pool requires an additional 10 ppm of cyanuric acid, you’ll need around 1 pound (1.86 kg) of acid.

4. Warm water is used to dissolve powdered cyanuric acid. Fill a 5-gallon (18.9 l) bucket halfway with warm water if you’re using powdered cyanuric acid. Pour in the cyanuric acid and let aside for at least 10 minutes to allow it to dissolve. Once the acid has been dissolved, you may add it to the pool.

• When working with cyanuric acid, remember to use safety goggles and gloves.

5. Fill the pool with liquid or powdered cyanuric acid. Instead of using the filter tanks or skimmers, pour the dissolved or liquid cyanuric acid straight into the pool. After you’ve added the cyanuric acid, check the pH of the water and make any required adjustments.

• Before adding the cyanuric acid, wait until no one is using the pool. You may swim after 2 to 4 hours, or after the pool has gone through a full filtration cycle.

6. For a modest cyanuric acid rise, use stabilized chlorine. If your cyanuric acid level does not need a significant increase (less than 10 ppm), purchase stabilized chlorine. Chlorine and cyanuric acid are mixed in these pills or sticks. To determine how many tablets or sticks to put directly to the pool, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Because it does not significantly modify the acid level, stabilized chlorine is ideal for preserving cyanuric acid levels in your pool. Check the packaging if you’re not sure whether the chlorine you’re using includes Cyanuric acid. If it says Trichlor or Dichlor on the label, it will add cyanuric acid to your water.
• Check the chlorine levels a few days after you’ve added the stabilized chlorine.

7. For many hours, run the pool pump. After adding the cyanuric acid, keep the pool pump running for at least 2 to 4 hours. The pump will stir the water, distributing the cyanuric acid throughout the pool.