Membership Directory & Resource Guide - 2018 - 38

An easy method to determine the adjusted or carbonate alkalinity is simply to subtract approximately 1/3 of
the cyanuric acid (in ppm) from the total alkalinity (in ppm) once the CYA level in the pool water exceeds 70
ppm. For example:
If the Total Alkalinity tested 100 ppm, and the Cyanuric Acid tested 100 ppm, then subtract 33 ppm (1/3 of
the
Cyanuric
Acid)
from
100 ppm
Total Alkalinity to get the result of 67 ppm
Adjusted or
Carbonate
TECHNICAL
BULLETINS
Reprinted
with permission
of
Pebblethe
Technology
International
TECHNICAL
BULLETIN
* pg 3 of 3
Alkalinity.6, 7

TECHNICAL BULLETIN - PREVENTING INTERIOR
FINISH DETERIORATION & TESTING FOR CYANURIC
ACID

TECHNICAL BULLETINS

Preserving the Beauty and Proper Sanitation
The key to maintaining the beauty of an interior finish is to test and adjust the water to the ideal ranges of
Test Method
proper balance. Knowing that stabilized chlorines can create an aggressive water environment that will cause
An
easy method
determine
the adjusted
alkalinity
is simplytoto
subtracttesting
approximately
1/3 of
pigment
loss and to
eventually
deterioration
of or
thecarbonate
surface requires
attention
frequent
of all the water
the cyanuric Good
acid (in
ppm)quality
from the
total
alkalinity
(in ppm)and
once
the CYA will
levelkeep
in the
70
parameters.
water
along
with
good filtration
circulation
thepool
poolwater
waterexceeds
clear and
Defining
Cyanuric Acid
ppm.
For
example:
safe for swimmers as well assuring the longevity of equipment and the interior finish.
Cyanuric acid (CYA) is NOT a chlorine - it has no sanitation properties. Cyanuric acid protects any type of
chlorine
UV (sunlight)
destruction.
acid is Acid
referred
to as100
"stabilizer"
or "conditioner"
so there
If the
Totalfrom
Alkalinity
tested 100
ppm, andCyanuric
the Cyanuric
tested
ppm, then
subtract 33 ppm
(1/3 of
are
three
names
for
the
same
product.
When
cyanuric
acid
is
present
in
ideal
ranges,
the
chlorine
will
remain
the Cyanuric Acid) from the 100 ppm Total Alkalinity to get the result of 67 ppm Adjusted or Carbonate
effective6, 37 to 10 times longer.1
Alkalinity.
Defining Chlorines
There are several different type of chlorine products used to sanitize swimming pools. The most commonly
Preserving the Beauty and Proper Sanitation
used includes the following by chemical name:

The key to maintaining the beauty of an interior finish is to test and adjust the water to the ideal ranges of
proper balance. Knowing that stabilized chlorines can create an aggressive water environment that will cause
* Sodium hypochlorite (liquid chlorine / non-stabilized)
pigment loss and eventually deterioration of the surface requires attention to frequent testing of all the water
* Calcium hypochlorite (granular chlorine / non-stabilized)
parameters. Good water quality along with good filtration and circulation will keep the pool water clear and
* Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (granular chlorine / stabilized)
safe for swimmers as well assuring the longevity of equipment and the interior finish.
* Trichloroisocyanurate (3" tablet / stabilized)

Di-chlor and Tri-chlor have cyanuric acid
Please notice the last two highlighted chlorines.
(stabilizer/conditioner) added to the chlorine product. There is NO cyanuric acid in liquid chlorine or cal hypo.
When a stabilized chlorine is used in a swimming pool, the cyanuric acid level increases. One 7 ounce tri-chlor
3" tablet is approximately 55% cyanuric acid so the cyanuric acid increase per pound in a 10,000 gallon pool
will be 7 ppm.2The percentage of stabilizer in granular di-chlor is between 50 - 58 %. The increase of cyanuric
acid per pound in 10,000 gallons is between 6 - 7 ppm.2 If 3" tablets are used, it would be best to use a non1
National Swimming Pool Foundation, Pool and Spa Operator Handbook, 2014; p. 53.
stabilized chlorine product such as cal hypo or liquid chlorine to shock as there is no cyanuric acid in those
2
IPSSA Basic Training Manual, 2016 Revised Edition, p. 95-96.
products. When a freshly filled pool is being adjusted for swimming, cyanuric acid manufacturers suggest
3
APSP/ANSI Recommended Guidelines for Water Quality, 2005.
raising the CYA to 30 - 50 ppm. In a southern climate on a freshly filled pool that will be using 3" tablets, the
4
Journal of the Swimming Pool and Spa Industry; Volume 2 Number 2, John A. Wojtowicz; 2001, p. 9.
cyanuric acid level should be adjusted to 25 - 30 ppm.
5

IPSSA Basic Training Manual, 2016 Revised Edition, p. 30.
Pool & Spa Water Chemistry - Taylor Technologies, Inc. "A Testing & Treatment Guide"; Revised January 2013, p. 63.
Feeders
7 In-Line Stack Chlorine
Pool & Spa OperatorTM Handbook; NPSF, 2014, p. 66
6

The convenience of dropping tablets in a tube for sanitation is popular but what must be understood is that
this is a method of allowing a continuous feed of chlorine to a pool when the pump is running.
The warmer
Jana Auringer/PTI
9/16
the water, the faster the tablets will dissolve and potentially raise cyanuric levels rapidly.

15540 N 77Recommended
Street | Scottsdale,
AZ 85260
| 800.937.5058
| pebbletec.com
APSP/ANSI
Guidelines
for Water
Quality, 2005.
Journal of the Swimming Pool and Spa Industry; Volume 2 Number 2, John A. Wojtowicz; 2001, p. 9.
5
IPSSA Basic Training Manual, 2016 Revised Edition, p. 30.
6
Pool & Spa Water Chemistry - Taylor Technologies, Inc. "A Testing & Treatment Guide"; Revised January 2013, p. 63.
7
Pool & Spa OperatorTM Handbook; NPSF, 2014, p. 66
3
4

15540 N 77th Street | Scottsdale, AZ 85260 | 800.937.5058 | pebbletec.com

Jana Auringer/PTI 9/16

Technical Bulletins

Sanitation is to be done primarily by testing and liquid or granular chlorine is the preferred method to shock
the water. The tablets will not "shock" the pool to regain the proper sanitary properties of the water. Using
1
National
Swimmingliquid
Pool or
Foundation,
Pool andfor
Spashocking
Operatorwill
Handbook,
p. 53. acid levels from increasing
a non-stabilized
granular chlorine
prevent 2014;
high cyanuric
2
IPSSA
Basicof
Training
Manual, 2016 Revised Edition, p. 95-96.
to a level
deterioration.
th

NPC MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY & RESOURCE GUIDE 38

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