How to increase cyanuric acid levels in your pool

Video: How To Balance CYANURIC ACID In Your Pool | Swim University

Content

Steps
Part 1 of 2: How to Check Cyanuric Acid Levels
Part 2 of 2: How to Add Cyanuric Acid
Tips
What do you need

You should be aware that the chlorine level in your pool needs to be constantly adjusted, but don't forget about the cyanuric acid level. Cyanuric acid is often sold as a conditioner or stabilizing agent because it prevents chlorine from weakening in sunlight. Measure the cyanuric acid content with a test kit or test strip to see how much acid you need to add to your pool. To significantly increase its content, dissolve cyaric acid powder or add it in liquid form. Stabilized chlorine can also be added to the pool from time to time.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: How to Check Cyanuric Acid Levels

1 Check the water at least once a week. Since the pool must maintain a certain ratio of cyanuric acid to other chemicals, it is very important to check this ratio every week. For example, you may find that the chlorine level is quite low despite the normal level of cyanuric acid.
2 Recheck diluted water. If the pool is uncovered and it rains frequently outside, this can dilute the cyanuric acid, making it ineffective. Remember to recheck the cyanuric acid level if the pool water is diluted.
- Check your cyanuric acid levels as often as you like. If you think the pool ratio is far from normal, double-check your cyanuric acid level, even if less than a week has passed since the last time.
3 Use test strips. Buy strips that are specifically designed to detect cyanuric acid. Note that basic kits usually only include pH and chlorine strips, so you will need to purchase a more specialized kit. To use a strip, dip it in water for about 30 seconds and compare the color on the strip to the color on the card that came with the kit. This will tell you the level of cyanuric acid in the water.
- Buy test strips online or at your local pool store.
4 Use a haze test kit. Some kits have a container for collecting a water sample. Add powder to the container and shake to dissolve. Wait 1-3 minutes and pour the water to be tested into the sample cuvette. Compare results with an untested sample. Use the card that came with the kit to check the cyanuric acid level in the pool.
- If you don't want to test your pool water yourself, put some water in a container and take it to a pool store to have it tested.It is sufficient to collect about 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of water.
5 Decide if you need to add cyanuric acid to your pool. The cyanuric acid content in the pool should be between 30-50 ppm (parts per million), although some believe that the acid is more effective when the level reaches 80 ppm. Note that the higher the cyanuric acid level, the weaker the chlorine becomes.
- The World Health Organization recommends that the level of cyanuric acid in water should not exceed 100 ppm.

Part 2 of 2: How to Add Cyanuric Acid

1 Buy cyanuric acid. Buy cyanuric acid in powder or liquid form at your local pool store. Please note that when ordering from an online store, you may have to buy it in bulk.
2 Adjust chlorine, alkalinity and pH levels as needed. If you need to change the chemical content of your pool, start with free chlorine. Then add substances to change the total alkalinity and pH level, and only then add cyanuric acid. Wait 3 hours and then check the cyanuric acid level again.
3 Calculate how much cyanuric acid to add. Follow the directions from the cyanuric acid manufacturer to determine how many kilograms of acid to add. You need to know how many liters of water the pool can hold, and how many parts per million of cyanuric acid you need to add (ppm).
- For example, if you want to add 10 ppm cyanuric acid to a 37,850 liter pool, you will need 1.86 kg of acid.
4 Dissolve cyanuric acid powder in water. If you purchased cyanic acid in powder form, fill a 20 liter bucket with warm water. Pour acid into it and let it sit for 10 minutes to dissolve. Pour the acid into the pool until it is completely dissolved.
- Remember to wear safety glasses and gloves when handling cyanuric acid.
5 Pour liquid or powdered cyanuric acid into the pool. Pour the dissolved or liquid cyanuric acid directly into the pool instead of pouring it into a filtration tank, pool skimmer, or drain. When you add acid, check the pH level in the pool and change it if necessary.
- Only pour cyanuric acid into the pool when there is no one in the pool. Keep anyone away from the pool for the next 2-4 hours until the water has gone through a full filtration cycle.
6 Add stabilized chlorine to slightly increase cyanuric acid levels. If you do not need to greatly increase your cyanuric acid levels (less than 10 ppm), buy stabilized chlorine mixed with cyanuric acid and sold in pill or stick form. Follow the manufacturer's directions to determine how many tablets or sticks to add directly to the pool.
- Stabilized chlorine is a great way to maintain cyanuric acid levels as it doesn't increase cyanuric acid levels too much.
- Remember to check the chlorine content a few days after adding stabilized chlorine.
7 Turn on the pool pump for a few hours. Run the pump for at least 2-4 hours after adding cyanuric acid. A pump will drive the water to circulate the cyanuric acid throughout the pool.

Tips

If the pool is in your house or you have a jacuzzi, then you will not need cyanuric acid. This is because sunlight will not destroy the chlorine in the pool the way it does in pools or outdoor Jacuzzis.