Best CYA Level for Lots of Sun - Location Hawaii

[grangerhj]

I am about to have the big one. Just got back from local pool store having my water tested. They tell me that my CYA level is back to 135! Impossible I say since I have totally stopped using any stabilized chlorine products. Maybe, if I have been brushing my pool there was CYA on my pool walls which is now in the water- was the reply I got.
Please tell me this makes sense. I love my pool- my idea of heaven is a good book, a cold drink and my pool. But this summer has been a nighmare trying to lower my CYA levels. I would never have known it was elevated if I had not bought a container of test strips for the first time. No one has ever told me to test my stabilizer levels. I tested for choline and free chlorine, ph, alk.... and if I took water to my pool installer then he tested it including hardness.... but again no one mentioned CYA!!! So imagine my horror when a new pool place tested it and told me my level was 160 ( this morning she told me it could have been higher but that is the limit that they test)
Since I have a fiberglas pool and the installer told me not to lower it more than 12-15 inches at a time, emptying has not been an option. I have done a partial empty 5 times. Oh well, I quess I will now do at least 2 more before I have my water tested again. I have Ben's kit on order so I have to rely on the store. I used a Walmart HTH kit but have run out of CYA reagent.
Until I get my CYA level down all I can do is keeping adding Bleach (3qts at least a day) to maintain some FC so that we can swim. (I have not been able to get the cl level above 10 and of course it immeadiately begins dropping) Any other suggestions?

[aylad]

If it immediately begins dropping, then I think you're probably fighting something in the water. With a CYA of 135, you need to shock it to 20, let it drift back down to 10, and keep it there.

Janet

[mbar]

Here is a copy of a post for draining your pool from the bottom with adding water to the top:

but...consider this....since you are looking for a major water change, some people have used a big plastic sheet to cover the pool as a separation membrane. If the width of the sheeting isn't enough you can tape sheets together using multiple layers of duct tape. Doesn't hold up long but will be good enough for the couple days it needs to hold. Cover the pool and start adding new water onto the top while you're draining out the bottom. 100% replacement. You never get a 100% replacement if the liquids mix. Another advantage is the water level never drops so you don't have to worry about floating the pool or liner. It does work. Saw a local with a new pool installation doing this last year.

[grangerhj]

Thank you for the suggestions. Now to get my husband to agree to let me do it!