Cyanuric acid is commonly introduced into pools through stabilized chlorine products, such as trichlor or dichlor, which combine chlorine with CYA.
While CYA stabilizes chlorine and allows for reduced chlorine use, excessive CYA (usually above 70 ppm) can lead to what some call “chlorine lock”, where chlorine becomes less effective at sanitizing the pool. When CYA levels are too high, pool techs may notice they need more chlorine to combat cloudy water, and despite maintaining proper chlorine levels, they may encounter algae growth.
Lowering CYA levels has historically been a challenge, as CYA does not generally degrade and remains stable in pool water. Without intervention, high CYA levels could require large volumes of pool water to be replaced, which can be costly and unsustainable in areas with water restrictions.
To address this, the pool industry has developed several types of CYA removers and reducers that provide alternatives to draining the pool.
Types of CYA Removers and Reducers Biological CYA Reducers
Biological CYA reducers use a natural enzyme or bacterial approach to break down cyanuric acid into other harmless compounds, which can then be filtered or oxidized out of the pool.
These products introduce specific strains of bacteria or enzymes that metabolize cyanuric acid as a food source, gradually reducing CYA levels over days or weeks. This method is gradual and may require consistent use of the product, as it depends on biological processes. Examples:
• Bio-Active Cyanuric Acid Reducer: This is one of the most popular biological reducers on the market. It uses a proprietary blend of enzymes and bacteria to slowly decrease CYA levels in pools.
• Natural Chemistry CYA Remover: This product also uses an enzymebased formula that works to gradually reduce cyanuric acid, with minimal impact on water balance.
Biological reducers are environmentally friendly and work without changing the water chemistry significantly, making them ideal for pools that cannot be drained easily. However, they are not instantaneous and may be less effective in colder water or in pools with extremely high CYA levels. Results can vary depending on factors like pH, temperature, and the pool’s initial CYA concentration.
