What is Overstabilization? Overstabilization is generally acknowledged as a concentration of CYanuric Acid (CYA) over 50 ppm.

Cyanuric acid protects the levels of free chlorine from evaporation due to sunlight and heat. The UV rays in sunlight can deplete a free chlorine concentration of 2.0-3.0 ppm in as little as four hours. By using an adequate level of stabilizer (around 25 ppm) pool owners can cut down on chlorine usage by approximately 50% in their residential pool. Cyanuric acid is present in Tichlorisocyanuric acid (Trichlor) for example, Poolife Multipurpose 3 Tablets and Sodium Dichloroisocyanuric acid (Dichlor) granules or tablets and these are referred to as stabilized chlorine products. Consequently, the use of these stabilized chlorine products will substantially increase the CYA concentration over a short period of time. High levels of CYA are associated with algae growth and short filter runs. Most importantly, the stabilizer inhibits the chlorines ability to kill bacteria. This decrease in chlorine effectiveness causes the kill time of bacteria to be significantly longer. This additional kill time could possibly allow the transmission of disease from one bather to another. This interference with chlorine will cause the pool to be unsanitary. *A pool that is overstabilized is not safe to swim in.* What To Do If Your Pool Is Overstabilized First and foremost, remove any stabilized chlorine in the pool, whether it is in an inline chlorinator or in a floater. This is important to prevent further addition of cyanuric acid. Discontinue use of stabilized dichlor granules which may have been used as a shock. Cyanuric acid is heavier than water and is most concentrated at the bottom of the pool. Therefore, brush the pool to get the most accurate readings of the cyanuric acid level. Unfortunately there is no neutralizer or decreaser type of chemical for cyanuric acid. In addition, cyanuric acid levels do not come down over time either. The only way to lower the cyanuric acid level is through dilution. This means that you must replace some of your water with fresh water to lower the stabilizer level. Never drain your pool completely. Please only drain no more than 12 inches below the top of the skimmer at a time because you do not want to ruin the vinyl liner of your pool. It is important to try to drain the most concentrated water so if possible drain water from a main drain. One alternative to this is vacuuming to waste will drain water from the bottom while vacuuming.When adding water, please wrap your hose with some sock or rag to prefilter as many minerals and metals out of your source water. Also, place your hose water into the skimmer basket to further filter the water. If stabilizer initially registers at or above 70 ppm it may not be accurate so please retest the water frequently. After your stabilizer level is below 40 ppm, bring another water sample to for adjustment of your water balance. Typically, the water has a very acidic pH and low alkalinity. Also, cyanuric acid causes corrosion of any metal railings, or pump seals, filter and particularly heaters. This causes metals to come into solution. These metals need to be removed before chlorine can work effectively. Metals and chlorine can react in pools to produce colored water.

Prevention Please have your water tested regularly at our professional Water Care Center at either our New Hampton or Newburgh location. We test the cyanuric acid level for any pool or spa using chlorine. Be aware that continued usage of stabilized tablets puts you at a risk for overstabilization, but monitoring the stabilizer levels can be effective in using this form of chlorine as a sanitizer. Graph:
As cyanuric acid levels increase, the kill time on bacteria increases significantly.

What is Overstabilization?
Overstabilization is the build up of cyanuric acid in swimming pool water resulting from the use of stabilized sanitizers and stabilized shock products. It significantly decreases the effectiveness of chlorine in killing germs, bacteria and algae. While small levels of cyanuric acid do serve a purpose in protecting chlorine from sunlight degradation, too much will negate any benefit and cause problems. HTH and calcium hypochlorite (cal hypo) offer the only complete solution to overstabilization. Cal hypo products do not contain cyanuric acid and will not cause overstabilization. What are the Symptoms of Overstabilization? Cloudy water High chlorine reading with algae Adding chlorine does not get rid of algae What is the Solution to Overstabilization? 1. Turn on the pool pump and make sure it does not need to be backwashed or cleaned and make sure it is running properly. 2. Test and adjust the stabilizer level to 25-50 ppm by partially draining some water from the pool and top-off with fresh water. 3. Adjust the total alkalinity to 80-120 ppm, the pH to 7.2-7.8, and the chlorine to 1.10-3.0 ppm. 4. Continue with routine pool maintenance program.

What is over stabilization? The build-up of Cyanuric acid in swimming pool water, which usually results from the extended use of stabilized sanitizers in conjunction with stabilized shock products. Over stabilization will significantly decrease the effectiveness of chlorine in killing germs, bacteria and algae. Small levels of Cyanuric acid do serve a purpose in protecting chlorine from sunlight degradation. However, too much will negate any benefit and cause problems. The recommended levels of Stabilizer (Cyanuric acid) are between 40 and 60 ppm. POOLIFE calcium hypochlorite sanitizers and shock products offer the complete solution to over stabilization. Calcium hypochlorite based products (read the active ingredient on the label) are Cyanuric acid free and will not cause over stabilization. Several state health departments have eliminated or banned the use of Cyanuric acid based product in public swimming pools. Ensure you practice responsible pool care and have a reliable and balanced pool care program.

The use of stabilized sanitizer in conjunction with stabilized shock products can cause the formation of algae when the cyanuric acid levels reach 70ppm. This can occur within 6 - 7 weeks.