PC

Pool Chemical

Calculator

HomeCalculatorGuidesFAQ

Pool Stabilizer (CYA) Calculator

Calculate the exact amount of cyanuric acid (stabilizer) to add to protect your chlorine from sunlight degradation.

Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer) Calculator

Protect your chlorine from UV degradation

Low

Ideal Range: 30 - 50 ppm (standard), 70-80 ppm (salt pools)

Cyanuric acid (CYA) protects chlorine from sunlight. Without it, chlorine burns off quickly. Too much reduces chlorine effectiveness.

Pool Volume

20,000 gallons

CYA and Chlorine Effectiveness
Recommended minimum free chlorine is about 7.5% of your CYA level. At CYA 40 ppm, maintain at least 3.0 ppm chlorine.

Amount to Add

52 oz

Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer)

3.3 lbs

Tips

13 oz per 10,000 gallons raises CYA by 10 ppm. Slow to dissolve.

Best dissolved in sock in skimmer basket

Can take 3-7 days to fully dissolve and register on tests

About Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer)

Cyanuric acid (CYA), also called stabilizer or conditioner, protects chlorine from UV degradation. Without it, sunlight destroys up to 90% of free chlorine within 2 hours. The ideal range is 30-50 ppm for regular pools, 70-80 ppm for salt pools.

The CYA-Chlorine Relationship

CYA "locks up" some chlorine, reducing its effectiveness. As CYA increases, you need more free chlorine to sanitize effectively. Rule of thumb: Maintain chlorine at 7.5% of your CYA level minimum.

Lowering CYA

Unlike other chemicals, CYA cannot be chemically reduced. The only ways to lower it are: partial drain and refill, or using bio-active CYA reducers (slow process). This is why it's important not to over-stabilize.