Water chemistry
Cyanuric acid
Cyanuric acid, also called CYA, stabilizer, or conditioner, shields chlorine from sunlight.
Without cyanuric acid, strong Texas sun can burn most of your chlorine away in a few hours. A modest amount protects it. Too much does the opposite and makes chlorine slow, a problem called chlorine lock.
CYA does not evaporate and does not get used up. Tablets and dichlor keep adding it. CDC's guidance for pools using stabilized chlorine calls for a higher minimum chlorine level. The only way to lower high CYA is to replace water, so test it every month or two and plan a partial drain if it is high.
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Sources
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