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  • What is Over Stabilization in a Swimming Pool or Spa

Monday, October 26, 2015

Over Stabilization is the buildup of cyanuric acid in swimming pool or spa 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. The recommended levels of Stabilizer (cyanuric acid) is between 40 and 60 ppm.

What are the Symptoms of over Stabilization?

  • Cyanuric acid test over 60ppm
  • High chlorine reading but water is nasty!
  • Adding chlorine does not get rid of algae
  • Cloudy water will not clear up
  • Chlorine is “Locked up” and will not be effective

HTH® and calcium hypochlorite (cal hypo) offer the only complete solution to prevent over stabilization. Cal hypo products do not contain cyanuric acid and will not cause over stabilization. In the case where your pool or spa has become over stabilized you will need to either drain your pool or spa or use a product like Bio-Active.

What is the Solution to Over Stabilization?

Add 8 oz of Bio-Active for every 25,000 gallons of water to get rid of the stabilizer (Cyanuric Acid).

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 1.0 - 3.0 ppm.
4. Continue with routine pool maintenance program.

Before Bio Active you would have to drain part or all of the pool water depending on the stabilizer levels. Re filling and adding in the chemicals can be time consuming and very costly.