Thanks CarlD and Janet for your responses - I will try the bucket test CarlD and see what happens. I am using trichlor pucks and had a leak in the inline chlorinator that I didn't notice for about a week until I wondered why I had to replace them so soon when I checked them again - seal lost, wore out, don't know - it went missing and had to replace it. Now the chlorine puck use has dropped but I'm guessing that and the rains we've had probably made the ph drop from what you're saying - can't figure why it would be super alkaline. Thanks so much for the advice. I'll let you know what happens.

melanie612