Trying to learn to adjust chemicals

[CarlD]

Hi Jenn,

As usual, aylad and Watermom are guiding you correctly.

Lowering T/A is very do-able, but throw away "the book" . We have several threads on just how to do it.

But in a nutshell, T/A rises and falls as pH rises and falls, so you have to "trick" it to bring T/A down.

We call it the "ratchet" method as you ratchet the T/A down in multiple steps.

1) Add Muriatic Acid until the pH is between 7.0 and 7.2 (if you have a hard-sided pool you can go lower, but for vinyl-lined pools 7.0 is the minimum). Measure T/A at this point. It should be down some.

2) Then aerate the pool. You can do this with a fountain, a sprayer (I have one that cost $20 and screws into the return), a gang of 12-year olds splashing, or even just leaving the pool uncovered.

3) This raises pH without raising T/A with it--we have the "why" in other threads. Raise pH by aeration to 7.5/7.6

4) Now add more acid to lower pH again...and measure T/A again.

5) Aerate

6) Repeat until T/A is in the 80-120ppm range, then let aeration raise pH back to the 7.5/7.6 range.

[onemsmom]

You guys are so cool.

Off to muriatic and aerating fun,

Jennifer

[CarlD]

Of course! That's because we have crystal clear pools to cool off in!