Algae loves my pool

[Watermom]

Yes. If you look in my signature line, you'll see a link for the Pool Solutions pages. Do a search for lowering alk. There is a pool guide detailing how to do that.

[mrsbusymomee]

OK, I still have to wait until my kit comes in the mail. Hopefully by Thursday. Also, I have an AG pool, so how do you aerate it like the directions describe to raise the pH back up? Just curious if you have done this? Also, I'm using that pool calculator by In the Swim to determine how much acid. Is that a reliable calculator?
Thanks a bunch!

[madwil]

aeration will work the same in AG pools; you can simply direct your returns up some, to churn the water on the surface, or maybe even a small fountain effect
I haven't used that calculator specifically, but most of them give you similar doses- the key behind Acid is to adjust in steps IMO, don't dump all at once but use 1/2 - 2/3 of the dose, retest in an hour (with the pump running) and adjust more if needed; depending on pool size and TA, you may need more acid than called, but its easier to add more than to take it away; if you overdo acid, you have to add something else to compensate, then you end up on a seesaw!

[mrsbusymomee]

I got my test kit in today. The pool looks fan-swimmin-tastic!!
CYA 30
FC 4.4
CC 0
TA 250
pH 7.6
I am using the pool calculator to lower my pH to 7.0 in order to get my alkalinity down. It says for a 13k pool to add 46oz of muratic acid. Should I add that much or do only like 30 for now. My husband is working on the aerator part. LOL
Also, how soon after I add that acid can I let the kiddos swim? 2 hours?
And...since my CYA has lowered quite a bit, I'm going to use the rest of my trichlor tabs in a floater to maintain cl levels for now. Once I run out, then I'll use my bleach. What do you think?
Hope ya'll have a great Memorial Weekend!! Be safe and thanks again for the advice.

[mrsbusymomee]

Been putting in muriatic acid a little at a time. This morning here are the readings.

pH 7.3
TA 210

Guess this is going to take a while. Also went ahead and put in those tabs to maintain the chlorine which is right at 5.2. Guess everything is going ok. Didn't feel the need to test CYA again. I will when I use up all the tabs.
I went ahead and subscribed for a year. Ya'll have been super! Thanks again.

[PoolDoc]

You don't have to be quite that cautious -- add enough acid to get down to 7.0 . . . and then add a little more. As the alkalinity 'bleeds off' (as carbon dioxide) the pH will go back up.

Thanks for the subscription!

Ben

[mrsbusymomee]

The pH is at 7.0 and the TA is now 200. How long does it take for the pH to get back up to at least 7.4? I have a strong spa jet like current bubbling in the middle of the pool aerating.
13k AG.

[chem geek]

Knowing how long isn't definitive. The more aeration, the better. In my own pool when I just turn up the returns and put the pump on high, it takes about half a day to go from 7.0 to 7.2 or so at a lower TA of around 120 ppm, but every pool is different. Since your TA is higher, I'd figure it'll take a few hours to get to 7.2 and another half a day to get to 7.4 -- just try it out for a day to see. The process will go faster if you add acid when you see the pH get to 7.2. Basically, the carbon dioxide outgassing is faster at lower pH and slows down as the pH rises.

[mrsbusymomee]

Well I put some more acid this morning at 7:30 to bring the pH down to 7.0 and the pH at that time was 7.3. Then I checked again at around 12:30 and the pH had risen to 7.2 and I went ahead and put more acid in. Not only do I have my "rigged" jet going, I also turned the return jet up to make more bubbles. Hopefully that will work a little faster. I'll check again tonight. Didn't check the alkalinity again. It is going to just take some time, so I'll check it in a couple of days.
Thanks for your input!

[mrsbusymomee]

Well I have been really good about checking the water, etc. Now today I had a ton of algae again. I thought I killed it all when I originally started this thread. I thought on the bottom was just dirt from the kids swimming.
The chlorine has not dropped below 4ppm and my CYA is 35-40. Guess I did not have it all killed like I thought I did? My water is crystal clear too. So now I shocked up to 17ppm and I'll keep it there for a few days? I don't understand why I'm getting algae when I thought I had killed it the first time. My pump has been running 24/7 as well because I've been trying to lower the alkalinity which is now at 150. pH is 7.5 today. I don't get it.