Brand new pool owner = new to BBB method

[aylad]

Chlorine consumption sounds about right. What is your CYA level now?

Also, what is your TA? Is your pool plaster new, and curing, or is it older? This thread has gotten so long I can't remember the details without reading the whole thread. If plaster is curing, then the pH is going to rise as part of the process. If it's older plaster, and your TA is high, then you might try lowering it to around 70 and see if that doesn't make your pH more stable. Also, if you have a fountain, waterfall, or other form of water aeration in operation, that would contribute to the pH rise.

Janet

[stslimited84]

Chlorine consumption sounds about right. What is your CYA level now?

Also, what is your TA? Is your pool plaster new, and curing, or is it older? This thread has gotten so long I can't remember the details without reading the whole thread. If plaster is curing, then the pH is going to rise as part of the process. If it's older plaster, and your TA is high, then you might try lowering it to around 70 and see if that doesn't make your pH more stable. Also, if you have a fountain, waterfall, or other form of water aeration in operation, that would contribute to the pH rise.

Janet

CYA is about 35 give or take. The plaster was redone a few years ago, so i believe its past the curing stage. The last TA reading I got was about 110 ppm.

The only form of aeration would be the hot tub when its on, but it hasnt been used much at all, maybe two or 3 times and not within the past 2 weeks.

How should I go about lowering the TA? Should I aerate it using the hot tub blower?

[aylad]

You might find that you can lower your chlorine consumption a little bit more by bumping up the CYA level--I'd bump it up to around 40-50. Won't change the amount of chlorine you have to keep in the pool, but it might slow down the consumption by the sun.

I'm told by the chemists that if you're not using stabilized chlorine, then dropping the TA to about 70 will help stabilize your pH. Here's the procedure for lowering TA....http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=191 ....and I would think the hot tub blower would be an excellent way to aerate the water!

Janet

[Watermom]

Here's another guide you might like to read. It kind of goes hand in hand with the one Jan linked for you above.

Using Muriatic Acid Safely

[stslimited84]

You might find that you can lower your chlorine consumption a little bit more by bumping up the CYA level--I'd bump it up to around 40-50. Won't change the amount of chlorine you have to keep in the pool, but it might slow down the consumption by the sun.

I'm told by the chemists that if you're not using stabilized chlorine, then dropping the TA to about 70 will help stabilize your pH. Here's the procedure for lowering TA....http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=191 ....and I would think the hot tub blower would be an excellent way to aerate the water!

Janet

I was thinking of bumping up the CYA, but didnt want to do so without checking with you guys first. I read the lower TA guide and thats where I got the idea about the blower from.

Here's another guide you might like to read. It kind of goes hand in hand with the one Jan linked for you above.

Using Muriatic Acid Safely

I read that guide when I started and have been using muriatic acid since. Thank you for the help. Ill start to aerate. I wonder how long it'll take to drop it down the TA to about 70?

[CarlD]

You can bump up the CYA, but remember it takes several days to give you a reading. Then you'll need to follow the "Best Guess Table" for the maintaining the pool.

Lowering T/A from 110 to 70 shouldn't take long. Remember: When the pH goes down to 7 after you add acid, the T/A will go down with it. Aeration brings the pH back up without raising T/A. So....the first time you lower T/A you'll be able to figure out how long it takes.

Hope that helps.

Carl

[stslimited84]

Hey guys just an update.

The pool has been running very well thanks to everyone's help. Its gonna start raining like crazy here due to Hurricane Irene. I havent gotten the calcium level raised yet, and I'd really like too. The only cal-hypo at the local pool store is in powder form from Leslie's and is called "power powder plus." I searched for tabs but the only ones i can find are for large 50 or more pounds of the stuff. How much do I need to raise it from 200 ppm up to where it should be (300ish)? Any suggestions on what I should buy and how much?

[chem geek]

You have options. With Cal-Hypo, for every 10 ppm Free Chlorine (FC) that is added, it also increases Calcium Hardness (CH) by 7 ppm. So at normal chlorine usage rates, it will take too long to raise your CH. At 2 ppm FC per day, it's an increase of a little over 40 ppm per month. Nevertheless, it does say that you can use Cal-Hypo as a chlorine source without concern for over-saturation.

To increase CH faster, you would use Calcium Chloride. This is found in products such as Peladow, Dowflake and Tetra or you could pay more and get Calcium Hardness Increaser at a pool store (it's the same thing). You can use The Pool Calculator to calculate dosages.