Quote Originally Posted by DennyB65 View Post
Hello all,

I recently followed all reccomendations on here for tweaking an SWGC pool. Everything looks great overall. The only issue that I keep having is that my TA will not stay at 70 as suggested. I have tried lowering repeatedly by lowering PH from 7.6 to 7.2 (second lowest reading on Taylor k-2006) but TA always comes back up to 80-90 with PH rise. I have been battling this for weeks and I am wondering if I should just leave well enough alone at this point?
If your pH is not rising too quickly then leave it alone. If you have to add acid too often to maintain the pH below 7.8 then lower the TA more. It will eventually move downward since each time you lower the pH (I would use your acid demand test and lower it to 7.0 sicnce you have a plaster pool) and then aerate to bring the pH up the pH rises because you are removing CO2 from the system (in effect, decreasing the carbonic acid in the water, which for our purposes can be considered CO2 dissolved in the water). Once the CO2 is removed it cannot convert back into bicarbonate, which is what we measure as TA. Just keep at it and the TA will fall.

Also, we are leaving for vacation for two weeks. What can/should I do to my pool so that I don't have any unwelcome surprises when I get home? I live in SO. FL. where water temps are around 90 right now so I am very hesitant to shock and shut off the pump as I have seen suggested on here. I was thinking Super Chlorinate, decrease pump run time, top off other chemicals, borates, clean cart. and let it ride. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!!
If you have 50 ppm borates in the water shock the pool to about 30 ppm and then shut the system down, it's safer just in case anything malfunctions. This is what I do (also in Florida with 90 degree water temp). I go away every summer for about two weeks or slightly longer and since I have had borates in my water I do not come back to a green pool. Worst case it's a bit cloudy but a single good shocking with bleach and I am swimming in 2 days. Even if it turns green a good shocking with bleach and maintaining the shock for a day is all it really needs. (If it's green I shock the pool to about 25-30 ppm with bleach assuming about 80 ppm CYA, turn on the SWG and run the pump 24/7 until the pool clears, keep the FC up at that level for a day checking it about 3 times during the day , and the pool is clear very fast!)

Remember to brush the pool well to remove any algae that might be clinging to the finish.

Hwever, like I said I usually just have a slightly cloudy pool and one good shocking is all it really takes to get things swimmable (no CC and clear water). Borates work!