Safe pH levels for vinyl pools

[SalemCastles]

It was wrong on so many levels that I just couldn't respond nicely.

[Watermom]

-- not sure what you meant but ................ maybe you meant what I was thinking. Adding a bunch of pool store goop to perfectly clear water often produces results such as these that Barry is now facing. Lesson most likely learned. Now, to get it back to perfectly clear!

[SalemCastles]

Yes that's what I was thinking ... if it ain't broken don't try to fix it.

[SalemCastles]

I'm sorry I have upset you however your post was such that it frustrated me. You must know why you are pouring this stuff in your pool BEFORE doing so or ask first as there are many here to help you. What are your numbers? What are the ingredients that you're using? As mentioned the only thing you need to prevent issues is chlorine, maintained at the correct levels and SUPPORTED by the correct balance and you will enjoy crystal clear great feeling water. The most important supporting factor being PH. Again I'm sorry for your trouble.

[SalemCastles]

If it was my pool I'd get your Dad to put in 20 - 25 oz of Cal Hypo every 2nd day ... raising your Chlorine by 4-5ppm. If he's going to test it then he can adjust as necessary but I would want to stay closer to 5ppm or more than on the lower side until you get some stabilization going for you.

[SalemCastles]

Aylad ..you were in this thread..seems like it's just one big circle and stuff gets dropped and added to support whichever point of view. http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...yl-Pool-Liners

Anyhow:

+ OK pH range is 5 - 9
+ The idea of adding calcium carbonate scared him, because he said high pH is more damaging than low pH.
+ There are definitely variations in liner material quality, and there is imported knock-off material. But he thought the patterns (see website) are likely to indicate source fairly well.

Richard, you might want to talk to 'Flee-ler'.

Ben

Furthermore there seems to be some other theory's ... http://www.cgtpoolliners.com/cgt-tec...ulletin-10.htm

Research by both chemical suppliers and vinyl manufacturers have confirmed that wrinkles in swimming pool liners develop because of the growth of the liner's dimensions due to an excess of absorbed water. Technical articles published in the past have stressed the adverse affect of low pH as the main cause of liner growth. However, recent experiments have shown that high levels of sanitizers, whether bromine or chlorine are the primary cause behind excessive water absorption. If the sanitizer level is allowed to remain high, double triple or even four or five times the normal amount of water can be absorbed. Therefore, controlling sanitzer levels is the number one priority when maintaining proper water chemistry, which is essential, if wrinkling problems are to be avoided.

pH and cyanuric acid stabilizer levels are important secondary factors because they control the activity of the sanitizer.

I really care more about what is right then who is right ... balanced informed decisions are for each pool owner to make. Ruining a guys vacation because he's scared to death he might get a wrinkle in his pool liner doesn't seem too balanced to me.

[waterbear]

I really care more about what is right then who is right ... balanced informed decisions are for each pool owner to make. Ruining a guys vacation because he's scared to death he might get a wrinkle in his pool liner doesn't seem too balanced to me.

The point you seem to be missing is the point I made before. WHAT is causing the pH to drop and the TA to be depleted? Since we don't know the answer to that is it much safe to get the pH up BEFORE he leaves since we don't know how quickly the pH will drop. That is what is right!

[SalemCastles]

The point you seem to be missing is the point I made before. WHAT is causing the pH to drop and the TA to be depleted? Since we don't know the answer to that is it much safe to get the pH up BEFORE he leaves since we don't know how quickly the pH will drop. That is what is right!

Perhaps I am but that's mainly due to the fact that we have no indication that anything is driving the PH down. It might very well have been at the level for the last 4 years. We don't know because it wasn't being tested. Couple that with the notion that high CL is more damaging then Low PH I just think it should be mentioned in passing in case it's true.

[waterbear]

Perhaps I am but that's mainly due to the fact that we have no indication that anything is driving the PH down. It might very well have been at the level for the last 4 years. We don't know because it wasn't being tested. Couple that with the notion that high CL is more damaging then Low PH I just think it should be mentioned in passing in case it's true.

Then based on what you say we should never shock a liner pool because high sanitizer will damage the liner and cause it to wrinkle by taking on water... empirical evidence notwithstanding.
(And this discussion is more suited to the china shop than in this hijack of the OP's thread.)

[aylad]

DurhamHouses, our advice to the OP is not changing....whether you agree with it or not is up to you. At this point, if you want to continue the debate, please do so in the China Shop so that the original poster can continue his thread here if he chooses.

Janet