More acid questions for new plaster

[PoolDoc]

The bottles that they put acid in have a shelf life -- maybe a year. But the acid itself lasts indefinitely. The potency of muriatic acid is ALWAYS marked on the bottle; the grade sold at Lowes and Home Depot is normally as strong and as pure as is commonly available. The yellow tint is not important.

Do NOT use any other kind of acid, especially not "pool acid" made from sulfuric acid.

Learn from the 'tales' you've been told; learn how trustworthy those who told you that are.

Regardless of how much it takes, keep your pH down below 7.6 all winter, and do not let it rise above that. But, don't push it below 6.8, either. Lowering your alkalinity will help. This page
http://poolsolutions.com/gd/lowering...p-by-step.html
explains how.

Try to keep the pool algae free.

Good luck.

[CarlD]

I'm not sure but I'd guess you'd want to watch your calcium level as well and keep it in the 200-400ppm range.

I also think you need to get a proper test kit. Look at PoolDoc's signature and click on the Amazon Links for K2006 Kits and that will direct you to what we believe is the best kit you can buy: the Taylor K-2006 FAS-DPD kit. If you go via the link a small portion goes to help pay for maintaining the Pool Forum. If, for some reason, you cannot get the kit via the link, Leslies Pools, from their online site has a clone, their FAS-DPD Chlorine Service Test Kit. It's the Taylor K-2006 re-badged in a Leslies box and costs a bit more but otherwise is the same.

The Taylor will give you one of the best pH testers as well as calcium, alkalinity and stabilizer testing. Plus the FAS-DPD system for chlorine testing, by far the best for home pool owners.

Carl