Gallons of muriatic, days of aeration...

[Sigrid]

Thanks for the info. It's rather disappointing to think that I'll need to aerate for 8 more weeks before I get alk down to where I want it. So be it. I've got patience, just getting a little tired of the fountains!

Any thoughts on the amount of acid? Per THE calculator, I recall something like 27 oz of muriatic to drop pH by .2, and I'm putting in a gallon to get the same effect.

Again, thanks for your help!

EDIT by Watermom - Sigrid, don't worry about the accidental double-post. I took care of it for you.

[CarlD]

Try getting your pH down to 7.0 in the morning, rather than 7.2. Perhaps it will go a little quicker.

[Sigrid]

Thank you!! I love this forum. I will get the pH a little closer to 6.8 before aerating.

One more question: What, besides fill water (my fill water alk is 170) causes the alk to increase? Would all those decomposing leaves that spent winter at the bottom of my pool be a culprit?

Thank you so much. I can't tell you how much I value the information I get here.

Watermom, thanks for removing my duplicate posts.

[mwsmith2]

It's true that 6.8 will burn off the alk faster, but since that is at the bottom end of the range of a phenol test, it's a dangerous place to be, mainly because you can be below 6.8 and not know it. The only time I'd head for 6.8 would be if I had a pH probe (and I do :P) 7.0 is close enough!

Michael

[CarlD]

I have to agree with Michael--try to hit 7.0. But you DID say you have a concrete pool didn't you? You are a lot safer if you go too low with pH than a vinyl pool owner.

[waterbear]

I have to agree with Michael--try to hit 7.0. But you DID say you have a concrete pool didn't you? You are a lot safer if you go too low with pH than a vinyl pool owner.

that's why I said to shoot for 6.8 by adding acid in small amounts and testing until you got there.

[Sigrid]

Thanks all, here's the latest:

I put in a gallon of muriatic, let it run for 2 hours, got the pH to the light end of 7.2 (using Taylor kit). Just added in 1/3 gallon of muriatic to get it to drop down to the 6.8 range. BUT, before I added additional acid, I measured the alk and it said it was down to 140. Yay, Progress!! The thing is, I had a 130 on Friday morning, and then by Friday evening, it was back to 190, so I don't trust these low numbers that I get. Think I might have some errors in my methodology...

New muriatic has been circulating for a couple of hours, and then I'm going to fire up the fountains over night to see (hopefully) a lower alk # in the AM.

Michael, I apologize for not giving you proper credit for your calculator in my earlier post. It is a godsend. Thank you.

I appreciate the warning on not going too low on pH--my kit only goes down to 6.8. I'm going to *assume* that I'm there right now and just aerate like crazy tonight so I don't damage anything.

Thanks Everyone for all the helpful info! I'll post again tomorrow w/ the new numbers.

[mwsmith2]

that's why I said to shoot for 6.8 by adding acid in small amounts and testing until you got there.

Regardless of how small of an amount you add, when you are at the bottom of the scale, you can be past 6.8 and not know it, hence my caution.

Michael