White gritty scale

[PoolDoc]

Lemme add something else: you can't hurry the process of lowering alkalinity, except by aeration. You'll end up damaging your pool if you push the pH too low.

[BigDave]

... reagent + tap water, ...

I'm pretty sure PoolDoc meant pool water.

[PoolDoc]

Oops.

[Wapak]

I was able to vacuum alot of dead algae out of my pool, a slimy mixture of that grit!

I pushed my return jets up so the water is breaking the surface.

My ph is holding at 6.8 but chlorine has dropped to 5.
Total alkalinity is reading again at 180, but since I am just starting the aeration I am hoping that will come down.

I have noticed there is an amount that is coming off and loosening with brushing and vacuuming.

I am going to reshock tonight and will let you know updates.

Thanks again!

[PoolDoc]

Total alkalinity is reading again at 180, but since I am just starting the aeration I am hoping that will come down.

That's the opposite of how what you'll see. As you aerate, your pH will rise with little or no apparent change in TA. The apparent change in TA will occur when you add your next dose of acid. Then, the pH will rise again.

You can simply maintain a pH of 6.8 to 7.0, while monitoring your TA. Once the TA reaches your target, hold the pH there, till the scale is gone.

But be careful. As your TA drops, it will take decreasing doses of acid to drop your pH.

[Wapak]

Oh ok, thanks for explaining that.

Do you have a suggestion on my target ta number I need to get down to? Or will I know that when this starts coming off in large amounts?

[PoolDoc]

What I expect is that you'll as you lower the TA, you'll find the scale gradually disappearing.

Just a caution: your calcium hardness may go UP, as you re-dissolve the scale. And, it may be necessary to either do a partial drain and refill OR do a lime softening process to lower the very high levels of calcium. But you'll be able to use your pool freely before that's necessary.

[Wapak]

Ok I tested again this morning, just my chlorine and ph.

Ph was high, 8.4

Chlorine was orange, I did shock last night.

Noticed tho that some very dark almost black spots on the deep end floor that wouldnt brush off yesterday are now gone this morning, finally the water especially in deep end is getting really clear.

I added a small dose of acid (less than a quart) since yesterday as soon as my chlorine went down, ph holds @ 6.8. Is that enough to add or would you advise a little more?

I plan on vacuuming, brushing andre-testing midday.

Also, my T A is turning from green to yellow instead of green to red. So I googled that and it looks like that is due to high chlorine. I will recheck my T A again at mid day.

[Wapak]

Just a quick update here at midday:

Chlorine is now a very dark yellow (was orange this morning)
ph is now at 7.8
I did not add anything now.
The T A test is still turning yellow so I cant provide a number on that yet.

I didnt have time to vacuum, but I did brush. Definitely some is coming off! As I brushed most of it seemed to settle at bottom, hard to tell how much.

I will vacuum this evening. I have been vacuuming so far just to waste, I haven't tried sending this stuff into my filter.

If you have any advice or if I should change what I am doing please just let me know.

I didnt do it now but this evening I will do a hardness test and provide that number.

All in all your instructions are working fantastically!. I will do my best to follow exact.

Thanks again

[PoolDoc]

+ Unless you still have live algae, or unless your CYA > 100 ppm, you don't need chlorine that is that high.

+ I don't remember, and haven't checked, your prior test results.

+ These videos apply, mostly, to the HTH 6-way => http://pool9.net/tk-guide/ http://pool9.net/tk-interfere/ The TA video, in the 2nd set, explains how to test TA when chlorine is high.