TA high, Ph low! How can I fix this?

[TheMom]

Since opening our pool this year, our TA has been high, 240 on the strip test and 140 with the drop test. Our ph is 7.2 on both tests. This year we added a chlorinator (tube where we put the chlorine tabs), I'm not sure that it is working. Our chlorine was high for a while, so we lowered the output, then our chlorine dropped so much, that two days ago, we uncovered the pool and it was so cloudy, we couldn't see the bottom. We've been shocking it daily and no change. Tested it today and our chlorine was 1-2 on both tests and free chlorine was 0. And, we've seen a couple of those awful swimmer bugs.
Since TA effects chlorine stability and ph, I really need some help with this.
We should have another 100 degree day to day and really want to use our pool.
Thank you.

[Watermom]

We need some more information to be able to help. It's much easier to answer your questions, when we know something about your pool. We often 'waste' the first few posts back and forth collecting information. So, please complete our new Pool Chart form -- it takes about 30 seconds, but will save much more than that.

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Also, please tell us what kind of shock you are using -- meaning ingredients. Also, tell us the ingredients of the tabs you are using. They are trichlor, but some of those tabs have unwanted things in them. Is the drops kit you have an OTO/Phenol Red kit (yellow and red drops) or do you have other tests in the kit as well? Do you know your CYA level?

Give us the requested info and fill in the chart and someone here will try and help.

Welcome to the Pool Forum!

[aylad]

In addition to what Watermom requested, check the chlorinator and make sure that you still have tabs in the chlorinator--it's easy to forget that you have to refill it occasionally-until you start having water problems

Janet

[waterbear]

The tabs are very acidic so they may be making the pH drop lower than normal. However, a pH of 7.2 certainly isn't low. It is within acceptable range. You just dont want it to drop any lower. With a TA of 140 ppm it probably won't (don't use strips to test pH or TA, Not accurate at all!)

[waterbear]

Since TA effects chlorine stability and ph, I really need some help with this.

TA has no effect on chlorine stability, btw. CYA levels do and if CYA is present then the effects of pH on chlorine's activity become moot.
TA does affect pH but most people misunderstand how it works. The higher the TA the faster the pH will rise from outgassing of CO2 so if you are using tabs a higher TA is often desirable (and close monitoring of TA but not with strips to prevent it dropping too low, usually no lower than 100 ppm). Lower TA will slow the outgassing of CO2 and subsequent pH rise so if you are using a neutral (upon usage) form of chlorine like bleach or cal hypo a lower TA will help minimize pH rise.