Newbie to Forum...Looking for help

[fairfieldmania]

It's interesting comparing the pool numbers to mine. According to them, the pH was the same, but hardness was lower than I tested, and alkalinity was lower than I tested...enough to make you buy their stuff to bring those parameters up...which I admit...I did before I tested it with the Taylor kit...

A question about adding the muriatic acid to bring down the pH...will it lower the TA as well??...that is main reason I joined this forum...if you read my second entry on this thread...that is what I am confused about....how do I lower my pH without affecting my TA??...at the time back in early July, I thought I had low TA as well, but now I see I am good there...

CYA - I performed the test as instructed in the manual and as you described above...but for some reason, even though the pool company test showed I was good on CYA...the Taylor test did not show enough to register...(I still saw the black hole at the bottom)...I guess I'll add another pound of CYA....I'm nervous about adding too much without allowing what i've added already to fully dissolve...

I only use trichlor pucks and then the combination of cal-hypo and 6% bleach...

I'm going to test the FC level tonight to see if I could back off the two bags of cal-hypo or two 1.42 gallons of 6% bleach every other day....does that seem like too much???

[BigDave]

Lowering your pH will lower your TA. Shouldn't be a problem unless you see your pH moving quickly (couple days) to 7.0 or 8.0. If pH is bouncing, add some Baking Soda to raise TA - pH will go up a little but not much from the Baking Soda.

[PoolDoc]

Don't worry about TA. Adjust the pH, till it's just below 8.0. The reason is not that 8.0 is bad, given your low CH and TA. The reason is that an 8.0 reading -- except with a pH meter proper calibrated using 2 pH buffer solutions -- usually means 8.0 OR HIGHER, and not 8.0 EXACTLY.

After that, we'll need to take a look at your CH level, and then your TA level. But, you'll need to keep your pH below 8.0 the whole time. Just below is fine, but at least a little below.

Also, until you have a significant level of stabilizer (CA, or CYA as we use it here) you can't back off on the chlorine UNLESS you have a completely cloudy day. Given that you have low TA and a low CH, using cal hypo would be preferable to bleach, if you have both.

[fairfieldmania]

wait...I have low CH and TA now??

Or are you saying once I lower the pH with MA, they will come down? The first reply to my numbers was to decrease my pH and everything else was fine...but now are you saying my CH and TA are low?? Based on Taylor's manual and information around the web, TA of 90 and CH of 190 are in range no???

[PoolDoc]

You reported 2 sets of numbers:

alkalinity - 71 ppm
Hardness - 110 ppm

TA 90
CH 190

Both are on the low end of things. They are not too low, with a pH of 7.8, but they are too low for a concrete pool, if the pH is 7.2. I don't trust the pool store readings, but I've learned to be cautious about test results the first few times someone uses a K2006.

So, I want to you to keep the pH low enough so that we know for sure it's not REALLY 8.8, and then look at things again.

[fairfieldmania]

ok, I added the muriatic acid Tuesday night...I winged the amount....I also added a pound of CYA on Tuesday night...I don't feel it is fully dissolved...as I see a bump in my DE filter pressure, but it hasn't come back down....and then added two bags of cal-hypo last night....readings this morning:

FC 8.8
CC 0.4
pH 7.8
Alk 100
CH 200
CYA still didn't register, although it did seem a little cloudier based on memory from the first test
Sat Index 0.5
Water Temp 80

Suggestions???

[Watermom]

How does your water look? I'd suggest using cal-hypo a little while longer to bring your calcium hardness reading up some. Did you and Ben ever agree on the volume of the pool? Either way -- you have a large volume pool and the best I can tell from a quick scan through this long thread is that you have added 3 lbs. of CYA and used a few pucks. Is that right? You're gonna need to get some CYA in there or it is going to be a pain in the rear to keep chlorine in this pool.

Did you fill in the pool chart like Ben asked you to do back in post #7? I looked in the chart, but unless I missed it, I didn't find your info. If you haven't done so, please add it. It helps people be better able to advise you.

[fairfieldmania]

pool is perfect...great color...clean....

i have some left over bags of calcium hardness from the pool store..that I can throw in...sounds like you are saying to take care of that first? before solving low TA and high pH...

I've thrown in the following up to now after I previously had the pool drained and acid washed....3 lbs of CYA...10 lbs of alk...19 lbs of hardness...and then several pucks and bags of cal-hypo...

no, we never agreed on the size...i actually found the original drawing for the pool in my files...how do I provide that info?? it only shows l, w, and d

I did fill out the pool chart...i rushed the numbers in and the later posted correct numbers..not sure if any moderator updated my information...

forgive me for being blunt...but I am still searching for the answer of how do I bring up my ALK without bringing down the pH? That is the answer I am looking for and the main reason I have joined this forum...it's been almost two weeks and that is the one answer I am looking for...I know have my proper test kit and much better understanding of pool issues in reading through the forum, so many thanks for that...but I'm trying to figure out how the relationship of low TA and high pH....which one do i take care of first...how much should I put in...how long do I wait to take care of the other parameter...that type of guidance.....

Also, I clearly am not a spammer...I am a dedicated pool owner who respectfully has posted on this site....does the approval process by a moderator still need to be in place??...i believe that is one of the reasons...almost two weeks have passed....obviously waiting for the taylor kit coming in the mail is the other...

thanks ahead of time

[BigDave]

To be equally direct, you question was answered on July 2.

...Since your alk is going to come down with the ph when you add acid (read the "using muriatic acid" link in my sig, before doing so), you can raise the Alk using arm & Hammer baking soda, which will raise the alk with very little effect on pH. Then when you have the alk up, you can use the muriatic acid to bring the pH down. The alk will come back down with it, but if it only comes back to 70 or so, then that's fine...Welcome to the forum!!

[fairfieldmania]

yes, I had read that the first time, but I had posted some follow-up questions to that post that I was looking for some guidance....please see below...

just to be clear...are you saying to add MA first or add alk first??? I believe you are saying to add alk first and then add MA, correct? I have both on hand....in terms of the calcium...how long should I wait after I add the alk and MA?? Better question...if I add the alk now (7 PM EST), when should I add the MA??? and then how long to add the calcium???

that direction back on Jul 2nd actually had me adjust the ALK first and then the pH and a couple of days ago, I was advised to get the pH down and then worry about the ALK....I was looking for some specific guidance...I lowered the pH to 7.8...and now the suggestion is to use baking soda? How much? in skimmer?? again, just looking for some direction on this forum....thanks ahead of time...