Is my cell dying?

[JimK]

Let's see... I don't know but I guess that bringing the solution up to a pH in the 7 - 8 range would be ok. That'll take a lot of water... Do you happen to have alot of water just laying around in your yard?

Seriously though - I'd just do as mas985 suggests and use it in the pool. As I understand most SWCG pools require regular additions of acid to combat pH rise. I doubt the amount of calcium on the plates would even be noticeable in the pool.

Thanks.

Sounds like adding it to the pool is going to be the easiest and safest option. Right now my pH has been about 7.4, so I'll have to see how much acid I end up using. I suspect it won't be enough to impact pH by much (don't want it getting too low).

I ordered the cleaning stand yesterday and it should be here this week.

[kelemvor]

When I'm done with mine, I neutralize it with baking soda then dump it to waste. I figure it's got all the calcium deposits that it cleaned from the cell in that water and I'd prefer not to put it back into the pool.

You don't end up using very much acid at all when using one of the "holders". Only a cup or two if memory serves. You only have to mix up enough to fill the inside of the cell instead of filling a 5 gallon bucket to submerge the cell into.

[JimK]

When I'm done with mine, I neutralize it with baking soda then dump it to waste. I figure it's got all the calcium deposits that it cleaned from the cell in that water and I'd prefer not to put it back into the pool.

You don't end up using very much acid at all when using one of the "holders". Only a cup or two if memory serves. You only have to mix up enough to fill the inside of the cell instead of filling a 5 gallon bucket to submerge the cell into.

I considered doing the same, but it seems there are potential hazards (fuming, heat generated). I'd love to hear the details on how to do it this way (safely) and how much baking soda it takes to neutralize the acid solution.

[kelemvor]

I just dumped the acid solution back into a small bucket, then added baking soda slowly until there was no more noticeable reaction. Then I added a good bit more, and later dumped it and washed it away. It foams up a good bit when you start adding the soda.

After cleaning up an accidental muriatic spill a month or two before I did the cell cleaning I was significantly less timid about things.

Maybe someone else will have some more scientific details to share on the calculation to neutralize muriatic with baking soda.

[JimK]

I just dumped the acid solution back into a small bucket, then added baking soda slowly until there was no more noticeable reaction. Then I added a good bit more, and later dumped it and washed it away. It foams up a good bit when you start adding the soda.

After cleaning up an accidental muriatic spill a month or two before I did the cell cleaning I was significantly less timid about things.

Maybe someone else will have some more scientific details to share on the calculation to neutralize muriatic with baking soda.

Do you have a general idea of how much baking soda you use? A few cups? Many cups?

[kelemvor]

Memory's a little fuzzy since it was last fall, but I think it was about 2 lbs (1/2 of one of the "large" boxes of arm and hammer). Since I had that acid spill I keep several boxes on hand at home "just in case".

[JimK]

Memory's a little fuzzy since it was last fall, but I think it was about 2 lbs (1/2 of one of the "large" boxes of arm and hammer). Since I had that acid spill I keep several boxes on hand at home "just in case".

Thanks. I might give that a try the first time and see how it goes.

Like you, I don't want to put the calcium back into the pool, but like was mentioned, it's probably an very insignificant amount. At least I know my options now.

[mas985]

Forgive me but that seems like a lot of trouble for so little CH compared to what is in the pool. 400 ppm CH in a 20 k pool is over 66 lbs. The amount on the cell is probably less than a couple of grams. Close to a 15000:1 ratio. Fill water probably adds more than that in a day.