New here

[PoolDoc]

Sounds like you precipitated a bunch of calcium carbonate.

Is there a reason you haven't been reporting calcium hardness levels? In this case, that's a pretty important reading.

Regardless -- if your water is clear yet, boost the chlorine and then turn the pump off overnight. If the calcium settles, try carefully vacuuming it up -- but make sure it doesn't shoot back into the pool. If you have a sand filter, you can add DE powder to the skimmer, before vacuuming. (If the DE shoots out -- your filter needs work!)

Anyhow, if the filter won't catch, vacuum to waste. If the pool gets low (watch the skimmer!), stop vacuuming, turn the pump back on, refill the pool (over fill if needed) and then try again later.

. . . membership updated.

[Big Splash]

Pool is clear now. Just a couple days of brushing the bottom and sides, 24/7 pump, and running the robot did the trick. pH measured 7.6 this morning and seems to have stabilized. I last tested the CH about 5 days ago reading 170. Since that was in line, I wasn't worried considering I have a vinyl liner. I'll test it again next time.

Thanks for the membership bump. This forum has helped greatly.

Splash

[PoolDoc]

Great!

You don't need to test CH again. Unless you're using cal hypo to chlorinate, it won't rise.

[Big Splash]

Well that's cool But, I just tested it anyway. .

FC 3.5
CC 0.5
pH 7.2
TA 180
CH 160
CYA 30(ish)

Lesson learned with all this is to add doses of chems in small increments, let that take effect and then retest before adding more.

[PoolDoc]

Great. That's my preferred method.

I've had significant arguments with others who have come to support the 'BBB method' over precisely the topic of how chemicals should be added.

Your TA is a little high, but not something to obsess over, especially with that low CH. However if you keep your pH at the low end of things, you'll find that you have to add acid periodically and that your TA will slowly drop. Once you reach your target TA (120 - 140) you can just let your pH 'float', adding acid (or borax) only if the pH wanders outside the 7.0 - 8.0 range.

[Big Splash]

The TA went up quickly from 100 to as high as 190 when I added the soda ash. I'm still adding in CYA via trichlor tabs. So, I should expect the TA to drop correct? I've been adding Borax slowly to keep the pH in range (not dropping) . That won't effect the TA correct?

Thanks,
Splash

[Watermom]

Soda ash raises pH and TA. Borax raise pH without affecting TA much which is why we prefer it to soda ash.