Low pH, Hardness, Alk, where do I start?

[PoolDoc]

I think that says borates help, not hurt.

Borates are also a pH buffer in a range that's especially beneficial to SWCG (Salt Water Chlorine Generator) users.

[ChrissyInOregon]

I added the 2 cups of borax and 1lb of baking soda. Today my readings are:

Hardness 60 (+20 from yesterday)
Alk 40 (same as yesterday)
pH 7.2 (up from 6.8 yesterday)
Chlorine Still 3-6ppm, even though I did not add any chlorine yesterday. The pool is in direct sun.

Should I give the pool the same dose of borax and baking soda as yesterday?

What about the chlorine? This is testing with the OTO test. I don't have the other type.

[Watermom]

The OTO tester can also be used to measure bromine and thus has a bromine column on it. I'm assuming that when you say that your chlorine is 3-6, you mean 3 and the 6 is in the bromine column. (Just ignore that.)

Go ahead and add some more bleach to get back up to about 6ppm --- assuming that I am right in my assumption above.

Yes to your question about another dose of Borax and baking soda.

No need to test calcium hardness. CH is only an issue in a vinyl or soft-sided pool if it is too high. Yours is fine.

Do you have an HTH 6-way drops kit or an OTO kit? Just wondering how you got your CYA reading.

[ChrissyInOregon]

Yes, I'm using the HTH 6-way test kit.

You're right about the chlorine and bromine columns. I had not noticed that before, and was thinking it was a chlorine reading of between 3-6ppm, when actually the chlorine is 3ppm.

I got the CYA reading with the HTH 6-way kit. I purchased the kit last year and it contains two CYA tests. I used the second one this year.

[Watermom]

You might think about picking up the add-on kit Taylor K1515. That gives you the chlorine test that your 6-Way doesn't have that allows you to measure higher chlorine levels than 5. You also can order more of the CYA reagent R-0013. Both of these can be found through this link:

http://pool9.net/tk/

[ChrissyInOregon]

After one more dose of Borax (2 cups) and 1lb baking soda yesterday, today's readings:

Alk 80
pH 7.8
Chlorine 1ppm

I'm surprised that the chlorine is not burning off faster. Does this seem right? The pool has only been swam in once since we filled it, because the weather has been cooler.

The pH jumped a lot after just the one dose.

What should I do about the alkalinity?

[Watermom]

You don't need to do anything about the alk. It is just fine. Are you adding bleach?

[ChrissyInOregon]

6/13 readings:

Alk 80
pH 7.8
Chlorine 1ppm

It has been cool here, so no one has been in the pool. We had some rain this weekend. The pool temp was down to 66, but today was up to 71. I put 4 round, approx 6ft solar cover circles on the pool on Friday (because I'm cheap and they were $3.41 each instead of $50+ for a 16ft cover). They're down to $3 now:

Intex Round Solar Pool Cover

I tested my water early evening and the pH has dropped to around 7.6, and the Alk has dropped to 70ppm. Is this from the rain, and the little bit of hose water I put in this afternoon? Should I add more borax? Baking soda? What numbers would you shoot for, and how much should I obsess about this?

The SWCG has been running 1hr/day and the chlorine is at 3ppm today.
.

[gamtire1200]

Chrissy and all,

I am 1st time poster. I read your post about the low ph. I have had the same problem for 2 years. I have been dumping baking soda with no movement on the scale. Went get the Borax Mule 20 and put 12 boxes over 3 days. ph is at 7.4. Thanks to all.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. BayouMac