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

[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]

I have not added any bleach in the last couple days because I wanted to get a feel for how much was needed. The Taylor K-1515-A test kit has been sold out on Amazon. Is there another place online to order them? What price range is to be expected?

[Watermom]

Google for it. I just did and found a couple of places that have it. Just make sure it is the Taylor K1515 FAS-DPD kit. A couple of links that showed up when I did my search were for other kits. The K1515A will have 0.75 oz bottles and the K1515C will have 2-oz. bottles.

I actually did find the K1515C on Amazon for $46. At the time I am writing this post, they show 4 available.

Taylor K-1515-C- Drop Test, FAS-DPD Chlorine, (2 oz reagent bottles)

I also found a Taylor K1515A for $21.63 from this place. (I don't know anything about this company.)
http://pstpoolsupplies.com/taylor-te...FZRQOgodZRwAqw ($21.63 -- 3/4 oz reagent bottles)
.

[PoolDoc]

At the time I am writing this post, they show 4 available

Going fast! Now down to 2, and Amato probably won't re-stock till Monday.

[BigDave]

Can you remove / disconnect the copper ionizer unit on the SWCG so you won't add more copper to the pool?

[ChrissyInOregon]

Can you remove / disconnect the copper ionizer unit on the SWCG so you won't add more copper to the pool?

I saw this mentioned somewhere else, but no instructions were given.

So I just tested again, and the pool still has chlorine in it. Does that seem odd? I went ahead and added more bleach. No one is swimming this weekend because the weather is too cool and the water temp has dropped.

[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.
.

[BigDave]

... 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.

pH between 7.0 and 8.0 is fine - no need to adjust. If the pH keeps falling to 7.0 then you may want to add some baking soda to raise TA as well as some Borax to raise pH.

Shoot for pH between 7.0 and 8.0 and don't obsess about it.

3ppm is as low as you want to let FC go - especially with a small volume of water. It might be a good idea to add CYA and increase FC target to keep a reserve of chlorine in the water.