TA Issues; First-Year Pool Owner

[Snowymoon]

First, I have to say I am so glad I found this site! I wish I would have found it sooner. I plan on ordering the test kit for next year. It is so late in the season now, and we only have about 4 to 6 weeks left. I have the Wal-Mart test strips as well as the drop test kit and some AquaChem strips (they show CC).

I have a 18 x 4 Intex Easy-Set pool that I filled with our well water; I guess it is around 5000 gallons (not precisely sure). We have no metals in our water, but the pH was well over 8.4 (as high as the test strips would read) and the TA was really high too. I began using HTH pH Minus, but it seemed to get me nowhere. Then I went and got "pool stored." They did do some things right, such as sell me some muriatic acid, but they did not properly explain how to use it. This resulted in me not know what I was doing, freaking out over the low pH (dropped to 6.8), and so I ended up adding some HTH pH Plus to up the pH. You guessed it, the TA shot up, and water became slightly cloudy.

I do want to switch to BBB eventually, but I have lots of pool store stuff to use up; Biogaurd Smart Sticks, Biogaurd Backup for algea prevention and HTH Vinyl Pool Shock. As I use up the stuff (will use the shock up first), I will begin going the BBB route starting with using bleach to shock and eventually also to chlorinate. I have not added any borax to my water. To shock weekly, I have been using 1/2 bag (1/2 pound) of the HTH Vinyl Pool Shock (not sure if this is the right amount for my pool, but it seems to be doing okay). I still have some cloudiness to the water, but it is minimal, and I wonder if that is a TA thing or if I am not using enough shock. (???)

I have been adding 2 cups of pH Minus now for 2 days, and the pH is is now down to 7. I have no aeration device, so I spent about an hour in the pool yesterday kicking and splashing and causing as much aeration as I humanly could. Am I on the right track here? If I do need an aeration device, what are my options, and where do I get them?

Here are today's stats using an AquaChem strip:

pH - 7
Cl - 4 (Drops)
FC - 3-4 (WM Strips), 4 (AquaChem Strip)
CC - 3 (AquaChem Strip)
CYA - 70 (Drops with dot thingie)
TA - 270 (drops)
CH - 200 (Drops; not sure how correct that is, as the water stayed clear, and I had to add a ton of activator to get it to turn red)

Ummmm. Help? Please?

BTW, the pool store tried to tell me next year I have to metal magnet even though their tests clearly showed I have no metals in my water.

[mas985]

I use muriatic acid to keep my high PH and TA in check. You can also try to point your returns straight up and see if that helps get the PH up.

Also, noticed that your CCs were as high as the FC. If true, you need to shock your pool and get the CC down close to zero. This is probably the reason your water is cloudy. Go by Ben's table and bleachcalc for amounts. You might want to get a better test kit (DPD or FAS-DPD type) to double check your numbers.

[Snowymoon]

I would like to use up my bags of shock. They are 1 pound each. How much should I use to shock the pool up to 20 ppm? A full bag? Once they are used up, I will be switching to bleach. I posted more about that in the chlorination forum.

Also, I can't point my return up. On the Intex pool, the return has a cap on it, and it is low into the water.

[JohnT]

I would like to use up my bags of shock. They are 1 pound each. How much should I use to shock the pool up to 20 ppm? A full bag? Once they are used up, I will be switching to bleach. I posted more about that in the chlorination forum.

Also, I can't point my return up. On the Intex pool, the return has a cap on it, and it is low into the water.

I'd save the shock for next year. Your CYA is already on the high side. Next year when you fill the pool you'll need shock and CYA.

[Rangeball]

Lowering the PH to 7 and aerating is the only way to get alk down. I brought mine down from the high 200s to 110.

I've found that splashing about is by far the best aerator. Works the quickest. If you have kids, put them to work

On the alk, drop ph to 7, test alk, if still need to drop aerate until PH rises, drop back to 7, repeat as often as necessary.

If you bags of shock are dichlor, they'll add more cya. If they are calcium hypochlorite, they'll add more calcium hardness and can lead to cloudy/hazy water. If they are lithium hypochlorite, you paid to much but go ahead and use them If they are non-chlorine, sell them to a "friend"

[Snowymoon]

I think I am on the right track, TA wise.

As far as the BBB goes, it looks like I am better off just to switch over now due to my CYA being 70 ppm. Wow, I have been seriously pool stored. If I switch now, I will have spent $100 or so for nuttin. Live and learn, eh? ...