TA "appears" WAY TOO HIGH????

[rferrel1]

I have been using Trichlor - it's usually around this time of year when I switch to bleach - I add some CYA in the spring and then use the Trichlor until my level gets to 100 - which is what it's at now. I have not been using anything else - never had this happen all last year.

I could not find any borax yesterday so I added 3# of baking soda - I did not have time to test the TA before work this a.m. but I tested the pH and it's "lower" - as in it tests as yellow as the chlorine - at least yesterday it was a little "pink".

I'll have borax to put in this evening BUT is there something else going on here?? Is it okay to swim?? REALLY - I have not put anything else in the pool and the trichlor is the same as what I used early in the season last year - Lowe's brand. WE have had some significant rain the last 7-10 days - probably 1 1/2" and it's been so dry that up until this past week all water added was municial water that tests generally around 7.2-7.6.

[chem geek]

Rain is a great aerator so in combination with the acidic Trichlor will lower the TA. At any rate, it's important to get the pH up AND some TA in your water so the easiest way to do that is with sodium carbonate which is in pH Up products but is also in Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda.

Richard