Alk

[Phillbo]

My Alk is running 140 and I am having to add acid more than I use too , should I bother with the aeration to lower it or live with it ?

da numbers :

FC 15
pH 7.8
CAL 480
ALK 140
CYA 20
Salt 3700

FC is high because I'm shocking due to a couple spots of algae on the steps.
CYA surprises me since I added some at the end of last summer. I though it was higher. Since the SWCG specs call for 50-80, I'm going to pick up about 6 lbs and shoot for a reading of 60.

Any advise ?

[mbar]

Your calcium, ph and alkalinity are all high, although your ph maybe is showing high because of the high chlorine. Has your ph been that high, or just this test? You can lower your ph to 7, aerate (turn your return jets up to bubble the water) the water to bring the alk down. Everytime the ph get up to 7.5, take it back down to continue the process. Acid will not take the alkalinity down on it's own. It is the aeration process that gasses off the alkalinity only when the ph is under 7.6. You can also drain some of your water that will take the calcium down too. You should have your calcium between 200 - 400, alkalinity should be between 80-120. I'm not sure where you live, but I lose cya over the winter here in PA.