Low pH Brain Teaser

[chem geek]

A pH of 4 or above will very likely sting the eyes if you open them underwater. Other than that, you may not notice it unless you are sensitive. Skin is an amazingly tolerant "organ". If you look at the Wikipedia entry for pH, you will find a range of substances and their pH here. The pH of this pool was in between beer and orange juice. Skin seems to tolerate, in terms of "sensing", acidic conditions a little better than basic/alkaline conditions, though extremes of either are very harsh.

I think the bigger problem with the low pH would be dissolving of plaster. This pool measured 0 CH so is it a vinyl pool? Also, that's strange to measure no CH at all -- even the fill water should have some even if it's "soft".

Richard

[DavidD]

This pool measured 0 CH so is it a vinyl pool? Also, that's strange to measure no CH at all -- even the fill water should have some even if it's "soft".

Richard

You'd think this was my first post or something. It initially showed CH as 0ppm (low pH maybe?) however the subsequent test showed 100 ppm and the fill water shows 70 ppm.

Speaking of "soft" water, any reason not to top off my vinyl liner IG with soft water other then the expense of the softener having to regenerate more frequently?

Dave

[Spensar]

"21k gallon A/G vinyl"

From reading other threads, I was under the impression that low PH will degrade the vinyl and result in a shorter lifespan of a vinyl pool liner. If so, 4.5 is not good news.

[DavidD]

"21k gallon A/G vinyl"

From reading other threads, I was under the impression that low PH will degrade the vinyl and result in a shorter lifespan of a vinyl pool liner. If so, 4.5 is not good news.

You are correct. Low pH will shorten the life of a Vinyl Liner. I told my buddy that what ever life he would have had left in his 7 year old liner, it has been significantly shortened. BTW, low pH is also bad for the pump motor, variflow valve, sides of the AG pool due to splash out, and pretty much anything else.
Amazing thing is that he has been "running" the pool this way for 7 years and has not had any problems, YET

Dave

[chem geek]

Spensar, thanks for the catch. I was thinking plaster pools since I just did the calculation for dissolving of plaster. Of course low pH is terrible for vinyl as well as metal.