Muriatic acid distribution methods

[salinda]

CO2 gas injection is used commercially and there are some residential systems available. Here is one of them:
http://www.poolsmith.com/
If you look at the FAQ's, you will get a lot of good info. It is sold to be used for pH control, and it appears that it actually doesn't control TA very much. In fact, they recommend that you use the system in a pool that has TA less than 160 for their system to be effective.

[ageorge]

Thanks!

Since bubbling CO2 won't affect TA, using CO2 wouldn't solve my current problem of high TA (which I agree is the main problem with my pH at this point). Nor would it prevent TA rise from my alkaline city water. The only time my pH stayed balanced was when I was using trichlor granular (was cheap at Walmart couple years ago).

CO2 would compensate for the CO2 loss from SWG and, if I'm understanding correctly, from the fountain. I don't know yet how much of a problem they will be, but I am anticipating a problem based on reading some of your other posts. I appreciate the review on using CYA to minimize the SWG operation.

Some of the other methods of reducing CO2 out gassing are new to me. I assume the point of longer pipe runs and/or pointing the returns down is to give the bubbled gasses more opportunity to redisolve. I have about 15-20 feet of pipe to my closest return--but the return is a fountain...

As you say, CO2 systems are not cheap. You may have talked me out of needing one anyway, but what I was wondering was whether I could just get a tank, a regulator and a hose and bubble it myself. A setup designed for beer making looks like it would be about $100. I'm wondering how much acid that would make.

Andy

[chem geek]

If you use the procedure to lower the TA substantially, then your rate of pH rise will drop a lot as well. Read the HowTo on Lowering Your Alkalinity. There is no avoiding the amount of acid you need to add to lower the TA. You can use the "Effect of adding chemicals" section near the bottom of The Pool Calculator to calculate how much acid it will ultimately take to lower the TA, though this isn't added all at once (i.e. follow the HowTo procedure).

It takes around 25-1/2 fluid ounces of full-strength Muriatic Acid (31.45% Hydrochloric acid) to lower the TA by 10 ppm in 10,000 gallons.

[PBLsQuad450]

I have checked out CO2 before. No real access for me to reasonable size tanks. Beer making? I think they were like 6lb. tanks or something odd. You need much more. Much, much more in your case specifically. Just a maintenance thing and you will need 2 20lb. tanks minimum, the 2nd so you can change out and re-fill etc.. With trying to lower your alk I would think these little jobs are just too small a tank, at least from I have read. OBTW, I live in Jersey. If I can't get large scale containers of compressed gas, toxic liquids or solids or other major corrosives and the like, I would think no one else can, because we manufacture so darn much of it right here in the garden state. Just my .02 anyway.

[ageorge]

Thanks, and thanks again.

Looks like I'll need to buy about 6 more gallons of muriatic for the TA problem. Hopefully I can keep the pH rise problem to a minimum once that is solved...

Andy