Muriatic Acid w/ Vinyl pool

[gdubs]

I have a vinyl pool, and have been told i should never use muriatic acid to decrease the ph, only dry acid. Does anyone on this forum use muriatic acid w/ a vinyl pool? If so, does it cause any damage.

Thanks,
gdubs

[aylad]

I use muriatic acid instead of dry acid--it's much cheaper and you don't have to use nearly as much to get the same effect. My vinyl pool is on its 7th season and I have no damage due to the use of muriatic. I pour it very slowly as far out from the edge as I can reach, and into the return stream so that the return stream dissipates the acid before it can sink to the bottom.

CAUTION:
Muriatic acid is very corrosive, obviously, and will do major damage if it comes into contact with your liner, or if you breathe the fumes. I do have a couple of small holes in my concrete deck where it splashed out of my container while being poured and didn't get washed off. I have in the past splashed it on my hand and it was no big deal, but I immediately immersed my hand into the pool to wash it off. I do always wear safety glasses, and I usually wear gloves while handling it. I will tell you from experience that if you get a whiff of the fumes it is very painful and feels as if you'll never get another breath again. Make sure that you and any other people or pets around you are upwind of the stuff while you're pouring it. To decrease the danger of causing splashes to your liner, you might try pouring your measured amount of acid into a bucket full of water and mixing before pouring it into your pool. (NOTE: ALWAYS add acid to water, not water into acid). If you're careful and respect the stuff, it is very effective and just as safe to use in a vinyl pool as dry acid.

Janet

[CarlD]

I take a 5 gallon bucket and fill it with about 4 gallons of water and pour the muriatic acid in there first to dilute it. THEN I pour the mixture into the return stream, not straight to the bottom.

[mickey4paws]

The stuff sounds scarey I used some dry acid last week to lower my TA but it didn't bring it down enough so I am also considering using muriatic acid with my vinyl lined pool.

[CarlD]

It IS a little scary--you just have to follow the rules, though and you'll be safe. Dry Acid isn't as safe as it seems, but it's a lot easier to use than Muriatic Acid. Buy the generic stuff.

Another way to lower your pH is to use Tri-Chlor pucks. But this is only a good way if your CYA (stabilizer) level is lower than you like. Pucks lower pH and raise the CYA level fairly quickly. I use them when I'm in that situation (as I have been this year).

[mickey4paws]

It IS a little scary--you just have to follow the rules, though and you'll be safe. Dry Acid isn't as safe as it seems, but it's a lot easier to use than Muriatic Acid. Buy the generic stuff.

Another way to lower your pH is to use Tri-Chlor pucks. But this is only a good way if your CYA (stabilizer) level is lower than you like. Pucks lower pH and raise the CYA level fairly quickly. I use them when I'm in that situation (as I have been this year).

I know this post is a little old, but I do have a question. What effect does the Tri-Chlor have on alkalinity? Does it only effect PH, or does it also bring down TA?