Alkalinity?

[savdoc2]

Hopefully this thread isn't too long, just wanted to update where I am.

Added approx 1/4 box borax and it didn't seem to make much difference. pH is still reading 6.8, alk is 140. Cl has dropped to 5. Because I was curious, I decided to check the pH of my well water (after 2 filters, a softener and a RO system) and the pH color was exactly the same as the pool. I thought that was interesting, but have no idea what to make of it.

Also, because I was curious, I used a leftover strip test. Those numbers were interesting: TC=1, FC=5, pH=6.8 and Alk=40 (not 140 as the drop test says). I just want to see how inaccurate they are I suppose.

I am going to the city tomorrow so I will take some water to have tested to see what they come up with. I did add another 1/4 box borax this evening.

[Watermom]

When I agreed that 1/4 a box at a time was OK, I had missed how low your ph was. You need to get it up to at least 7.0 ASAP. Since it is still reading so low, add a half box of Borax at a time until it starts moving. Then, you may want to switch to 1/4 box at a time. Sorry I missed that. Aim for target of 7.4-7.6.

[savdoc2]

I thought according to the procedures for reducing alk that I want to keep my pH just above the lowest reading on my test kit and allow the aeration to bring up the pH without raising the alk at the same time??

6.8 is the lowest on the test kit I have and I am trying to bring it back up so that I know I am not below it. I thought I understood the procedure, but maybe I misunderstood.

[Watermom]

Ok. I just reread through this thread. You are correct about allowing aeration to bring the ph without raising the alk at the same time. Your alk at 140 is fine. I wouldn't worry about lowering it. Go ahead and retest ph. If it is below 7.0, I'd bring it up with some more Borax as you have been doing. If it is at least 7.0, you can just continue aerating and it should come back up. If it does not, then you can add a little Borax.