How to aerate?

[rrwcm]

I've had a pool for over 20 years and somehow missed out on all this talk about aeration. My pool is 18x36 inground vinyle SWG. I pulled out the pump I use to clean the winter cover and dropped it to the bottom with the hose running up the side of the pool and then spraying onto the pool surface. Is there a better way? How long should I run this "aerator"?

Why am I doing this? I just decided to add Borax to my pool and I'm in the middle of adjusting the PH - it's high now (8.2) and I've added acid which I understand will lower the TA and I've read that aeration will in turn raise the TA back without raising the PH.

[CarlD]

Bill,

Right in this section are several stickied threads on alkalinity and aeration.

The short answer is you are right--you aerate to re-raise pH without increase T/A.

You can aerate by pointing the returns right along the surface.

You can buy a cheap fountain sprayer that screws into the return outlet (they were a sale for $6 or $7 just last Sunday.) This does a FANTASTIC job of aeration.

A gang of 12 year olds works too.

[aylad]

I just decided to add Borax to my pool and I'm in the middle of adjusting the PH - it's high now (8.2) and I've added acid which I understand will lower the TA and I've read that aeration will in turn raise the TA back without raising the PH.

Not quite----the Borax and aeration are both raising your pH, so if it's already high (above 7.6), don't add any more Borax and stop the aeration. Adding acid will lower both your TA and pH--the aeration raises pH again without raising TA...

Janet