Help with getting levels right please!

[polyvue]

We are back and do not have a green pool! We have skimmed and vac pool, tested water, changed filter and now the pump is running. I did order the test kit Watermom suggested but it is not here yet, so I used my hth tester and here are my results:

PH 7.5
CL/BR 5/10
TA 190
TH 300

I know my TA is alittle high. Right now the water looks alittle cloudy but might just need the pump to run to clear that up. I do have some PH minus, which is what they say to use to bring it down, but will that bring my ph down too low?

You can utilize the Pool Calculator to determine how much pH minus (dry acid) to add but if you want to reduce pH do it a little at a time so you don't overshoot the mark. If the purpose is to reduce TA, muriatic acid (MA) might be a better choice -- the only choice you should consider if you have a Salt Water Chlorine Generator (SWG). Where the step-by-step reducing TA stickie suggests the PS233 test kit, you can substitute the Total Alkalinity test found in the Taylor K-2006.

If the CYA level is indeed about 30 PPM, your report of a [Free] Chlorine level of 5 PPM is right on the money. Of course, if the method you're using reports a maximum level of 5 PPM Total Chlorine, it's possible that it's a lot higher -- and that the cloudiness you report might show up in CCs. You'll be able to confirm all of this when you get your Taylor kit

[Watermom]

Glad it isn't green! Since it is cloudy, I'd probably shock the pool and run the pump 24/7. Also stick to bleach. No cal-hypo in your pool. TH is already 300 and don't want it higher.

Check this thread for how to lower alk.

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=191

Hope your kit comes soon.

BTW -- you have a chlorine pool, no bromine.

[CarlD]

If your goal is to lower T/A, you can use either dry acid or Muriatic acid. Again, the goal is to use LESS than you think and not over-shoot your target pH.

[one4irish]

OK Taylor test kit here and I retested all my stuff here is what I got:

PH 7.6
FC 1.4 ppm
CC .2ppm
CH 180
TA 160
CYA -still 0

I have added bleach to get my chlorine up. My TA is about where we started at the beginning of June. My question is 160 too high? And should I now add more stablizer since it has been June 13th when I first added it.

[aylad]

You can live with a TA of 160 for now, vinyl pools with the BBB method are a little more forgiving than pools with plaster, metal issues, etc. It could stand to come down some, but it won't hurt for now to leave it where it is. Your pH is fine, too.

When you test for your stabilizer, are you shaking the vial with the pool water/reagent mix and then letting it sit for a few minutes before testing, or are you testing right after you shake it up? If you're not letting it sit, try the test again but after you shake the mixture, let it sit on the counter for about 3 minutes before pouring it into the tube with the dot, and see if that makes a difference. Also, if you have a different kit it wouldn't hurt to try it with that one, just to make sure your reagent isn't bad. After 12 days, you should have a CYA level in the water--but I hesitate to have you add more until we're SURE it's not a testing error.

Janet