New Pool Owner

[bobcat]

Tested 2 hours after adding the second box of borax, ph still below 6.8; added another box of borax. Tested this morning and ph still below 6.8! Do I keep adding the borax? How much is too much?

[aylad]

Do I keep adding the borax? How much is too much?

Yes,keep adding it--it's too much when your pH goes over 8.0--seriously!!

Having a pH below 7.0 can do some significant damage to your vinyl, so it's critical that you get it above 7.0 ASAP--so whatever amount of Borax it takes to do so, that's the correct amount.

You have already removed the remaining trichlor pucks, right? If not, then you need to do so--that's your major culprit for the low pH.

Janet

[bobcat]

Got it! Will buy out Walmart supply of borax! Yes pucks have dissolved. Does it matter if I add the borax in the skimmer, or in front of return jet?

[aylad]

I would add it into the skimmer--slowly--breaking up clumps as you go. Don't want to put a big chunk in all at one time and chance a clog in the pipes, but by putting it into the skimmer it will go into the filter and dissolve more fully. Should reduce the possibility of undissolved powder causing cloudy water problems that may happen by putting it in front of the return jet. What kind of filter do you have? You might want to give it a good cleaning before adding all the Borax to it, to make sure you don't have to backwash any of it out.

Janet

Edit: One other suggestion: you might want to take a 5 gallon bucket of your pool water and add a measured amount of Borax to it, to see how much it takes to get that sample up to above 7.0. That might give you an idea of how much Borax you're gonna need.....

[bobcat]

I like the 5 gal bucket idea, tells me how much borax I need and keeps from getting clogged in the pipes! Thanks Janet

[bobcat]

Got home, tested...ph still low/chlorine still high. Backwashed/rinsed, added box of borax, waited hour and FINALLY...ph came up to 7.2!!! Added one more box of borax, will post in an hour or so...I'm excited!!!
Janet, not sure if all the borax finally caught up, or disloving in a 5 gal bucket did the trick! Kinda strange that as soon as I did the bucket the ph came up.
Edit: 2 hours later; ph still holding at 7.2
Chlorine still high off the chart
TA- 100
CYA- didn't make the first mark (Walmart 6 way tester) about half way to first mark of 100
15x30x4'= 12,000 gal?
Dynamo 1.5 motor
Aquatools Sand filter AT3120
The chlorine is still above the chart, but it has turned orange instead of red. If the ph gets right tonight, which I think it will, can the kids go swimming tomorrow or will the chlorine level still be too high?

Thanks,, Robert

[aylad]

I suspect that all the Borax you put in finally caught up, but I'm glad it finally got up to where you need it to be. As long as it's staying in the 7.2 to 7.8 range, it's fine for swimming. As far as chlorine goes, the kids could safely swim in a pool with chlorine up to 15 ppm (but I'd wear old suits in case of fading) because your CYA is so high. You say right now it's off the charts, but I don't know how high that is. Here's a link to the Carld shotglass method to force your OTO kit to measure higher levels of chlorine so you can get an idea of where you are.... http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=10073.

With your CYA that high, you definitely do NOT need to use anymore trichlor pucks or dichlor powder, and I strongly advise you to drain about 1/2 your water and refill, to bring that CYA down to a more manageable level, if that's at all possible.

Janet