First off let me state pool is always crystal clear. Visually it is great. Minimal scale which I will knock down with a pumice stone once I get in the pool. But these darn readings! I am almost at a point of saying heck with it and if the water looks good just let it be.
This pool is IMPOSSIBLE to keep the pH in an acceptable range. I can't even imagine the amount of money I have spent on Muriatic Acid over the years. I opened the pool Sunday (today is Wed). Without even testing (because I know my pool), I dumped in 1 full gallon of the blue bottle (heavier concentration) from Lowes. I also dumped in 6 gallons of bleach just to "kick start" the Cl until I could get the salt level back to range for the SWG to kick back in. From the moment the pool was opened till last night I ran the filter non stop. (so call it about 58 hours).
I'll provide a time line to make you follow easier:
Sun 10:30 am - Filter on
Sun 11:00 am - 1 Gallon MA
Sun 2:00 pm - 6 gallons Bleach
Mon 6:00 pm - FC = 3.5, pH = red line (meaning above 8.2)
Mon 6:00 pm - 200 lbs of salt to get SWG working
Tues 6:00 pm - FC = 4.0, pH = red line still, Alk = 90
Tues 6:00 pm - add 1 gallon MA - Run Dolphin to further help circulate
Tues 9:00 pm - FC = 4.0, pH = 7.5, Alk = 80, Calc = 350, CYA = 30 (low I know - I need to buy some)
Tues 9:30 pm - turned off pump and set it to run it's normal operation which will be from 10:00am - 6:00pm
Now, I have read "Pool School". I have read "Water Balance for SWG". I know I need to get the Alk a touch lower. And I have read "Lowering you Alk". But I have been adding gallons of MA for years. Day after day, week after week. Within a day of lowering pH it to 7.5 is will be back above 8.2 in 48 hours. And the Alk ALWAYS gravitates back to 90 ish. I guarantee you when I test again tonight the pH will be back to 8.0 ish and the Alk back to 90. How much acid do I need to add if I ever want to get this right? What can possibly cause the Alk to go up along with the pH? I get that the pH bounces because of the SWG, but why the Alk? Should I just CRUSH the pH down to sub 5.0 for a short period to kick this in the butt (I do have a bypass on my heater)?
My ultimate solution is to get an acid feeder - Whether I go the cheap DYI route posted here my mas985 (Homemade Acid OR Chlorine Injection System) or spend the coin to get a fully automated system has yet to be determined. For now I want to see if lowering the Alk to 60 will help with pH bounce. But I need help getting it there.
(Pool details in Sig)
This pool is IMPOSSIBLE to keep the pH in an acceptable range. I can't even imagine the amount of money I have spent on Muriatic Acid over the years. I opened the pool Sunday (today is Wed). Without even testing (because I know my pool), I dumped in 1 full gallon of the blue bottle (heavier concentration) from Lowes. I also dumped in 6 gallons of bleach just to "kick start" the Cl until I could get the salt level back to range for the SWG to kick back in. From the moment the pool was opened till last night I ran the filter non stop. (so call it about 58 hours).
I'll provide a time line to make you follow easier:
Sun 10:30 am - Filter on
Sun 11:00 am - 1 Gallon MA
Sun 2:00 pm - 6 gallons Bleach
Mon 6:00 pm - FC = 3.5, pH = red line (meaning above 8.2)
Mon 6:00 pm - 200 lbs of salt to get SWG working
Tues 6:00 pm - FC = 4.0, pH = red line still, Alk = 90
Tues 6:00 pm - add 1 gallon MA - Run Dolphin to further help circulate
Tues 9:00 pm - FC = 4.0, pH = 7.5, Alk = 80, Calc = 350, CYA = 30 (low I know - I need to buy some)
Tues 9:30 pm - turned off pump and set it to run it's normal operation which will be from 10:00am - 6:00pm
Now, I have read "Pool School". I have read "Water Balance for SWG". I know I need to get the Alk a touch lower. And I have read "Lowering you Alk". But I have been adding gallons of MA for years. Day after day, week after week. Within a day of lowering pH it to 7.5 is will be back above 8.2 in 48 hours. And the Alk ALWAYS gravitates back to 90 ish. I guarantee you when I test again tonight the pH will be back to 8.0 ish and the Alk back to 90. How much acid do I need to add if I ever want to get this right? What can possibly cause the Alk to go up along with the pH? I get that the pH bounces because of the SWG, but why the Alk? Should I just CRUSH the pH down to sub 5.0 for a short period to kick this in the butt (I do have a bypass on my heater)?
My ultimate solution is to get an acid feeder - Whether I go the cheap DYI route posted here my mas985 (Homemade Acid OR Chlorine Injection System) or spend the coin to get a fully automated system has yet to be determined. For now I want to see if lowering the Alk to 60 will help with pH bounce. But I need help getting it there.
(Pool details in Sig)