I need to raise my Alkalinity.....but not my pH

[gbobst]

I can't find it on the search but I know one of you all know where I can find it....I need to raise my TA....My pH is @ 7.8 right now and my TA is 70, 13,000gallon gunite pool.
I was about to use some muriatic acid, but found myself holding off and checking here first....thanks for anyones help.

 

[Bama Rambler]

Why do you think you need to raise oyur TA?
How do you chlorinate your pool?

 

[RobbieH]

Personally, I wouldn't get all caught up about the TA. Plug the numbers in to poolcalculator and see what happens if you drop your pH to where you want it...

 

[Richard320]

The answer to the subject line is Baking Soda. TA looks okay to me, but pH is heading North, and pH affects skin and eyes way more than TA.

Plug your numbers into Pool Calculator. Be sure to specify surface finish and chlorine source.

 

[gbobst]

I am using the BBB method and all has been great this year!......ok....I will plug away. is Muriatic acid the way to go with lowering the pH?

 

[Butterfly]

I am using the BBB method and all has been great this year!......ok....I will plug away. is Muriatic acid the way to go with lowering the pH?

Yep.

 

[gbobst]

thanks....so how does the alkalinity get so low? and then after adding the acid, does it go lower? what happens when it gets too low? thanks....

 

[dmanb2b]

As long as your PH is rising, TA at 60 or so is not too low. Let's call TA of 50 your minimum . Acid lowers both PH and TA.

 

[Bama Rambler]

Adding acid lowers TA along with pH. It usually reaches a point where you're not having to lower the pH as much and it gets pretty stable.

What happens if you let the pH go for a few days? does it tend to stay about 7.8?

 

[Butterfly]

Use the Pool Calculator to determine how adding X-amount of MA will effect your pH and your TA.
It is the "Effects of Adding Chemicals" section near the bottom of the calc.

If you post a full set of test results, we could check them out for you.

How do you chlorinate your pool?

What is the TA in your fill water?

 

[gbobst]

What do you mean by "rising"? it has not been rising, at all, if any this season. Thanks...

 

[Bama Rambler]

If the pH is stable even at 7.8 I'd leave it alone.

 

[gbobst]

pH-7.8
CYA-50
TA-70
TC/FC-4ppm
I use Clorox unscented 6% bleach weekly.....only.
My fill water TA is 90, but I have had an unusual amount of rain here in Cincinnati, which I feel may be the culprit here.....

 

[gbobst]

Checking the "effects" part now...thanks

 

[JamesW]

What is your calcium level and water temperature?

 

[gbobst]

the pool is clean and very clear.....just a slight green hue, not quite a tint if you get my drift....no foul smell, no sign of algae at all..... just after weekly testing the pH, FC and TA.....thought I should adjust the pH, and was a little concerned , because I am not sure if a low TA is bad for the pool... just added some muriatic acid, I will test it in a few hours....thnks

 

[woodyp]

TA serves as a buffer for your PH to minimize its rise or fall. Whatever works for you is good!

 

[gbobst]

Thanks, the pool pH is back to 7.2, after using the pool Calculator(which works by the way....hahahah!). TA moved down slightly, but pool is crystal clear, tint has gone away....Nice.

 

[gbobst]

pH-7.2
CYA-50
TA-60
TC/FC-4ppm
I use Clorox unscented 6% bleach weekly.....and Phosfree.....only.

 

[Richard320]

If the greenish tint went away when you went acid-ish, it sounds like metals in the water. You may just have to visit the dreaded pool store to buy sequestrant.