big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of bleach

[brianmac]

SWG, 23,000 gal inground vinyl swimming pool.
I checked today and my chlorine was .5-1 on the basic test. I looked at Aquarite and it said my salt level was 2300 and to check the cell, add salt. I stopped the swg and went to pour in two gallons of chlorine. I added the first gallon, then when I finished adding the second, I noticed that I grabbed the wrong jug and added 1 gallon of muriactic acid. Other than my ph dropping, should I be concerned. I am not letting anyone swim in the pool until I hear back. Kids are ****** at my stupidity!!!

Thanks,
Brian

 

[Butterfly]

Re: big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of blea

Too low pH can be damaging to pool and equipment.

What was pH before you added the MA?

[s29gyf12]How many gallons is your pool?[/s29gyf12]

What is pH testing now?

 

[brianmac]

Re: big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of blea

before 7.2, now(1/2 hour later) 7.2
I have borax to add if you think?

 

[Butterfly]

Re: big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of blea

If the 7.2 was before the gallon of MA, then:

You can use the PoolCalculator.com and add enough borax to get the pH back into the low to mid 7's.

Check the TA, too. It should be between 60 to 80ish.

 

[brianmac]

Re: big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of blea

thank you for your help!!!!

 

[Butterfly]

Re: big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of blea

before 7.2, now(1/2 hour later) 7.2
I have borax to add if you think?

One of those tests seems to be incorrect. I suggest you retest now.

If pH is below 7, get it to the 7.4ish range.

 

[brianmac]

Re: big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of blea

retested, 6.8

 

[Rafalski]

Re: big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of blea

Just wondering how did u get 6.8 ? I have the TF-100 kit and I thought it only goes down to like 7.0 on the scale? unless I am not remembering right

 

[brianmac]

Re: big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of blea

I have the TF-100, in the basic taylor K-1000 that comes with the tf-100, the PH goes down to 6.8....

 

[Rafalski]

Re: big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of blea

I have the TF-100, in the basic taylor K-1000 that comes with the tf-100, the PH goes down to 6.8....

ok I must just not be remembering right then cuz i have the same test.

 

[chem geek]

Re: big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of blea

The most important thing to do immediately is to brush the side and bottom of the pool where you added the acid to ensure thorough mixing. If the acid pools at the bottom, it can damage your vinyl liner. Then get the pH back up reasonably soon.

The pH is probably below 6.8. If I start with a pH of 7.2, TA of 70 ppm, CYA of 80 ppm and I add one gallon of full-strength Muriatic Acid (31.45% Hydrochloric Acid) to 23,000 gallons, the pH will get lowered to 6.6 though there will be a lot of carbon dioxide outgassing so perhaps it won't get quite that low by the time you next measure it. Anyway, it will take 3-1/2 76-ounce boxes of 20 Mule Team Borax to bring you back to the original pH (and this will add 10 ppm borates to the pool). Or it will take 8 pounds (about 14 cups) of soda ash (pH Up; sodium carbonate; washing soda) though that will increase the TA by 18 ppm.

 

[brianmac]

Re: big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of blea

I have had my automatic vacuum running all day, so it should take care of the pooling factor - I hope. I already added 3 boxes of 20 mule and am checking ph every 2-3 hours...
Thanks,
Brian

 

[Butterfly]

Re: big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of blea

I have had my automatic vacuum running all day, so it should take care of the pooling factor - I hope. I already added 3 boxes of 20 mule and am checking ph every 2-3 hours...
Thanks,
Brian

So, we hope you got the pH back in range earlier, right?

 

[brianmac]

Re: big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of blea

just checked PH - 7.2 after 4 boxes of 20 mule borax(thorough day). I just dumped one more box to boost it up. I also added another gallon of bleach to get chlorine up(did this separate(1/2 hour) and always premix borax with water then walk it around pool). It's still in .5 -1 range. SWG still showing 2300, which seems extremely low for me and have it off position. Will get chlorine back up and then tackle swg issue.

Thanks,
Brian

 

[brianmac]

Re: big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of blea

This morning, PH 7.4-7.5, TA 70, chlorine 4...

Thanks for all the help!

Now does anyone have hooked on phonics for me? Might help me to read the labels.....

Brian

 

[Butterfly]

Re: big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of blea

MA should be stored away from other chemicals. Especially do not store MA near a chlorine product. If MA and chlorine come in contact, it can kaboom.

It is best to store MA outside by itself. Example: I store bleach/chlorine in the garage and MA outside under the deck behind a brick pillar setting inside an open 5 gal. bucket. It is exposed to heat/cold, but not direct sun.

I'm just making sure that you know that these two (MA/chlorine) should not be stored together or near each other.

 

[brianmac]

Re: big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of blea

Thanks for the advice. I was storing them together in alocked cabinet in the shed - not any more!!!!!

 

[BoDarville]

Re: big uh-oh - added 1 gal of muriatic acid instead of blea

brianmac:

Don't be too hard on yourself. Mistakes are often learning lessons in disguise. Bet you will not make that mistake again. Plus, with the help of others on this forum, the problem was corrected in less than a day.

Going forward, might want to store MA in a different location than chlorine.