- Aug 20, 2012
- 17
I am new to pool maintenance with only a few weeks experience. I been searching the web on pool maintenance and have gotten a handle on what some chemicals will do to the water. I know that sodium bircarbonate will raise both the alkalinity and pH. Sodium tetraborate (20 mule team borax) will raise pH but not raise alkalinity as much as other chemicals. I know that muriactic acid will lower alkalinity along with pH. So that's as much it.
My pool is an Intex type of 2400 gallons and I am at the point where my water is clear with no algae on the bottom with the exception of some type of brown substance of which most was vacumned out. My tests using a Taylor K-0006 indicate I have a pH of 7.5, alkalinity of 110 ppm, free chlorine 4.5 ppm, Combined chlorine 0.25 and the Cya is 30 to 40 ppm.
So my questions are:
What other chemicals have an effect on the increase or decrease of pool parameters?
What I do not know is when adding chemicals to increase or decrease pH, alkalinity or chlorine as per my instruction book is how much it affects these other parameters?
For instance: My alkalinity originally tested at 140 ppm and I decided to lower it to 100 ppm and the instruction table indicated I needed to dose 24 ounces of muriactic acid. The table was correct when I tested later. But it lowered my pH so low it was far below the scale on my test equipment. Now this is what I am talking about. I had to add over a lb. of 20 mule team borax to bring the pH up to 7.5 to 7.6.
Your imput is appreciated.
My pool is an Intex type of 2400 gallons and I am at the point where my water is clear with no algae on the bottom with the exception of some type of brown substance of which most was vacumned out. My tests using a Taylor K-0006 indicate I have a pH of 7.5, alkalinity of 110 ppm, free chlorine 4.5 ppm, Combined chlorine 0.25 and the Cya is 30 to 40 ppm.
So my questions are:
What other chemicals have an effect on the increase or decrease of pool parameters?
What I do not know is when adding chemicals to increase or decrease pH, alkalinity or chlorine as per my instruction book is how much it affects these other parameters?
For instance: My alkalinity originally tested at 140 ppm and I decided to lower it to 100 ppm and the instruction table indicated I needed to dose 24 ounces of muriactic acid. The table was correct when I tested later. But it lowered my pH so low it was far below the scale on my test equipment. Now this is what I am talking about. I had to add over a lb. of 20 mule team borax to bring the pH up to 7.5 to 7.6.
Your imput is appreciated.