Jill said:
Whoa, sorry,typing on my phone!! So, Im not sure how much to add exactly...
Also should I continue keeping my return jet pointing up and aerating the entire time I am trying to raise and lower my Ph?
One more, hubby wants me to use Algecide as a weekly maintenace. We have 2 bottles of it, can it hurt?
Tell hubby to stick to equipment maintenance and leave the chemistry to you.
Don't add any Algecide. You don't need it and depending on what kind it is could cause problems.
As for your TA and PH it goes like this. TA buffers the PH when it is in the optimal range for your pool. When your TA is in range it keeps the PH from rapid swings. Yours is 230 and is on the high side.
There's two ways to lower the TA and both rely on the same mechanisms.
One way is to just add acid when your PH rises to 7.8 and knock it back down to 7.2 The Pool Calculator won't give you advice if you put a lower number in your TA goal column. You use the PH section to determine the amount of acid to lower your PH. When you lower your PH, you also lower TA. Your PH will rise naturally and you then repeat the process.
The other way is basically the same but you aerate your pool water to hasten the PH rise. Same as the first method. When your PH rises to 7.8, you knock it down with acid to 7.2. You then aerate with a fountain, waterfall if you have one, spa jets etc or pointing the return up so it breaks the surface of the water. Same as the first example but you're accelerating the natural PH rise by aerating and making the whole process take less time.
Take note that the PH calculations in Pool Calculator rely on some other numbers that you put in your now columns. It takes into account your TA and Borate numbers. So, when you lower your PH, you are also lowering your TA. It's best to put in half to 3/4's of your acid then test after the pump has mixed it up for 30 minutes or more and add the remainder if needed.
After a couple acid treatments you can test your TA again and put that new lower number in your now column in the TA section of Pool Calc. That will help the Calculator be more accurate in determining the amount of acid needed to lower PH for the next round. Remember, PH calculation ain't exact, so divide your acid additions into two doses and test in between and only add the second dose if needed.
