Alkalinity keeps dropping

[emac]

28K plaster pool about 8 months old. Chlorine pool. I have been trying to keep my numbers at the TFP recommended numbers. I have to constantly add acid and Baking soda. My PH wants to climb to 8 and ALk wants to stay in the 60's. CH 315-320. CYA 35, FC 3 with the liquidator. I also have a Delta UV system.

It seems I can keep a PH around 7.8 and ALK about 65 pretty easily. Every time I try to get PH closer to 7.4 and Alk up higher it barely lasts 2 days. Water is clear and temp right now is around 84. I have had this issue all summer. My builder said I would have to add acid for about a year before it stabilized. He suggested getting Alk up high like 100+ and go from there. I am thinking of just letting it rock along with the lower ALK, as it makes the CSI closer to 0. I am getting tired of buying baking soda.Thoughts?

 

[Jimrahbe]

e,

There is nothing wrong with keeping your pH at 7.8 and TA at 65.. Quit screwing with it an be happy that it is somewhat stable.

I sure hope you have some other way to sanitize your pool other than your UV system...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[emac]

jim,
I think I am beginning to agree with you and take that advice! I got a bit OCD on this pool thing. It has been fun and I have learned a lot. I am using bleach for sanitation with the Liquidator system.

UV was a pre TFP purchase . I actually wonder if it increases chlorine demand by breaking down the chlorine all night long??

Thanks for the reply,

ernest

 

[Jimrahbe]

Ernest,

You may be right about the UV, but I'm not much of an expert in that area...

I was under the impression you could just unplug it???

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[emac]

yes, I can just unplug it. It automatically turns off when the pressure drops. I am not convinced it is worthless (yet). But, that could be the fact that I paid money for it.

 

[tim5055]

I actually wonder if it increases chlorine demand by breaking down the chlorine all night long??

Are you running the pump 24/7? I'm not that far from you and I have already dialed my pump time back to about 3 hours a day, mainly because I need that much time for my Stenner pump to add the bleach I need.

I know you were talking about a Liquidator, did you ever install anything?

I am not convinced it is worthless (yet). But, that could be the fact that I paid money for it.

Human nature causes us to justify our decisions by telling ourselves we bought the best there is. UV systems are not worthless in the right situation. For an indoor pool that gets little to no sunlight they are generally needed. In your situation it really isn't hurting anything, but not doing much to help your pool either. You get more UV than you need from the sun.

 

[emac]

Yes, I installed the Liquidator. I am running my pump close to 24/7. According to my turnover, I could cut back to about 16 hours/day and still turnover close to 3 times a day. I have a waterfall that dumps from the spa to the pool., so I am thinking that is affecting Alk. I may cut my pump down to try and save some money. I am sure if I do that I will have to adjust my Liquidator to get enough Chlorine in with reduced time.​I plan on keeping the pool open all year to use the spa.

I like to run my pump all day so it picks up leaves in the skimmer. Like I said, I am new to this and its been a learning curve.

 

[tim5055]

The necessity of having "X" number of turnovers a day is not valid and we don't recommend to it.

Check this out: Pool School - Determine Pump Run Time

 

[emac]

Tim, thanks for the link. Looks like I am going to try to cut back on my pool pump time. I may start with running it just during the day.