Back from vacay - pH way over 8..again

DMS2014

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LifeTime Supporter
Jun 22, 2014
843
Houston, Texas
Good evening all. Back to the pH problem of why my pool is eating acid

And one question. Husband says 8.5 FC is (a) too high to safely swim in and (b) causing our pH problems ...
I turned up SWG before we left to make sure Fc didn’t fall... just dropped it today 10%

Thoughts ?

FC 8.5
CH 400
CYa 60
TA 90
PH so pink it’s ovee 8 - who knows
 
Your FC level is "safe" at 8.5 for your cya level.....just doesn't need to be that high with your SWG. FC is not causing your high ph problems. It's probably your SWG itself.
 
You can kill 2 birds with one shot. Add MA aiming for 7 and this will bring down your TA. You will need to test 30 min after just to check if not at 7 then add again for 7.
 
What do y’all mean by the SWG is causing the acid problem?

Also my know-it-all husband says high chlorine eats acid and that’s our problem...

I keep a paper log and our FC was not always that high last year. I usually try to keep it at 5-6 during the hot times here.
 
What do y’all mean by the SWG is causing the acid problem?

Also my know-it-all husband says high chlorine eats acid and that’s our problem...

I keep a paper log and our FC was not always that high last year. I usually try to keep it at 5-6 during the hot times here.
It is a well-known phenomenon that a SWG causes pH to rise. That's why we recommend a lower TA than you have Water Balance for SWGs - Trouble Free Pool
 
Rising pH is what new plaster pools with SWGs do. SWGs cause some hydrogen bubbles which cause aeration which raise pH.

Lower your pH and your TA will come down over time. Some plaster pools eventually have a stable pH and some never do.

Send your husband here and he can read up on the chemistry in the Deep End section.
 

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Your husband is incorrect but ya'll need to decide who is managing the pool. Right now, you have one too many cooks in the kitchen.
Yes, I know. I am in charge of the pool and we fight every year. When I state what y’all tell me he says (like today) what are their qualifications? Sigh...I can tell him he’s incorrect but unless I have something else to tell him besides TFP said so...sigh...

I take the chems.
I write them down.
I clean the pool
I use the app and record.
I come here for advice.
I add everything but acid. Husband gets mad when I do it.
 
Ok. I just reread the link that Richard thoughtfully posted. I saw the article clearly says that the CH should be 350 BUT the end of the article says 350-450 for CH. so which is it? I had written down these numbers and put them in my book. I DO need to get the CYA up and I will do that now.
 
All the levels are in a range. And if you are out of that range, there are ways to manage certain parameters, especially CH.
 
The CH is a range for a reason. Do you know the CH level of your fill water? You can also use the CSI (calcium saturation index) to fine tune your pool water chemistry.
 
When I state what y’all tell me he says (like today) what are their qualifications? Sigh...I can tell him he’s incorrect but unless I have something else to tell him besides TFP said so...sigh..
Wow! 4.5 years you have belonged to this forum and made 570 posts and you can't advocate for TFP's "qualifications" ??
 
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Wait he gets mad when you take care of the pool and it looks all nice and clean?

What to tell your husband is advice that is probably beyond the scope of this forum...

My wife is thrilled that I do all those things and she enjoys a very sparkly nice enjoyable pool. She refers to me a “Beaker” from the Muppets whenever she sees me pouring stuff into vials and using the SpeedStir.
 
Wait he gets mad when you take care of the pool and it looks all nice and clean?

What to tell your husband is advice that is probably beyond the scope of this forum...

My wife is thrilled that I do all those things and she enjoys a very sparkly nice enjoyable pool. She refers to me a “Beaker” from the Muppets whenever she sees me pouring stuff into vials and using the SpeedStir.
I love the "beaker" reference. Might have to get me a t-shirt of him or something!
 

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