Help with Chemical add from Poolmath

[Minda Martin]

Just had the pool opened yesterday. We had 2.1 inches of rain last night. I need to release some water from the pool. I checked the chemicals early this a.m. Pool math says I need to add 8 lbs dry stabilizer, 16 pounds of Borax and 120 lbs of salt. Is there a certain order I need to add these items?

 

[Hootz]

Drain the pool to where you need it and re check levels. Those chemicals will mix together, there is no special order required. It is always best not to add the entire amount in case of going over the limit. You can always add more but if you go over the limit usually the only choice is to drain and start over. One of the few times you need to be careful when adding chemicals is when adding muriatic acid; it should be added on its own.

 

[IceShadow]

The Borax may not be needed depending on your current pH and TA - you might be able to just aerate or let it rise naturally. Any pH in the 7's is OK. It looks like your pH is 6.8 and your TA is 100 - I would point the returns up at the surface and let it churn.

 

[Minda Martin]

Drain the pool to where you need it and re check levels. Those chemicals will mix together, there is no special order required. It is always best not to add the entire amount in case of going over the limit. You can always add more but if you go over the limit usually the only choice is to drain and start over. One of the few times you need to be careful when adding chemicals is when adding muriatic acid; it should be added on its own.

Thank you! Lol! My local lumber store acted like I was juggling dynamite when I purchased a gal of muriatic acid. They would not bring it from their outside storage through the store. A young man carried it around the building to my car and set it on the ground and left!

 

[Minda Martin]

The Borax may not be needed depending on your current pH and TA - you might be able to just aerate or let it rise naturally. Any pH in the 7's is OK. It looks like your pH is 6.8 and your TA is 100 - I would point the returns up at the surface and let it churn.

To start, the PH was as low as it would go. I added 16 pounds of Borax and since I really can't read the PH once I add the drops, I will say it is somewhere between high and off the chart high. It is very pink but to be honest all the variations look exactly the same to me. I have no problem reading CYA but PH is beyond me.