This is a 1 yr old plaster pool and first time opening after being covered all winter. Full disclosure - I started another thread HERE in regards to the calcium crystals I had on the plaster. Got those off and removed but now battling chemistry probs. I assume my PH climbed all winter since it is a newer plaster pool. I was adding about a half gallon of muriatic acid every 10-14 days during the swim season to keep the PH in check. Upon opening, my PH was so high that it could not be read with the Taylor kit. It was beyond 8.4 so not sure what actual reading was to start. I posted the timeline below but to summarize, I have now gone through a 10 lb bucket of dry acid and 3 gallons of 31.45% muriatic acid and I still am not able to get an accurate PH reading. Pool math tells me that all of that acid combined should reduce my PH by 4.9 and TA by 82. It has always been very accurate. My TA has gone from 180 down to 100 so that is consistent with pool math as well. Is it possible my PH was really that high (13.5+)? Or do I have something else going on?
Sunday - Water At Opening:
FC = 0
PH = Well above 8.4
TA = 180
CH = 250
CYA = 90
SALT = 2600 ppm
Temp = 52
CSI = 1.23
Monday AM: Raised water level with tap water (PH of 7.8, TA of 70) and added 3 lbs of 73% Cal hypo shock, 6 lbs of dry acid (2 doses 4 hrs apart), and 40 lbs of salt
Monday PM:
FC = 9
PH = Well above 8.4
TA = 170
CH = 275
CYA = 70
SALT = 2800 ppm
Temp = 55
CSI = 1.27
Action: Added 4 lbs dry acid
Tuesday AM:
FC = 1
PH = Above 8.4
TA = 160
CH = 300
CYA = 70
SALT = 2800 ppm
Temp = 57
CSI = 1.33
Action: Added 2 gallons of muriatic acid, vacuumed, backwashed, turned SWG up to 80% from 30%
Tuesday PM:
FC = 1
PH = Above 8.4
Action: Added 1 gallon of muriatic acid, 2 chlorine pucks to skimmer (not sure my SWG is working)
Wednesday AM:
FC = 2.5
PH = Above 8.4
TA = 100
CH = 300
CYA = 70
SALT = 2800 ppm
Temp = 60
CSI = 0.67
Action: Confirmed high PH with test strip. Added 1 gallon of muriatic acid
Sunday - Water At Opening:
FC = 0
PH = Well above 8.4
TA = 180
CH = 250
CYA = 90
SALT = 2600 ppm
Temp = 52
CSI = 1.23
Monday AM: Raised water level with tap water (PH of 7.8, TA of 70) and added 3 lbs of 73% Cal hypo shock, 6 lbs of dry acid (2 doses 4 hrs apart), and 40 lbs of salt
Monday PM:
FC = 9
PH = Well above 8.4
TA = 170
CH = 275
CYA = 70
SALT = 2800 ppm
Temp = 55
CSI = 1.27
Action: Added 4 lbs dry acid
Tuesday AM:
FC = 1
PH = Above 8.4
TA = 160
CH = 300
CYA = 70
SALT = 2800 ppm
Temp = 57
CSI = 1.33
Action: Added 2 gallons of muriatic acid, vacuumed, backwashed, turned SWG up to 80% from 30%
Tuesday PM:
FC = 1
PH = Above 8.4
Action: Added 1 gallon of muriatic acid, 2 chlorine pucks to skimmer (not sure my SWG is working)
Wednesday AM:
FC = 2.5
PH = Above 8.4
TA = 100
CH = 300
CYA = 70
SALT = 2800 ppm
Temp = 60
CSI = 0.67
Action: Confirmed high PH with test strip. Added 1 gallon of muriatic acid