Ph is very high

[Lprecords]

I tested my water this morning and here are my numbers
FC: 9.5
CC: 0
TC: 9.5
TA: 100ppm
CH: 140ppm
CYA: 30ppm
PH: is way high. It took 20 drop of the acid demand regent to get it down to 8.0

What do I need to do to lower the ph? Taylor’s chart only goes to 10 drops.
I’ve never had to put Muriatic acid in my pool before, and I’m very timid about using it.
Will the ph go down on its own eventually? And if so, how long would that take?

 

[JohnT]

What color is the pH test? pH almost never gets above 8.2 without aggressive chemical additions that you’d never do in a pool. The acid demand test result is determined more by TA level than other factors.

What pH test kit are you using? The pH test is affected by higher chlorine levels, and some pH reagents don’t have a chlorine neutralizer added to help with the issue.

 

[Lprecords]

I added 2 gallons of Chlorine last night when I should have only added one. My ph was at 7.2 before I added the chlorine. Last night the TC was at 12.5 and this morning it is at 9.5 and the Ph rose to a deep red.

 

[JohnT]

It sounds like a testing issue due to high chlorine. I’d just wait and test again when the chlorine is more reasonable.

 

[Lprecords]

I have another question. I did the slam and my FC went from 12.5 to 9.5 overnight. I vacuumed and ran the pump all day today. I just rechecked and my FC is at 4ppm. My CC is steady at 0, so I’m assuming the sun has eaten up the chlorine.
Do I need to do a second overnight SLAM or just add enough chlorine to get the level up to about 5ppm?
I guess what I’m asking is am I at the “level” point of the SLAM and am I in the “maintain”?
I’m assuming I just keep adding the recommended amount liquid chlorine each night according to pool math to maintain a 4-5ppm FC level?

 

[mknauss]

I suggest you read SLAM Process. Unless you passed all three exit criteria (which it sounds like you did not), you should maintain SLAM level FC continuously until you do.

 

[Lprecords]

I have a question about finishing the start up. I did the SLAM and got my FC to 12.5. It then went from 12.5 to 9.5 overnight. I vacuumed and ran the pump all day today. I just rechecked and my FC is at 4ppm. My CC is steady at 0, so I’m assuming the sun has eaten up the chlorine.
Do I need to do a second overnight SLAM, as I was reading on this site, or just add enough chlorine to get the level up to about 5ppm?
I guess what I’m asking is am I at the “level” point of the SLAM and am I now in the “maintain” part?
I’m assuming I just keep adding the recommended amount of liquid chlorine each night according to pool math to maintain a 4-5ppm FC level?
My CYA is at 30.
Pool water is pretty clear.

 

[mknauss]

I guess what I’m asking is am I at the “level” point of the SLAM and am I now in the “maintain” part?

See post 6

 

[Lprecords]

I suggest you read SLAM Process. Unless you passed all three exit criteria (which it sounds like you did not), you should maintain SLAM level FC continuously until you do.

Help in understanding all 3 criteria. I’ve read it and it’s somewhat confusing. Are you saying I need to re-slam because I lost chlorine level over night?

 

[mknauss]

Help in understanding all 3 criteria. I’ve read it and it’s somewhat confusing. Are you saying I need to re-slam because I lost chlorine level over night?

There are three exit criteria -- all three must occur simultaneously

• CC is 0.5 or lower
• AND your overnight chlorine loss test shows 1.0 ppm of loss or less
• AND pool water is crystal clear with no visible sign of algae (dead or alive) on floor and walls

Your OCLT had a 3ppm FC loss. That is a fail.

Maintain SLAM level FC until you pass all three. No reason to do the first two until your water is crystal clear. Very clear.

 

[Lprecords]

There are three exit criteria -- all three must occur simultaneously

• CC is 0.5 or lower
• AND your overnight chlorine loss test shows 1.0 ppm of loss or less
• AND pool water is crystal clear with no visible sign of algae (dead or alive) on floor and walls

Your OCLT had a 3ppm FC loss. That is a fail.

Maintain SLAM level FC until you pass all three. No reason to do the first two until your water is crystal clear. Very clear.

Thanks. So, just to be clear, I repeat the SLAM tonight and hopefully my level doesn’t fall more than 1.0ppm.
Not sure about what is meant by “No reason to do the first two until water is crystal clear” Thanks for your help!

 

[mknauss]

The SLAM process is continuous. Not just at night. You Maintain your SLAM level FC by testing and adding chlorine every few hours. A minimum of 3-4 times per day.

If the water is not crystal clear, with no debris (dead algae, etc), then no reason to do the OCLT. Just keep Maintain the FC.

 

[Lprecords]

Okay. Thanks. That is not clear in the reading. I didn’t realize I needed to keep the FC at 12ppm for days. I would have been adding all day . should I bring it back up to my SLAM level now and keep monitoring it all day tomorrow? There is no visible algae and the water is crystal clear.

 

[mknauss]

That is not clear in the reading.

Directly from the article.
"Test the FC level and add enough chlorine to bring FC up to SLAM level 3-4 times per day."

 

[Lprecords]

Directly from the article.
"Test the FC level and add enough chlorine to bring FC up to SLAM level 3-4 times per day."

Got it. I’ll bring it back up tonight and test 3 times tomorrow and keep it up at the slam level throughout the day.

 

[Lprecords]

I passed the OCLT.
I tested last night and was at SLAM level with FC=11ppm CC=.5ppm
This morning it was at FC=10.5ppm CC=.5ppm
My water is crystal clear.

I added chlorine to bring it back to SLAM of 11ppm. I plan to brush and vacuum the pool this morning and continue to add chlorine about every 4 hours to bring it back to SLAM throughout the day.
My question is: Once I do this for the day, do I just let the chlorine level go down to 5ppm and maintain it at that level? Also, is 5ppm of FC a good level for maintaining sanitation?

 

[Lprecords]

This site has been so helpful in getting me to understand how to care for my pool. Thank you!
I continue to be learning and have a couple more questions.

I passed the OCLT.
I tested last night and was at SLAM level with FC=11ppm CC=.5ppm
This morning it was at FC=10.5ppm CC=.5ppm
My water is crystal clear.

I added liquid chlorine this morning to bring it back to SLAM of 11ppm. I plan to brush and vacuum the pool this morning and continue to add chlorine about every 4 hours to bring it back to SLAM throughout the day.

My question is: Once I do this for the day, do I just let the chlorine level go down to 5ppm and maintain it at that level?
Also, is 5ppm of FC a good level for maintaining sanitation?

 

[Newdude]

Once I do this for the day, do I just let the chlorine level go down to 5ppm and maintain it at that level?

No. You can't maintain *anything* with a daily swing of up to 4 ppm. You're probably about 2 now and will increase to 3 soon then maybe 4 for the middle 2 weeks of summer. (Short 'peak season' in Michagan)

Notice target range for each CYA level :



2 ppm might last a week in early April and it might last two hours at lunchtime in July.

You need to dose your recent daily loss, plus a little wiggle room over min for your CYA. Put another way :

Min FC
+ Recent daily loss
+ 1 or 2 ppm safety net
---------------------------
= stoopid clear trouble free pool


You are free to let the FC drift down to whatever range is appropriate for your recent loss.

 

[Newdude]

I answered you in your other thread. Please keep specific questions where they belong, or only have one master thread, updating the title as need be.

It's too confusing to ask the same question in multiple spots.

 

[Bperry]

This site has been so helpful in getting me to understand how to care for my pool. Thank you!
I continue to be learning and have a couple more questions.

I passed the OCLT.
I tested last night and was at SLAM level with FC=11ppm CC=.5ppm
This morning it was at FC=10.5ppm CC=.5ppm
My water is crystal clear.

I added liquid chlorine this morning to bring it back to SLAM of 11ppm. I plan to brush and vacuum the pool this morning and continue to add chlorine about every 4 hours to bring it back to SLAM throughout the day.

My question is: Once I do this for the day, do I just let the chlorine level go down to 5ppm and maintain it at that level?
Also, is 5ppm of FC a good level for maintaining sanitation?

One detail and your free to do as you like, but youve already passed the three SLAM ending criteria. No need to continue it today unless you just want to.

Like said above, your FC requires depend on how much CYA is in the water.