Ongoing pH issue

[crosby1612]

I'm trying to get my pH to the 7.5-7.6 level from around 7.8-8.0. I'm adding about 32oz of MA per day and the pH doesn't budge. I'm using the TFT salt test kit. Any thoughts? I'm going through acid with no change like there's no tomorrow. Salt cell is set at 20% with a 24 hr pump run. This is a brand new plaster pool if that makes a difference.

pH 7.8
TA 80
FC 11
CYA 80
CH 350
Salt 3100

 

[Jimrahbe]

Crosby,

Well, 32 oz, of 31% MA will drop your pH from 8.0 to 7.4..

New plaster takes 6 months to a year before it will no longer effect the pH.

Do you also have any water features running?

Most SWCG pools like their pH to be about 7.8 or so. I'd just let it sit there longer before trying to lower it.

Are you saying that the pH does not change at all, or that the next day the pH is back up again?

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[crosby1612]

Thanks. No water features. I'm only checking the pH about every 24 hrs so I don't know if it's changing. Over the course of 24 hrs it's the same when I check it. Should I just not be adding acid unless the pH is over 8?

 

[Mdragger88]

you’re probably just not catching the change as it’s going back up again before you test again.
Test after 30 minutes or so to see.

 

[crosby1612]

you’re probably just not catching the change as it’s going back up again before you test again.
Test after 30 minutes or so to see.

Yeah I just retested and it's 7.5. What makes it go back up and should I be concerned that I can't keep it around 7.5 level?

 

[cwswifty]

There’s nothing wrong with pH in the 7.8 - 8.0 range as long as your other numbers contribute to a good balance. I would suggest lowering your TA to around 60 to help contain your pH. I’ll let my pH go to 8.1 before I adjust.

 

[Mdragger88]

Yeah I just retested and it's 7.5. What makes it go back up

New plaster and ta of 80

and should I be concerned that I can't keep it around 7.5 level?

Nope - totally normal. Ph is gonna rise.
As you manage your ph your ta will fall - most find their happy place around a ta of 50/60.
As ta falls the frequency of ph rise will lessen.
As your plaster cures the ph rise will lessen.
Its ok to let ph hang around the high 7’s
Any ph in the 7’s is perfectly fine.

 

[crosby1612]

New plaster and ta of 80

Nope - totally normal. Ph is gonna rise.
As you manage your ph your ta will fall - most find their happy place around a ta of 50/60
As ta falls the frequency of ph rise will lessen.
As your plaster cures the ph rise will lessen.
Its ok to let ph hang around the high 7’s
Any ph in the 7’s is perfectly fine.

That's great info, thank you. I'm under the impression pH should be close to neutral

 

[Mdragger88]

That's great info, thank you. I'm under the impression pH should be close to neutral

Anywhere In the 7’s is perfectly neutral enough for people, equipment, & surfaces. Striving for the “perfect” ph will have you pulling your hair out.

 

[crosby1612]

Anywhere In the 7’s is perfectly neutral enough for people, equipment, & surfaces. Striving for the “perfect” ph will have you pulling your hair out.

Not much hair left at this point