Taylor PH testing advice

[kmax1980]

Hi there, I'm new to testing myself with the Taylor 2005 kit. I have a 20k Gal SWCG (pentair ic40) pool running 24/7 with a variable speed pump and cartridge filter. FC is right around 5-6, CYA is a bit low in the 30s (added some incrementally to get it up where i needs to be), TA is in the 90-100 range.

I tested my water today and the PH seems a bit high, maybe 7.9 if im seeing it correctly? (pic attached). I tried to use the Acid demand drops into the sample and all they did was make the pink sample get lighter and lighter. The second photo attached is after 15 drops of acid demand reagent! It never at any point (checked almost after each individual drop) started taking on that orange hue that the middle PH reading seem to indicate.

Any ideas what's going on here? I dont want to throw acid at this blindly!

 

[mknauss]

With TA of 100 you can add enough acid to lower the pH 0.4 without concern. Let it mix 30 minutes or more, retest, and repeat until you can easily read it.

Order a K1515 FAS DPD kit so you can test FC accurately.

 

[kmax1980]

With TA of 100 you can add enough acid to lower the pH 0.4 without concern. Let it mix 30 minutes or more, retest, and repeat until you can easily read it.

Order a K1515 FAS DPD kit so you can test FC accurately.

thanks, are you reading my PH around 7.9 as well based on the picture? I find it amazing that it's that high as we just got 2 inches of rain in the past 48 hours which is somewhat acidic i believe and my PH as 7.5 a week ago...

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

The pH test is not valid when FC level is above 10 ppm. The pH test will show a false high result. I can't tell what your FC level is based on the color test. Do you suspect it may be over 10 ppm? As Marty suggested, you need a proper FAS/DPD FC test kit if you're able to get it in Canada.

 

[mknauss]

thanks, are you reading my PH around 7.9 as well based on the picture? I find it amazing that it's that high as we just got 2 inches of rain in the past 48 hours which is somewhat acidic i believe and my PH as 7.5 a week ago...

It might be upper 7's. We know it is not low 7's. So adding acid to lower pH by 0.4 cannot hurt. And the TA being high will bounce back the pH quickly.

Rain typically increases pH due to the aeration of the rain hitting the surface of the pool.

 

[Newdude]

Here's my trick :

What pH is this?

I am having a hard time reading the pH scale. It seems like the color is never quite right. I am assuming in this case I am either off-scale or overthinking the color match. What's this look like?

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[kmax1980]

The pH test is not valid when FC level is above 10 ppm. The pH test will show a false high result. I can't tell what your FC level is based on the color test. Do you suspect it may be over 10 ppm? As Marty suggested, you need a proper FAS/DPD FC test kit if you're able to get it in Canada.

i doubt FC is over 10 as i haven't added any liquid, its just been the SWCG running. Though i did boost it up to 80% for the past few days due to the rain and organics coming into the pool (normally run 40%)

will be buy the FAS/DPD kit at some point soon for sure anyways as I WAY prefer the titration testing. I have the smart stir and its a piece of cake for TA.

 

[kmax1980]

any ideas why in the second picture even after 15 drop of acid demand im not going yellow or orange whatsover?

 

[Homebrewale]

I never use the acid demand test. I just use the recommendations in PoolMath.