Always basic water?

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S

Swim Dad

Member
Jul 21, 2019
9
Montgomery, TX
Pool Size
42000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
I am lucky to have been directed to this forum and have gotten my new pool pretty well balanced and the SWG and pump run time tuned to keep FC levels at 5.0. The rest of the pool chemistry is going well but I am needing to add a gallon of acid 2 to 3 times per week as pH is 8.0. The next morning it will be down to 7.2 as calculated. That doesn't last. Yes there is a water fall but we haven't been in the pool much or running the waterfall the last three days and the pH is back at 8.0. If the pool is comfortable to swim in, how important is it to keep pH down? Any suggestions on where to find acid that is not $30 a gallon?

Ben

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maintenance 07-13-2022 @ 08:15 pm
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vacuumed, brushed
pressure: 15

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test results 07-13-2022 @ 08:04 pm
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free chlorine: 5.2
combined chlorine: 0.0
ph: 8.0
total alkalinity: 100
calcium hardness: 550
cya: 85
salt: 3000
borates: 0
temperature: 89°f
csi: 0.55

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chemical addition 07-10-2022 @ 10:02 am
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+ 1 gallons of baume31

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test results 07-10-2022 @ 10:01 am
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free chlorine: 6.8
combined chlorine: 0.0
ph: 8.0
total alkalinity: 110
calcium hardness: 540
cya: 90
salt: 3200
borates: 0
temperature: 88°f
csi: 0.58

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Notes 07-13-2022 @ 08:17 PM
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chlorinator at 3200

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Chemical Addition 07-13-2022 @ 08:17 PM
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+ 1 Gallons of Baume31
 
I'm sure the true experts will respond, but this is exactly where I was a year ago. Then I read there that there's nothing sacred about the "ideal" TA range. It's okay to let it sink to 60. When I tried that, PH settled at 7.8. Again, not in the "ideal range," but okay according to TFP experts who say "anything in the 7's." With these numbers, I can go for a couple of weeks with no acid. Sometimes much longer. Haven't had any algae or other problems.
 
You have new plaster. So your pH will rise fairly quickly for the next several weeks to a few months. It should slow down some after that. Depends on how much high TA fill water you have to add for evaporation.

As gene stated, TA is not all that sacred. Let it come down to help slow down your pH rise. Your CH level is pretty high so a lower TA will help limit calcium scale creation.

I get muriatic acid at Home Depot. Two gallons of 31.45% for about $18. But that varies wildly across the country. Ace Hardware, Lowes, etc may also have it. Depends on what sources you have in your area.

EDIT -- Lake Conroe Ace Hardware shows Transchem 31.45% muriatic acid in stock for $9.99 a gallon.
 
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mknauss said:
You have new plaster. So your pH will rise fairly quickly for the next several weeks to a few months. It should slow down some after that. Depends on how much high TA fill water you have to add for evaporation.

As gene stated, TA is not all that sacred. Let it come down to help slow down your pH rise. Your CH level is pretty high so a lower TA will help limit calcium scale creation.

I get muriatic acid at Home Depot. Two gallons of 31.45% for about $18. But that varies wildly across the country. Ace Hardware, Lowes, etc may also have it. Depends on what sources you have in your area.

EDIT -- Lake Conroe Ace Hardware shows Transchem 31.45% muriatic acid in stock for $9.99 a gallon.
Click to expand...
Thank you
 
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I don’t know how true it was what the sales clerk said at Leslie’s for MA sold in Las Vegas. ”Only registered chemical licensed stores can sell 31.45% MA.” True or not, I haven’t been able to find anything but 14.5% MA at the big box stores. I haven’t tried Ace yet b/c it’s not really that close to me. Worse yet, Leslie’s have been out of stock for a week or so.
 
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